THE MODERN LUXURY PEAK EDITORIAL TEAM CURATES THE ULTIMATE LIST FOR LUXURY TRAVEL IN COLORADO.
PHOTO BY ADAM SPRINGER/ISTOCK
BEST SUMMER CONCERT BASECAMP
LIMELIGHT DENVER
Whether your concert venue of choice is Red Rocks, Fiddler’s Green or the Botanic Gardens, Limelight Denver Hotel at Union Station has launched a new lodging package for music lovers. The Mile High Music & Stay Rhythm Retreat includes pre-show Champagne, a private driver to and from the concert venue, breakfast in bed the following morning and a late checkout. limelighthotels.com/denver
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BROWN PALACE, DENVER
BEST HIGH TEA
THE BROWN PALACE, DENVER
This iconic hotel is known for its high tea at the holidays with petits fours and Devonshire cream, but this summer, it hosts Swift Tea, an homage to Taylor Swift with pastries and drinks inspired by the pop star—all set to her hit album soundtrack. Guests dressed in outfits from different Swift eras gather for tea and trivia on the 13th of each month. On any given Sunday, Ellyngton’s will host a brunch with bottomless mimosas and an interactive Bloody Mary cart. brownpalace.com
BEST STEAKHOUSE
THE RITZ-CARLTON, DENVER
Steps from Larimer Square, The Ritz is an urban oasis near shops, theaters and museums, making it the perfect luxury basecamp. Inside, Elway’s Downtown was recently renovated for a sophisticated contemporary look. The steakhouse returns with a revamped Colorado-centric menu and drink program. USDA prime steaks, like the 30-day, dry-aged New York Strip, are handcut in-house. elways.com/downtown
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELINE, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, TELLURIDE
BEST ADVENTURE BASECAMP
MADELINE, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, TELLURIDE
Concierges at this sophisticated resort in Mountain Village are called “adventure guides.” They’ll help you organize bucket-list experiences, like a private scenic flight over Arches and Canyonlands national parks with a touchdown for a day of hiking, fly-fishing, and, if you so choose, a picnic lunch prepared by the hotel’s new executive chef, Zachary Ladwig. aubergeresorts.com/madeline
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAYTON MEMBERS CLUB & HOTEL, DENVER
BEST URBAN MEMBERS CLUB
CLAYTON MEMBERS CLUB & HOTEL, DENVER
Cherry Creek North’s first Michelin Key, Clayton is a 63-room boutique hotel and members club that takes an inclusive approach to membership. Designed to be a hub for an engaged community, Clayton features a coworking lounge, parlor bar, rooftop pool and lounge, multiple dining concepts and a cocktail bar downstairs. claytondenver.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAVEN, DENVER
BEST FOR CREATIVES
THE MAVEN, DENVER
Located in LoDo’s Dairy Block micro-district, The Maven is a haven for makers, housing 700 original paintings, sculptures and photographs from artists like Andrew Ramiro Tirado, Karen Fisher and Diego Rodriguez-Warner. The hotel just added seven new 8-by-20-foot murals by Colorado artists spread across the hotel’s five stories. Spend date night perusing the collection, then head to the hotel’s Poka Lola Social Club for handcrafted cocktails and charcuterie. themavenhotel.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUMIÈRE WITH INSPIRATO, TELLURIDE
BEST FOR FAMILY STAYS
LUMIÈRE WITH INSPIRATO, TELLURIDE
Located in Mountain Village, Lumière has 18 spacious hotel residences with generous high-end chef’s kitchens and ample living space for groups to gather. Dunton Destinations—the luxury hospitality group that owns nearby Dunton Hot Springs—just bought the property and plans to update the hotel’s public spaces and the restaurant in the fall. duntondestinations.com/lumiere
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CARLIN, BRECKENRIDGE
BEST DINNER AND A STAY
THE CARLIN, BRECKENRIDGE
Staged in a three-story house on Main Street, The Carlin has four Swiss chalet-inspired luxury suites on the third floor and two dining concepts below. The main level restaurant features an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven and a raw bar with Malpeque PEIs and Nahcottas overnighted directly from the oyster farms. Tavern Underground is a sophisticated subterranean space where bartenders conjure whiskey-forward craft cocktails in cut crystal glasses. thecarlinbreckenridge.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WESTERN HOTEL & SPA, OURAY
BEST WESTERN VIBE
THE WESTERN HOTEL & SPA, OURAY
Built in 1891, The Western is one of the country’s last remaining 19th-century wood-frame hotels. It once housed 40 small boardinghouse units; today you’ll find 16 guest suites with handpainted wallpaper and bespoke furnishings. Both the front desk and the handcarved bar in the saloon are original. And in the hotel’s lower level, a Nordic-inspired spa features hot and cold saline plunge pools. thewesternouray.com
BEST PACK TRIP
PAINTROCK CANYON RANCH, HYATTVILLE, WYOMING
Ranchlands, the family business behind Colorado’s Zapata Ranch, just unveiled the luxury Paintrock Canyon Ranch. On a seven-day pack trip, guests traveling on horseback will explore the property’s 80,000 acres of sandstone hills and high mountain meadows before heading into the Bighorn National Forest backcountry, sleeping in safari-style tents furnished with full-size beds. It’s the perfect way to engage with nature while surrounded by the comforts of home. A private chef prepares meals incorporating locally sourced ingredients, including—naturally—Ranchlands beef. ranchlands.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF RED SKY GOLF CLUB, VAIL RESORTS
BEST MOUNTAIN GOLF DESTINATION
RED SKY GOLF CLUB, VAIL RESORTS
Named to Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, Red Sky is a true mountain golf course, with about 800 feet of elevation change across the property’s 800 acres. Hidden in the hills less than a mile and a half off Interstate 70, the club has two golf courses—one designed by Greg Norman, one by Tom Fazio. redskygolfclub.com
BEST CITY GOLF DESTINATION
THE BROADMOOR, COLORADO SPRINGS
The grande dame of Colorado golf, The Broadmoor opened for play in 1916 on the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain. The resort’s two golf courses are open to members and guests staying at the hotel. In June, The Broadmoor will host the 2025 U.S. Senior Open. This May, the hotel partnered with Callaway Golf to tee up its first women’s golf weekend—dubbed Breaking the Grass Ceiling. Plan now for next year’s event. broadmoor.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUNTON HOT SPRINGS, DOLORES
BEST HOT SPRINGS
DUNTON HOT SPRINGS, DOLORES
Set in a perfectly restored 1800s ghost town in the San Juans, 32 miles from Telluride, Dunton offers a sybaritic escape with spa treatments, pools of steamy mineral-infused spring waters in a 19th-century bathhouse, 15 guest cabins, and chef-prepared cuisine in the Saloon. Well House, one of the original handhewn prospector cabins, has a private spring-fed hot tub and cold plunge. duntondestinations.com
BEST TIME CAPSULE
THE MINING EXCHANGE HOTEL, COLORADO SPRINGS
In 1902, The Mining Exchange building in Colorado Springs served as a bustling gold and silver stock exchange. Serving as a hotel for the last decade, it’s been re-imagined under new ownership. The space features original elements like the mining exchange safe and vault doors, and guest rooms embrace history with high ceilings and exposed brick walls. miningexchangehotel.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON, BACHELOR GULCH
BEST GREAT ROOM
THE RITZ-CARLTON, BACHELOR GULCH
This 187-room grand hotel in Beaver Creek underwent an extensive design makeover last year. A premier atmospheric spot for sipping cocktails with a view, the Great Room retained its massive handhewn timbers and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces, but Mexico City-based Simon Hamui Design Studio updated the furniture, bringing in classic midcentury designs and cozy materials like shearling and distressed leather. ritzcarlton.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF PARK HYATT BEAVER CREEK
BEST APRÈS BAR
PARK HYATT BEAVER CREEK
With floor-to-ceiling mountain views, the Brass Bear Bar inside the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek is the perfect après hub. Revelers gather around the big square bar, sipping prosecco under a chandelier with 175 hanging pendants designed to evoke the feeling of falling ice crystals. On chilly nights, the property’s patio has the largest outdoor fire pit in the valley. hyatt.com
BEST STAY FOR STAYING FIT
THE WESTIN RIVERFRONT RESORT & SPA, AVON
Westin Riverfront’s Athletic Club, combined with the hotel’s Spa Anjali, is like no other hotel wellness space—and it’s all accessible to hotel guests. The club includes studios for more than 50 exercise classes weekly, from Peloton to Pilates to Vinyasa Flow. Studio M, inspired by celebrity club member Mikaela Shiffrin, is a 900-square-foot gym space outfitted with state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment. Outside, there’s a 25-yard saltwater pool for laps and three infinity hot tubs for a soothing post-workout soak. athleticclubwestin.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL JEROME, ASPEN
BEST HISTORIC HOTEL
HOTEL JEROME, ASPEN
Built in 1889 by architect Henry C. Koch, Hotel Jerome continues to enchant visitors with its timeless charm and impeccable hospitality. In the early years, the Jerome served as Aspen’s de facto town hall and a hub for local news and gossip. Big names like John Wayne, Hunter S. Thompson and Gary Cooper clinked glasses at the J Bar. The hotel’s Michelin-recommended Prospect has a progressive tasting menu that promises an epicurean journey through the local and regional terroir. aubergeresorts.com/hoteljerome
PHOTO COURTESY OF THREE FORKS RANCH, NORTH OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
BEST HYDROTHERAPY
THREE FORKS RANCH, NORTH OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Guests at Three Forks Ranch in the Sierra Madre Mountains have access to fly-fishing on 26 miles of private water on the Little Snake River. The ranch’s 22,000-square-foot Roaring Fork Spa features a hydrotherapy spa with a state-of-the-art Aquagen system that pumps oxygen particles into the water for a revitalizing infusion. Revel in salt and steam rooms, lap pool and hot tub, alternating the heat with a cold plunge in the river. Choose from massages, facials, scrubs or longevity and wellness assessments through a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. threeforksranch.com
BEST SPLURGE
THE LITTLE NELL, ASPEN
Founded in 1989, The Little Nell quickly established itself as Aspen’s go-to destination for discerning travelers seeking luxury and comfort. Its elegant interiors, world-class dining and private wine cellar set a new standard for hospitality, and a brand-new spa unveiled last winter rounds out the hotel’s suite of luxury amenities. If you’re looking for a place to be pampered, The Little Nell—Aspen’s only ski-in, ski-out five-star property—is the place to be. thelittlenell.com
BEST MAROON BELLS GATEWAY
T-LAZY-7 RANCH, ASPEN
A family-owned working ranch in Aspen since 1938, T-Lazy-7 has riverside cabins in the pine trees with Maroon Creek views. These private perches are walking distance to the ranch’s adventure center, where you can book a horseback trail ride or rent an e-bike (snowmobiles in winter) and cruise to Maroon Lake. From the water’s edge, you can capture Colorado’s most photographed mountain view of the Maroon Bells. tlazy7.com
BEST NEW VIBE
MOLLIE, ASPEN
A new 68-room boutique hotel, Mollie is the youngest property in Colorado to receive a Michelin Key in the first-ever awards this spring. The hotel’s prime location on Paepcke Park is just a two-block walk from Aspen’s restaurant row. To elevate its cocktail-forward hospitality concept, the hotel tapped Gin & Luck (of Death & Co. fame) to curate its food and beverage program. This summer, Mollie’s rooftop terrace transforms into an intimate night lounge with unobstructed mountain views. mollieaspen.com
BEST GUIDED WINE TASTING
THE GANT, ASPEN
The Gant partners with local outfitters to craft memorable guided excursions. This summer, explore Colorado wine country with a scenic 90-minute chauffeured drive in a Mercedes Sprinter van through the picturesque Roaring Fork and Crystal Valleys to Paonia. This full-day excursion makes sip-stops at Azura Cellars and Gallery, Black Bridge Winery, Storm Cellars, Stone Cottage Cellars and others, with lunch at a local eatery. gantaspen.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF W ASPEN
BEST POOLSIDE ROOFTOP BAR
W ASPEN
The Rooftop at W Aspen, formerly known as the Wet Deck, is Aspen’s only year-round, public rooftop, featuring a heated pool and hot tub, full bar, restaurant, cabanas and fire pits. With spectacular cocktails in an unparalleled setting, there’s no better place to grab a sunset sip in summer. Try the Always Sunny in Aspen with Aspen vodka, St-Germain, passion fruit and club soda. marriott.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICEROY SNOWMASS
BEST SNOWMASS BASECAMP
VICEROY SNOWMASS
This ultraluxe basecamp in Snowmass Village is home to a 7,000-square-foot spa sanctuary for a day of pampering and Nest, an alfresco bar with two black-bottomed infinity soaking pools. Up your poolside game by renting a private cabana stocked with Champagne. The hotel just completed the first phase of a major renovation, with a stunning refresh to the lobby, check-in desk, concierge center and public spaces like the bar and lounge. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUR SEASONS VAIL
BEST HIGH-TOUCH SERVICE
FOUR SEASONS VAIL
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail opened in 2010, and this luxury oasis with impeccable service has been elevating its hospitality and upgrading its spaces ever since. With a compact 135 keys, the experience here is curated, from the barista who remembers your coffee preference at Speyside Cafe to the housekeeper who notices you’ve been dog-earing your book and leaves you a proper bookmark. Indulge with haute chocolate and housemade marshmallows at The Remedy Bar or healing rituals at the in-house spa. It is all divine. fourseasons.com/vail
BEST PENTHOUSE
THE SEBASTIAN VAIL
To stay in the ultimate Vail Valley perch, rent out The Sebastian’s Grand Galerie Penthouse, a five-bedroom, 5,300-square-foot luxury space featuring sophisticated contemporary decor, with works from creatives like Ralph Pucci, Sergio Hernández and Arturo Berned. The gourmet kitchen was tailored by Italian design team Gullo Firenze, and a cathedral skylight spanning the length of the dining room floods the space with sunlight. Rounding out this exclusive perch, a furnished lanai affords 360-degree panoramas of the Gore Range. thesebastianvail.com
BEST EUROPEAN AMBIENCE
SONNENALP HOTEL, VAIL
The owner of the Sonnenalp in Vail grew up working in a hotel by the same name founded in Bavaria in 1919. Today, the Faesslers’ fifth generation helps run the Vail property, which oozes European authenticity. For more on Sonnenalp, see page 111. sonnenalp.com
COLLECTIVE VAIL TENT PHOTO BY JOE THOMAS
BEST GLAMP OUT
COLLECTIVE VAIL
Collective Vail at 4 Eagle Ranch goes beyond the usual camp traditions (like cowboy coffee and trail rides) with chef-driven menus, canvas tents outfitted with duvet-covered beds and luxury campfire experiences like drinking bubbly with charcuterie and cheese while branding your own cutting board. With Bier Stacheln (aka beer poking), campers caramelize beer malt for a grown-up marshmallow-like treat. collectiveretreats.com
BEST WESTERN REJUVENATION
C LAZY U RANCH, GRANBY
For more than a century, C Lazy U Ranch has welcomed guests with its legendary brand of Western hospitality and dude ranch adventure, from horseback riding to fly-fishing. This summer, adult guests can rejuvenate in the Lazy You Hideaway, a secluded outdoor relaxation lounge comprising two cold plunges, cedar-wood hot tub, sauna and fire pit. clazyu.com
BEST MOUNTAIN MEMBERS CLUB
GRAVITY HAUS
Moving beyond the standard hospitality concept of a hotel room, Gravity Haus—with Colorado locations in Breckenridge, Steamboat, Winter Park and Vail—is a membership club with nightly stays in rustic-chic rooms, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, co-working spaces, coffee shops, modern eateries, community programming and an on-demand Haus Quiver stocked with equipment from skis to SUPs. gravityhaus.com
MOLLIE ASPEN PHOTO BY NICOLE FRANZEN
IN 2023, THE PRESTIGIOUS MICHELIN GUIDE AWARDED ITS MICHELIN STARS TO COLORADO RESTAURANTS. THIS YEAR, MICHELIN BESTOWED ITS FIRST HOSPITALITY AWARDS IN THE U.S., WITH EIGHT LODGING PROPERTIES IN ASPEN, VAIL AND DENVER EARNING A MICHELIN ONE KEY DESIGNATION.
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection, Aspen
The Little Nell, Aspen
Mollie Aspen
Clayton Hotel & Members Club, Denver
The Crawford Hotel, Denver
Four Seasons Denver
Four Seasons Vail
Sonnenalp Hotel, Vail
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