Trip to Denver and Boulder in August 2014

[bradp]

Anyone have any "must do's" they would like to share? Thanks!

 

[tdangio]

What types of "must dos" are you looking for? Food/beverage, outdoor, etc?

 

[bradp]

What types of "must dos" are you looking for? Food/beverage, outdoor, etc?

I would appreciate either or both. I'm a completely open book.

 

[tdangio]

Definitely not even close to a comprehensive list, but should give you a start. I try to avoid LoDo if at all possible. Tons of Ed Hardy and Affliction on Market St.

Food
Frasca (Boulder) - solid dinner, I think the prix fix is $75
Pizzeria Locale (Boulder) - good neapolitan style pizza
Colt & Gray (Denver) - always have some type of foie, also usually have one of the Pappy's or Antique Collection available, either upstairs or downstairs at Ste. Ellie
Old Major (Denver)
Wooden Spoon (Denver) - good spot for breakfast, especially breakfast sandwiches
Uncle (Denver) - pretty much momofuku in Denver. Haven't been to momofuku, so can't speak to how the quality stacks up, but it is good.
Il Posto (Denver)
Little Man Ice Cream - really good ice cream, but don't go in the evening unless you like waiting in absurd lines

Cocktails
Ste. Ellie - great sister restaurant to Colt & Gray, and conveniently downstairs from Colt & Gray
Williams & Graham - wait for a table can be really long on the weekend
Green Russell - skip it

To do
Red Rocks - not sure if there will be any concerts while you are there, but it's a great place to see a concert. If no concerts, still a great place to go for a hike
Rockies game
Breweries - there are a ton of breweries in Denver, just Google it. I know Great Divide does a tour. Falling Rock Tap House also has Pliny on tap sometimes.
Boulder hiking - Chautauqua Park has a fair number of decent hikes

 

[bradp]

Definitely not even close to a comprehensive list, but should give you a start. I try to avoid LoDo if at all possible. Tons of Ed Hardy and Affliction on Market St.

Food
Frasca (Boulder) - solid dinner, I think the prix fix is $75
Pizzeria Locale (Boulder) - good neapolitan style pizza
Colt & Gray (Denver) - always have some type of foie, also usually have one of the Pappy's or Antique Collection available, either upstairs or downstairs at Ste. Ellie
Old Major (Denver)
Wooden Spoon (Denver) - good spot for breakfast, especially breakfast sandwiches
Uncle (Denver) - pretty much momofuku in Denver. Haven't been to momofuku, so can't speak to how the quality stacks up, but it is good.
Il Posto (Denver)
Little Man Ice Cream - really good ice cream, but don't go in the evening unless you like waiting in absurd lines

Cocktails
Ste. Ellie - great sister restaurant to Colt & Gray, and conveniently downstairs from Colt & Gray
Williams & Graham - wait for a table can be really long on the weekend
Green Russell - skip it

To do
Red Rocks - not sure if there will be any concerts while you are there, but it's a great place to see a concert. If no concerts, still a great place to go for a hike
Rockies game
Breweries - there are a ton of breweries in Denver, just Google it. I know Great Divide does a tour. Falling Rock Tap House also has Pliny on tap sometimes.
Boulder hiking - Chautauqua Park has a fair number of decent hikes

thank you so much. This is very helpful indeed! I had actually gotten Rockies Tickets already...glad to see that's on your list. Price difference from Yankee Stadium is astounding!

 

[bradp]

If i can pick your brain for one more minute...is there a neighborhood you would recommend staying in Denver? Most of the decent looking hotels I see online seem to be in downtown denver. Is that the area you advised to steer clear of? (same question for Boulder, if you happen to know)

Thanks again.

 

[Curated]

You'll be fine staying in downtown Denver. The Hotel Monaco is great and the restaurant — Panzano's — is also excellent.

 

[bradp]

You'll be fine staying in downtown Denver. The Hotel Monaco is great and the restaurant — Panzano's — is also excellent.

Thanks. Any thoughts on ease of parking? I need to decide whether to rent a car at the airport and deal with it in Denver, or try to rent one in the city because we are going to Boulder, RMNP, etc later in the week.

 

[manchambo]

The HW Marriott in Cherry Creek would also be a good place to stay. Near downtown, and there are good restaurants there plus the best shopping (including Andriesen Morton and Lawrence Covell) if you are interested in that. Of course, most people don't come to Denver to shop for menswear.

 

[tdangio]



Thanks.  Any thoughts on ease of parking? I need to decide whether to rent a car at the airport and deal with it in Denver, or try to rent one in the city because we are going to Boulder, RMNP, etc later in the week.

Parking in Denver is relatively easy, and probably a cake walk compared to NYC. Hotels should have parking available too. I would stay in either downtown or Cherry Creek. More nightlife in downtown, more soccer moms in Cherry Creek. Downtown will be closer to LoHi where a number of my restaurant recommendations are.

In Boulder, anything near Pearl Street should be fine.

 

[bradp]

Parking in Denver is relatively easy, and probably a cake walk compared to NYC. Hotels should have parking available too. I would stay in either downtown or Cherry Creek. More nightlife in downtown, more soccer moms in Cherry Creek. Downtown will be closer to LoHi where a number of my restaurant recommendations are.

In Boulder, anything near Pearl Street should be fine.

thanks a ton for the recs. we will be staying in downtown denver the first couple of nights, then right on pearl street in a pretty nice-looking apartment from airbnb in boulder.

i see most of your recs are in LoHi. as far as going the seemingly short distance from downtown, do most people drive? walk? Living in NYC, I walk everywhere if weather permits, even if it's a mile or two. But i know in some places people think you're a crazy asshole if you travel on foot (not that i care all that much if people think i'm a crazy asshole

)

 

[Despos]

The Kitchen is on Pearl St. It's a casual place. They also have a Denver location but i've only eaten at the Boulder location

www.thekitchen.com

 

[bradp]

The Kitchen is on Pearl St. It's a casual place. They also have a Denver location but i've only eaten at the Boulder location

www.thekitchen.com

thanks a ton. I'm actually staying just down the block. I look forward to trying it.

 

[tdangio]



thanks a ton for the recs.  we will be staying in downtown denver the first couple of nights, then right on pearl street in a pretty nice-looking apartment from airbnb in boulder. 

i see most of your recs are in LoHi.  as far as going the seemingly short distance from downtown, do most people drive? walk? Living in NYC, I walk everywhere if weather permits, even if it's a mile or two. But i know in some places people think you're a crazy asshole if you travel on foot (not that i care all that much if people think i'm a crazy asshole )

Walking from downtown is fine. Depending on where you're staying downtown (if you are on the east side), there is the 16th Street mall ride that will take you to the Union Station area, then it's a pretty quick, walk across some pedestrian bridges/through a park to get to LoHi. Humidity isn't an issue, so I usually walk around those areas as much as possible. Denver is one of the fittest states, so you will likely see a lot of other people walking or biking. If running late, driving works too, and you should be able to find parking, just might be a few blocks away.

There's also a bike sharing program if you want to get around more of the city quickly. Pick up a bike at a station near you, then drop it off at a station near your destination. https://denver.bcycle.com/

 

[bradp]

These recs were immensely helpful. Colt & gray was great...tried sweetbreads there for the first time and had a fat old pork shoulder for my entree. Beautiful. Drinks after downstairs at ste. ellie were top notch as well. Also loved breakfast at wooden spoon and dinner at pizzeria locale in denver. The kitchen in boulder was a groovy spot for drinks and apps too. thanks again all!