Our welcome at Denver’s The Source Hotel began as all good things do, with a spectacular glass of freshly brewed beer on the house. A partnership with New Belgium Brewing Company means that all guests are greeted this way at check-in. This is the perfect introduction to a part of the city that has incubated Denver’s world-famous craft brewing scene.
A former 1870s iron foundry, The Source Hotel and its adjoining artisan Market Hall are located in Denver’s RiNo (River North) Art District, once the industrial heart of the city.
Today its former factories, warehouses, foundries and rail yards are vibrant artsy hangouts for creative businesses – from architects and art galleries to furniture makers and painters – with colourful murals dotted around a neighbourhood easily explorable on foot.
Unique rooms and spectacular industrial interiors
The hotel leans into its industrial heritage, with pared-back concrete interiors and garage roller shutters in several of its rooms. Scandi features (white linen sheets, plush robes…) do a good job of balancing the industrial design.
Our corner suite was nicely sized, with an adjoining bathroom and living room, furnished with a sofa and a well-stocked mini bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in loads of natural light (always a win for me) and offered panoramic views of the distant Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline.
A soaking tub close to the bedroom window was a luxurious addition and a good spot to take in all those views at dusk.
Food and drink at The Market Hall
One of the major draws to The Source is the genuinely excellent food on offer via the Market Hall, with several restaurants driving the rise of Denver’s rapidly evolving food scene, including a sushi bar (Temaki Den), BBQ joint (Smok), and artisan bakery (Reunion Bread).
It is also home to restaurant Safta, where chef/owner chef Alon Shaya (a multi-James Beard award winner) serves up Mediterranean and Israeli sharing plates in a bright and airy setting.
Our meal here started off with wood-fired pita bread that arrived at the table perfectly hot and puffy. Alongside this, we chose a foraged mushroom-topped hummus, a hazelnut, coriander and chilli oil dip, and market veg pickles. These were so good that I took extra away at the end of the spectacular evening. We followed this with bourekas (a type of pastry filled with feta and drizzled with local honey) and finished with an outstanding saffron-infused, golden Persian rice with half a harissa roasted chicken.
To work off all that food, The Source guests have access to a rooftop fitness centre, as well as an outdoor plunge pool, both located next to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar. Dog owners rejoice, this is a canine-loving property. They even run puppy yoga sessions.
Activities, sights and beer nearby
A trip to Denver would be remiss without a trip to one of Colorado’s main draws: the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, a short 25-minute drive from the hotel. After touring the spectacular megaliths surrounding the amphitheatre (and a quick trip around the onsite visitor centre), we hiked around one of the many trails located within the park.
On the way back, we stopped off at Meow Wolf, a mind-bending immersive and interactive art experience with permanent exhibitions set up in a select few US cities. If you’ve never experienced this, it’s worth every penny. Just make sure you’re not hungover when you go.
Other highlights included the city’s iconic Union Station, a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel in the trendy Downtown neighbourhood. In addition to being a historic landmark, Union Station doubles up as a dining and shopping destination and houses the recently refurbished boutique The Crawford Hotel.
We finished our evening sampling the spectacular offerings from Denver’s excellent craft brewers. RiNo is the perfect area for this, with a cluster of breweries to be explored – from punk rock-loving Ratio Beerworks and the city favourite Bierstadt to smaller taprooms like Our Mutual Friend. Other craft producers are also nearby, with a range of urban wineries and distilleries dotted around the city, ensuring you’ll never go thirsty.
The Source Hotel
3330 Brighton Blvd
Denver, CO
80216
United States
