When you stay at a hotel or resort, the usual hope is that you’ll experience at least one exceptional experience — service, food, accommodations OR amenities. To have them all … that’s something worth a Bestie Badge (reserved for the best of the best of the Southwest), which we happily bestow upon the Ritz Carlton Denver.

Ritz Carlton Denver Musts:

• Grab a latte and peanut butter cookie at the Club Lounge 
• Get a filet at Elway’s, with a Loaded Baked Potato and Thai Basil Brussel Sprouts with parmesan black truffle
• Order a charcuterie board to your room (it includes a delicious honeycomb)!

Renowned reputation: where every detail matters 

There’s a reason the Ritz Carlton brand name has earned its reputation for luxury and opulence for more than a century. The first Ritz Carlton in Boston set the golden standard for which it carries on today — all over the globe, and Ritz Carlton Denver is no exception. This property is the longest-holding Five Diamond Hotel in Denver. 

Beginning with the valet who opens the gleaming, double windowed doors to the Club Lounge (for all-day access to devlishly sublime gluten-free peanut butter cookies) to its signature restaurant Elways, you can’t not fall in love with this divine destination. The lobby even sparkles (we swear)!

Elevating the check-in experience

Let’s start with the front desk and concierge and work our way up. There’s nothing more offputing than a curmudgeon check-in/check-out staff and nothing more refreshing than smiling, welcoming front deskers. 

As you can guess, the Ritz Carlton Denver offers the latter (we love you Juliet and Kristina)! In addition to their friendly demeanor, these guest services experts pay close attention to your wants and needs. Here, we can provide a fun anecdote: Kristina, noting our obsession with the lobby’s citrus water, took the time to bring a full carafe to our room. 

Room with a (spectacular) view

After a promt and breezy check-in (we noticed that all guests were taken care of expediently), it was time to check out our room. If you appreciate roomy, pristinely clean rooms, with crisp sheets and spectacular cityscape views, this is the place for you. 

Plus, despite having a fair amount of guests when we were there, the hotel has was surprisingly peaceful. So even if you do have neighbors, you seldom hear or notice. 

Lounge large and snack like a boss

Now for the Club Lounge. Or as our BOSW team likes to call it: the club of ALL clubs. As self-proclaimed coffee addicts and habitual snackers, we admit that the appeal of a place where you can get all of the above morning, noon, and night is a high note. But that’s not the only reason we love “The Club.” 

Club Lounge employees like Blanco bring life to the space. Someone is always ready to help you make a latte (at the self-serve espresso machine), compile a charcuterie plate — and yes, dig out one of those amazing peanut butter cookies (or 20). There’s plenty of places to sit, two areas to watch TV and several nooks and crannies where you can read a book, discuss business or bring a laptop. 

Elway’s elevates steaks and more

Back down to the first floor, just left to the lobby is the Ritz Carlton Denver’s newly renovated, signature restaurant Elway’s. With a nod to NFL legend John Elway, invites guests to come with big appetites and preparedness for one of the best steaks in the Southwest (seriously!). But that’s not all Executive Chef David Schaumburger has in store for Elway’s diners. 

Lamb Chop Fondue, Short Rib “Off The Bone” and Dashi Braised Chilean Sea Bass will put stars in your eyes and make taste buds sing. The sides, like Thai Basil Brussel Sprouts, Au Gratin Potatoes, Loaded Baked Potato and even the gluten free bread rolls are sensational. 

The restaurant also boasts a rotating line-up of spirits, brews and wines from around the world, befitting of the upscale, but chill atmosphere of the restaurant, mixing a little bit of cocktail bar with a side of traditional steakhouse booth vibes. 

When you roll out of Elway’s — or waddle — back to your comfy room, remember to look out at the beautiful lit up city of Denver and then crawl into a soft, turned-down bed and think about the next time to come visit Denver, where you’re sure to stay at one of The Best of the Southwest favorite hotels. 

Favorite BOSW stops near Ritz Carlton Denver:

The Denver Milk Market

Union Station

Lo Do District

RiNo District

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Just ask Allison or another helpful concierge expert to help you find these locations (and others) and Emilio at the valet station can help you look for your Uber driver and share his favorite Downtown Denver shopping spots.