As my family and I live just a few miles away from Denver, I've driven past this Ritz-Carlton a hundred times, but hadn't stayed there until last month. Sometimes, you don’t need to travel very far to get away.
ARRIVAL
When a night out (just the two of you) isn't enough, staying out the entire night can be just the thing. That was the idea last month when my husband and I had a fun night out at the Ritz-Carlton Denver. We had just experienced the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale and the Club Level for the first time. Once was not enough! I’m beginning to think I’d like to see and review every single one.
I was greeted warmly by the smiling woman behind the desk and checked in within seconds. In just minutes, the bellman had the bags in the room and we had made our way to the Club Level, passing by the impressive staircase.
The lobby’s stairs lead up to the second level, where the meeting and event space is located. At the top of the stairs is a blown glass masterpiece that doubles as a chandelier, designed by a protege of the exceptionally talented and world-famous designer Dale Chihuly. If you’ve been to Bellagio in Vegas, you may have noticed the grand chandelier in the lobby called “Fiori di Como” (how many chandeliers have names?). This is a Chihuly piece of art.
CLUB LEVEL
I was glad to see the Club was not the same layout or design as the one in Fort Lauderdale – variety is important, especially when travel is your life. After a quick coffee, we left to have dinner in Elway’s, the highly publicized restaurant on-site.
After dinner, it was back to the Club Level for a little TV and a light dessert. The comfortable room, sectioned into conversation and TV-watching areas, featured a wonderful view of the downtown lights. There were four or five groups of people quietly talking and generally relaxing when David and I found our way to an alcove to enjoy a little TV. The staff member in charge checked on us from time to time and was both pleasant and accommodating.
ROOMS
After we enjoyed the Club Level for a little too long, we wrapped up the night with a movie in the well-appointed room. I immediately recognized that the heavenly bed linens were Frette brand. I’d love to have some in our own house. After the movie, I left the thick drapes open to enjoy the view of Denver and drifted off, comfortable and content.
DINING
Elway’s is a Denver institution. They have a great selection of food, including the beef sliders I enjoyed for dinner. During our evening, the fire alarm went off. I would have expected at least some mild alarm, but servers swooped by tables, elegantly and quietly telling guests it was a mistake and not to worry. Our server was quite funny, in fact – popping jokes while attending to tables. The entire thing was resolved in minutes and we all continued on with our meals. The true test of a business is how it handles an unusual situation and Elway’s passed with high marks.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Normally I like boutique hotels best, but an exception is the Ritz-Carlton branded properties. Ritz-Carlton has a strong brand with hard and fast quality standards. I also quite like the Club Level’s food, atmosphere and convenience. When you book, be sure your room includes access.
For more information on the Ritz-Carlton Denver or to book a stay, please visit their website.
Examiner’s Note: My appreciation goes out to Allyson Fredeen. Thank you!
Please write to me at lori@travelbylori.com with questions, comments or suggestions for our next adventure.
Video Reviews: David and I have a YouTube channel where we feature video reviews of our favorite hotels. You can watch them by visiting YouTube.com/Travel by Lori.
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