Denver’s population has surged in recent years—thanks to a strong job market that brought in new chefs, festivals, bars, and a spot on top of plenty of Best Places to Livelists. But why move to Denver—with its now-out-of-control housing prices—when you can have it all in a long weekend? Here’s your guide to exploring the natural wonders, the best beers on the planet, the legitimately exciting food scene and, if you so desire, sampling the dispensaries.
Related: Mountains, 5-Star Meals, and Craft Beer: The 4-Day Weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado
Sleep
Downtown has been thriving for the last decade, with the crown jewel being the remodeled Union Station—which features craft beer, farm-to-table dining, eclectic hotel rooms, and light rail from Denver International. Book a Pullman room, with art deco stylings inspired by the luxury sleeper train cars, at the Crawford Hotel in Union Station (starting at $239). The dog-friendly hotel is walking distance for everything worth visiting downtown. But if you want to venture farther out, the Crawford offers complimentary transportation within a 2-mile radius. The hotel occupies part of the recently renovated train station (built in 1881), which is also filled out with the top-notch Terminal Bar, farm-to-table dining at the Mercantile, and third-wave cafe Pigtrain Coffee.
Another strong option is the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver. This 264-room modern hotel also puts you in the middle of the action, within steps of the Convention Center, Union Station, and Larimer Square. The rooftop terrace delivers sweeping 180-degree views of the city, complete with outdoor fireplaces and plush seating, while its restaurant, Apple Blossom, leans into farm-to-table dining and inventive cocktails.
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Eat
Denver offers a melting pot of American cuisine with few blind spots. In the morning, you can grab a quick and satisfying breakfast at Snooze AM Eatery (two locations downtown), or head to Atomic Cowboy on Tennyson Street, where Denver Biscuit Co. serves up massive biscuit sandwiches by day before Fat Sully’s takes over with giant New York–style pizzas at night. Bagel purists will want to make time for Odell’s Bagel in the Highlands, where Michelin-trained chef Miles Odell hand-rolls naturally leavened bagels and layers them with house-smoked meats and silky lox.
On the weekend, cross the river for brunch and a comfortable seat at Root Down in the Highland neighborhood. For dinner, check out Somebody People, a bright, plant-forward spot on South Broadway that hosts a weekly enoteca night of curated wines and European-inspired small plates. If you’d rather stay close to downtown, Larimer Square remains a draw: Russell’s Smokehouse has the best ribs you’ll find in the Rockies, Euclid Hall offers innovative pub fare with a killer beer and cocktail list, and the Mediterranean-inspired Rioja features more exclusive options like tuna-octopus duet and Colorado lamb.
And in the LoHi neighborhood, Mezcaleria Alma brings Mexico City’s small plates and mezcal culture to Denver under the direction of Michelin-honored chef Johnny Curiel, while Riot BBQ – from Mexican chef Manny Barella and Colorado pitmaster Patrick Klaiber – blends Monterrey-style open-fire traditions with classic Texas barbecue for one of the city’s most distinctive smokehouses.
Play
The South Platte River skirts downtown and offers Class II and III rapids. Access the water 15 miles south of town at Chatfield Lake and paddle back to Confluence Park—where you’ll find the conveniently located Confluence Kayaks. Urban running and bike trails abound and provide a great way to see the city (or tour the 72 breweries). For less-urban adventures, Denver Zipline Tours is a 30-minute drive away and offers Colorado’s longest and fastest lines, criss-crossing a mountain valley. Or you can head to Boulder’s Chautauqua Park (40-minute drive) to ascend one of the iconic Flation climbing routes. We recommend Colorado Mountain School if you want a guide.
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Drink
The cocktail and local spirits scenes are some of the best in America, but above all, Denver is a beer town. The greater metro area is dotted with 100-plus breweries, but you’ll find an especially dense swath of roughly 15 brewers running for 2 miles near Walnut Street. On the southwest end is Denver’s original brewpub, Wynkoop, and Black Shirt Brewing is at the top. In between are gems like sour specialist Crooked Stave, Utah-native Epic Brewing, and the venerable Great Divide. For a more moderate crawl, head to the Highlands neighborhood duo of Denver Beer (get the Graham Cracker Porter) and the German brewing experts at Prost. If you’d rather rest your feet, beeline to Denver’s longtime craft beer mecca, Falling Rock Tap House, for a selection of 200-plus of the best local, American, and European brews. And if you need a break from hops altogether, The Family Jones Spirit House in LoHi serves house-distilled cocktails that showcase Colorado grains and terroir, with creative seasonal menus that rival the city’s best breweries for innovation.
Related: Hit the Road for the Ultimate Ski Trip Through Colorado and Utah
Insider Tips
If you seek beer nirvana, head to Denver the first weekend in October for the Great American Beer Fest—arguably the world’s greatest collection of craft brewers under one roof. And while you know of Red Rocks Amphitheater as one of the finest outdoor music venues, it doubles as Denver’s Muscle Beach (sans-meatheads) with informal and coached sweat sessions up and down the 69 rows of seats.
