One of the most diverse and fun cities I have been to was Denver 2 weekends ago. I went with my best friend/roomie on a whim because we wanted to get away for the weekend, and it was one of the most affordable places to go. Everything about it was so unique with all of the many different neighborhoods that seemed like there were millions of them, the great restaurants, bar scene, art scene, and of course being so close to the mountains. I can see why so many people are moving to Denver every single month.  Not only do you have the city at your fingertips, but the mountains are a quick 30 minute drive away. There are breath taking views every way you look and the city itself just feels really clean, which is a lot different than other metropolitan cities. Denver was a great place to visit, and I can’t wait to go back. See all of my favorite picks below and tell me some of your favorites if you have been before.

To Stay

We stayed right by Union Station downtown and I think that was the best location to stay at. Anywhere downtown is pretty hopping and there is so much right by Union Station. We thought that would be the best location that we didn’t have to get an Uber very often. The area of RiNO also has some great hotels, but for our budget we decided to stay downtown and Uber there the 2 nights we went. There are lots of cute boutique hotels around Denver, all at very different price points.

• The Crawford Hotel $$$:  Talk about location, this hotel is right inside of Union Station. We walked right by it when we were exploring all of the fun bars and food places that it had to offer. It is a 4 star hotel and makes the guessing out of where to go and how far away out of the equation, as everything is conveniently located. All of the guest rooms are vintage meets modern with some of the original wood beams from the late 1800’s. It has that boutique feel with all of the great close accommodations.
• Kimpton Hotel Born $$:  This is the hotel we stayed at and absolutely loved it. We wanted something that was close to everything, but not too expensive since we would be exploring. I always like hotels that feel boutique like, but that are also close to everything. I have stayed at a Kimpton before in Savannah, and absolutely loved it. They try to decorate to match the city and vibe that you are in. It was decorated from the lobby that had a cozy fireplace and vintage colorful Turkish rugs to the rooms that had wood paneling on the ceiling and walls to give it that Colorado vibe. The bathrooms were a decent size, and it was walking distance to everything. They also have a Tesla that will take you around the area if you don’t feel like walking. Their restaurant on site was also pretty amazing!
• The Ramble Hotel $$:  I thought this hotel was so funky and cute in one of our favorite neighborhoods RiNo (River North). We actually went to a bar here Death & Co where we stumbled upon this great hotel. It is the first hotel in the RiNo area and is booming with business. The lobby actually is more like a bar as the check in area is centered around lush leather couches and that swanky vintage vibe. The rooms are all decorated to the nines with exquisite art work and unique furniture. This boutique hotel is too cute and within walking distance to all of the great restaurants and bars that Denver offers.

To Eat

There were so many places that I wanted to visit to eat at, and just not enough time. Always at the top of my list for any trip, I scope out the food scene first. It is one of my favorite hobbies to try new restaurants and it can tell a lot about a city. Denver did not disappoint, and I honestly think that it is one of those cities that is a pretty close second to Houston for being a mix of different food cuisines. I could probably spend a month here just trying all of the great restaurants.

• Denver Biscuit Company: This restaurant was a must and had been recommended by so many people to try. We love biscuits as you have seen when we went to Nashville. It did not disappoint and not to mention the portions are huge. You for sure have to get a biscuit sandwich, which we opted in for one that had honey butter with it because hello we are from Texas and all! The sweet potato fries and bloody Mary’s were also very yummy. This was a great place to start our Denver trip for breakfast.
• Mercantile: We came to dinner at this restaurant on the first night, and I highly recommend reservations. It was conveniently located in the Union Station and really focused on elevated comfort food. When I had looked at the menu online and had done some research, I knew that an award winning restaurant would not disappoint on our first night. We ordered the beef tartare which was some of the best I have ever had, and then got some hand-made pasta. You have to save some room for the apple bread pudding for dessert!
• Linger: This was my favorite restaurant of the trip! It is in the Highlands area of Denver which is another cute area for shopping and some great food destinations. Fun fact is that this restaurant used to be a mortuary and is now a hip restaurant with a funky cuisine. We went here for brunch and ended up starting with donut holes which were amazing and then dosa and banh mi. The menu for sure had an American, Indian and Vietnamese fusion all in one. I wanted to try everything on the menu and would want to come back for dinner. They also have a rooftop which would be great in the summertime.
• Work & Class: We came here for dinner on the last night and it was a huge success. It was a Sunday night so I am glad we were able to get in and get a table right away. This had been on my list at first glance because of the peppers five ways menu item which of course included bacon wrapped jalapeños. There was a group because my friend’s brother lives there and was taking us around, so we ended up getting pretty much everything on the menu and sharing it. We went from macaroni and cheese, meatballs, to sweet plantains. It is such a great all around restaurant with a Latin American twist.
• Little Man Ice Cream: I can’t travel without trying some of the city’s best ice cream. This was for sure on my list and it just so happened to be next door to Linger and opened at 11 am. We were able to grab some ice cream right when it opened so we missed the line. There is typically a line which is common for all really great ice cream places. The place is also cute for photos which is always a plus because the whole place is shaped in a milk jug. The flavors are classic and yummy, and they also are one of those companies that support a great cause. With every scoop purchased they donate rice and beans or other essentials to a community in need all around the world.

To Do

There is so much to do in Denver, that trying to combine it into 1 single weekend is hard to do. We wanted to be able to explore, yet see some great sights while we were there. The weather was so refreshing after it being about 90 degrees in Houston, so we knew we wanted to try to be outside as much as possible. Depending on the time of year you go, will depend how much you stay outside. The weather was in the low 40’s and high 50’s which was absolutely amazing when we went.

• Go on a Brewery Tour: After we checked into our hotel, this was the first thing we did and it was one of my favorites. Instead of doing our own tour, we decided to do one that was already planned and included transportation as well. The one we completed was called Brews and Views which was one of the only ones where we were able to explore the cute mountain towns as well. The entire tour was about 4 hours and included a small group, a bus tour, and drinks at 3 different breweries. We went to Golden and Evergreen for 2 of the breweries and the views were breathtaking. Not only were the views great, but the breweries were more micro breweries and they did not skimp on the tastings. I would highly recommend doing this as a must on your trip.
• Check out the Artwork in RiNo: This is such a cute area where we ended up hanging out on both Saturday and Sunday night. One thing which is so unique other than the tons of restaurants/bars, is the artwork on all of the buildings in the area. There is some artwork murals here in Houston, but it is nothing like what was in RiNo. I think this is true talent, and just exploring through the area and taking pictures is completely worth it.
• Hike and Visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre: I had seen so many photos of this one-of-a-kind venue and had to see it in real life. We went out here after brunch and ice cream on Sunday, and knew that we were ready to work off the calories. It is such a beautiful piece of nature. If you are also looking for a great hike, just walking up the stairs gives you that burn alone. We decided to also hike one of the trails on the grounds which was just challenging enough given the altitude. It was nice to enjoy the nature and the cliffs and rocks. Hiking should for sure be on your list if you want to explore nature and enjoy the great weather.
• Go to the Molly Brown House Museum: We didn’t get time to do this as the museum is closed on Sundays and we had other things planned, but this looked like a cute little place to visit. I am a Titanic fan and Molly Brown was a survivor. This tour talks about the time period, shows her house, and what it was like in the early 1900’s. The tour guide is even dressed up in the time period apparently which seems like such a fun tour.
• Shop on Cherry Street: This area of Denver has lots of shops and is a cute little restaurant area as well. It reminds me a lot of Rice Village in Houston. I went to Inspyre Boutique here where I got the cutest little headband that is so trendy right now. They have so many shops around, and just strolling and window shopping before dinner one night is ideal!

To Drink

When I say there were a lot of bars and restaurants, there were a ton that I wanted to try and were able to go to quite a few. One thing that makes Denver unique other than their neighborhoods are some speakeasy bars. When I went to Tulsa I went to a fun one, and now always try to scope them out wherever I travel to. There were so many great speakeasies that my friends told me about, or that we happened to Google and find. Besides of course the great beer, these cocktail destinations make the city.

• Millers & Rossi: A speakeasy of course had to be on the list and this one was tucked away in an art gallery in the RiNo area. I of course had to video tape going into each of these bars because the journey was just as great as the actual drinks. We got some bites here and a cocktail before heading to dinner the first night.
• Cooper Lounge: This is located in Union Station and we went here after dinner at Mercantile because it was right upstairs. It is hidden and has that old Hollywood feel to it. It is tucked away and you get away from all of the hustle and bustle of the station downstairs. The cocktails and service are great, and try the chocolate martini if you go!
• Meadowlark: We sat on the patio at this low key bar that was one of my friend’s favorite places. They serve funky drinks right up my alley like a drink with mezcal and jalapeño. We also ordered their brussel sprouts for a quick nibble before going to dinner at Work & Class.
• Death & Co: This was one of my favorite bars that we went to in Denver. It is located in the Ramble Hotel and is always popping. We went here on a Sunday night after dinner, and I was glad we were able to get a table. Not only is the decor super chic and old world vintage all mixed together, but they have a great roof top section as well. I hear that the rooftop gets packed and the signs and decor are a great place to take photos next to. I stuck with mezcal and ordered their love bug drink with pineapple, lime, and mezcal which they rotate seasonally.
• Retrograde: You think the first speakeasy bar above sounded neat, this one is actually located in a pretty great ice cream shop. We first ordered our ice cream and then our friend said you go to the cooler door, flick the light up, and then you are greeted to go back to the hidden bar behind the cooler. I think this was my favorite experience out of any speakeasy, and people eating ice cream were so confused. You have that one-on-one service and they truly are mixologists. Even if you don’t drink, I would still check out this place just for the experience.
• Williams & Graham: This was another speakeasy, but we didn’t have time to make it to this one. It is located in the LoHi area of Denver and is one of the top cocktail bars in the country. It is located in a corner book store with hand-crafted cocktails. The reservations are hard to get and it gets packed, so keep that in mind as well.

Denver was such a great city, and I can’t wait to go back. I had only just been to the airport and had gone to Breckenridge previously. If you live in Texas it is only over a 2 hour plane ride, which is not bad at all. Between the different neighborhoods, food scene, and overall cleanliness I would say it was a pretty great city. Remember the altitude can affect everyone differently, and make sure to plan accordingly with allergy medicine, etc. I have never been on a weekend trip anywhere lately where I think “aww, man I didn’t get to make it to that hot spot.” There is always next time where I can check out even more of the cool places, which I am thinking will be here before I know it!