Where to Stay in Denver: A Complete Neighborhood Guide

Denver, the Mile High City, offers diverse neighborhoods each with their own unique character and charm. Whether you're drawn to historic architecture, cutting-edge art scenes, upscale shopping, or trendy dining, choosing the right neighborhood can make or break your Denver experience. This guide breaks down where to stay in Denver. It covers the best areas to stay and top accommodations in each, helping you find the perfect home base for your Rocky Mountain adventure.

Union Station

Downtown Denver (LoDo - Lower Downtown)

LoDo pulses with energy as Denver's bustling core, where restored Victorian warehouses house craft cocktail bars and farm-to-table restaurants. Centered around the beautifully restored Union Station, you'll find Coors Field, the 16th Street Mall, and gas-lit Larimer Square within walking distance. This area is ideal for first-time visitors who want to experience Denver's highlights car-free, business travelers near the convention center, and sports fans who want to walk to games.

Where to Stay

The Crawford Hotel

The luxurious Crawford Hotel occupies the upper floors of Union Station, offering 112 unique rooms with Pullman-inspired design and modern amenities. Guests enjoy exclusive access to The Cooper Lounge, multiple restaurants, and the unique experience of staying in an active transportation hub.

The Oxford Hotel

The Oxford Hotel is Denver's oldest grand hotel. It features 80 rooms with antique furnishings, marble bathrooms, and modern luxuries. The spa offers unique treatments including body wraps, while the Cruise Room serves classic cocktails.

Hostel Fish

This stylish budget option features local artwork, a communal kitchen, and social events. Located in a historic building, Hostel Fish offers both shared dorms with privacy curtains and private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, plus a rooftop patio with mountain views.

Highlands

The Highlands offers spectacular downtown and mountain views from its location northwest of downtown. Highlands Square provides local shops, while 32nd Avenue rivals any foodie destination. Tennyson Street adds galleries and boutiques, maintaining a strong neighborhood feel minutes from downtown. The Highlands is ideal for food enthusiasts exploring beyond tourist spots, those seeking Instagram-worthy mountain views, and travelers preferring local neighborhoods over attractions.

Where to Stay

Life House Lower Highlands

Life House Lower Highlands is a boutique hotel with Victorian-inspired design in modern LoHi. It features 16 stylish rooms with Le Labo bath products and options from kings to bunk rooms. Wildflower restaurant and bar serves Italian cuisine with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients.

Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens

This 1890 Victorian mansion in Potter-Highland offers five romantic suites with private Jacuzzi tubs and ornate Bradbury & Bradbury ceiling wallpaper. Weekend brunch and afternoon tea are available at the Lumber Baron.

Vacation Rentals

The Highlands’ residential character makes vacation rentals ideal. Check Airbnb and Vrbo for lots of rentals in the area. Options range from restored Victorians to modern townhomes with rooftop decks. LoHi properties offer skyline views while Highland and Berkeley provide neighborhood immersion. 

Oakwell Beer Spa

RiNo (River North Art District)

RiNo has transformed into Denver's most dynamic creative district, where colorful murals cover warehouse walls and craft breweries occupy every other corner. Food halls like The Source and Denver Central Market showcase local vendors, while galleries and music venues keep the energy high. Be sure to check out Denver’s best day spa, Oakwell Beer Spa, for unique beer-inspired spa treatments. This neighborhood attracts creative types, young professionals, beer enthusiasts, and anyone seeking Denver's hippest scene with innovative restaurants and energetic nightlife.

Where to Stay

The Ramble Hotel

The Ramble Hotel is a 50-room boutique property that features mid-century modern design with custom wallpaper, record players, and the sophisticated Death & Co Denver bar. The theater room hosts film screenings while the patio offers fire pits and garden seating.

The Source Hotel

Rising above The Source Market Hall, the 100-room Source Hotel features industrial-chic rooms. The rooftop bar offers mountain views, while the ground-floor market houses artisan vendors. The Source is pet friendly, so it’s a great place to stay if you’re traveling with your dog or cat.

Catbird Hotel

The Catbird Hotel is a contemporary extended stay hotel in the creative heart of RiNo with artist-designed rooms and a vibrant rooftop bar. It features exposed brick, local artwork, and industrial-chic design throughout.

Cherry Creek

Cherry Creek is a Denver destination, with tree-lined streets featuring over 100 boutiques, galleries, and spas in Cherry Creek North, plus a luxury shopping center nearby. Beyond shopping, find some of Denver's finest restaurants and the scenic Cherry Creek Trail. This upscale area appeals to luxury travelers, shopping enthusiasts, business executives, and couples seeking sophisticated ambiance away from downtown crowds.

Where to Stay

Halcyon

This 154-room luxury hotel features marble bathrooms, mountain views, and a rooftop pool. Halcyon houses three restaurants: the bistro Local Jones, the rooftop bar Rare Bird, and the modern Italian restaurant Quality Italian.

The Jacquard

Part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, The Jacquard is a French-inspired hotel that offers 201 rooms with marble accents and spa-like bathrooms. Amenities include Peloton bikes, a yoga studio, a pool with cabanas, and the globally inspired Narrative restaurant.

Colorado State Capitol

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill showcases Victorian mansions along tree-lined streets, with eclectic Colfax Avenue running through its heart. The neighborhood is home to music venues like the Fillmore and Ogden Theatre, dive bars, restaurants, and proximity to City Park with its zoo and museums. It’s perfect for budget-conscious travelers wanting character, music lovers, and young travelers enjoying energetic nightlife.

Where to Stay

The Patterson Inn

The boutique Patterson Inn occupies the 1891 Croke-Patterson-Campbell Mansion and offers nine themed rooms blending period details with modern amenities. The inn offers full breakfast and afternoon refreshments, with innkeepers sharing the mansion's fascinating history. Visitors should note that the Patterson Inn is 21+ and does not accommodate children.

Warwick Denver

A contemporary option with 216 spacious rooms, Warwick Denver features separate living areas and city or mountain views. The hotel even has a rooftop pool. Check out Gattara Restaurant & Bar for contemporary Italian-American Cuisine.

Capitol Hill Mansion B&B

The beautiful 1891 Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast Inn features eight themed rooms that transport guests to Denver's silver mining era. Guests love the elaborate breakfasts and brunches prepared by chef and owner Carl S. Schmidt II.

11th Avenue Hostel

Those looking for a hostel with easy access to Denver’s art museums and civic institutions, should consider the 11th Avenue Hostel. What started as a hotel in 1903 has now been updated into a modern hostel with original architectural details. There are modernized dorms with individual amenities plus private rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The hostel has a communal kitchen and hosts regular social events.

Tips for Choosing Where to Stay

Consider Your Priorities: First-timers should choose Downtown/LoDo for a central location. RiNo or Highlands offer trendy local experiences. Cherry Creek provides luxury shopping. Capitol Hill has character on a budget.

Transportation: Downtown, Capitol Hill, and RiNo have good transit. Cherry Creek and Highlands may require ride-sharing or rental cars. Consider parking needs and costs.

Timing: Summer brings festivals but crowds. Fall offers ideal weather. Winter provides ski access but potential snow. Spring can be unpredictable. Book early for peak times.

Making the Most of Your Denver Stay

Altitude Adjustment: At 5,280 feet, stay hydrated, limit alcohol initially, and wear sunscreen year-round. The dry climate requires extra moisturizer.

Explore Neighborhoods: Rent bikes, use the free mall shuttle, or try light rail. Each area offers different experiences throughout the day.

Outdoor Activities: Try the Cherry Creek Trail, visit City Park or Washington Park, and don't miss Red Rocks Amphitheatre just 30 minutes away.

Local Food Scene: Make weekend reservations, try Colorado specialties like bison, take advantage of 3-6 PM happy hours, and visit weekend farmers markets.

Where to Stay in Denver: Conclusion

Denver offers accommodations as diverse as its neighborhoods, from Victorian mansions to industrial lofts, luxury hotels to friendly hostels. Where to stay in Denver is a personal choice. By choosing the right neighborhood for your travel style and interests, you'll experience Denver on your terms, whether that’s like a local or as a tourist. Whether drawn to LoDo's historic charm, RiNo's creative energy, Cherry Creek's sophistication, Capitol Hill's character, or the Highlands' neighborhood feel, Denver welcomes visitors with Western hospitality and urban sophistication. The key is matching your accommodation to your interests, then getting out to explore everything the Mile High City offers.