The City of Denver
Exploring Denver can feel like an ever-changing adventure — something new each day, each hour, each minute. As one of America’s fastest growing cities, it has emerged from its mining-camp and cattle town past without completely pulling up its Western roots. Get to know this fabulous, thriving metropolis with our handy guide below.
If you'd like additional insight for planning the perfect Denver visit, please email or call our Concierge.
A City of Neighborhoods
Just outside our door is Lower Downtown, often referred to as LoDo, where a wealth of restaurants, pubs and the bustling Union Station (our next door neighbor) reside. Stretch your legs a little more and you can explore the River North Arts District (RiNo) or the charming Highlands neighborhood — both home to some of Denver’s finest restaurants and shops. A free shuttle from Union Station also runs the length of the 16th Street Mall through Downtown Denver, ending right by the State Capitol. Exit the shuttle at Curtis Street and you are within walking distance of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, a massive theater complex that is one of the most celebrated in the country. It’s safe to say we’ve got the perfect location to enjoy it all.
A City of Outdoor Adventure
You might notice something about Denverites when you walk outside Limelight Denver to explore the city: they love nothing more than being outside. Dining al fresco, taking in a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field, and chilling by the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River are just three of the many outdoor pastimes that take over life in the Mile High City in summer time. If you have a car and a few hours to spare, a visit to Denver’s most celebrated “city park,” Red Rocks (yes, the famous concert venue) is entirely possible and well worth the effort, especially if you go for sunrise. Closer in, the Denver Botanic Gardens offers an extensive series of serene and meticulously kept gardens. In fact, the Shofu-En Japanese Garden may be the most peaceful spot in the city.
A City of Culture
We start our round-up with our close neighbor, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, which showcases modern, thought-provoking art just steps away from our front door. An added bonus? As a guest of the Limelight Denver, admission is complimentary.
One of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast can be found on the other side of the 16th Street Mall Shuttle at the architecturally thrilling Denver Art Museum. An impressive roster of traveling on- and off-Broadway shows has come to define the Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA), a massive, 12-acre site that includes 10 different performance venues. Catch the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at DCPA’s acoustically perfect Boettcher Concert Hall, then round out your evening with post-show drinks at Citizen Rail back here at the Limelight.
A City of Fine Dining
Upon check-in, score a table at our restaurant, Citizen Rail, which celebrates the railway history of our Union Station neighborhood with a unique take on American classics. Next door, you’ll find the Italian restaurant Tavernetta, which features an extensive wine list and authentic, upscale takes on all of Italy’s best-known regions brought to you by a James Beard award-winning team. Their wine bar-meets-fine dining spot, Sunday Vinyl, is also worth a visit. Inside Union Station, you’ll find Spanish tapas at Ultreia, exquisite seafood at Stoic & Genuine, and a locavore’s delight at Mercantile Dining & Provisions.
Adjacent to Union Station, you’ll find a convivial pub atmosphere at the Thirsty Lion and a celebration of Chinese street food at Zoe Ma Ma. Since all of this is within a five minutes walking distance of the Limelight, you can only imagine what else the Mile High City has to offer. Ask our concierge for more suggestions further afield.
A City of Champions
Why are the fans of Denver sports teams so devoted? It is probably because these teams represent more than just the city of Denver and the state of Colorado: they represent the entire Rocky Mountain region. Head to Empower Field to see the Denver Broncos play football “a mile high,” or see the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche play ice hockey or the NBA’s Denver Nuggets play basketball at nearby Ball Arena, which is within walking distance of Limelight Denver. And the Colorado Rockies continue to lay claim to one of the best ballparks in America: Coors Field, which is also within walking distance of our hotel.
