Denver Travel Guide Winter 2023

I checked off my third new state of 2023 with a trip to Denver, Colorado. My mom was traveling this way for work and I decided what better way to spend the week than tagging along?! Of course, my content bestie @bejulesed also had to tag along for the fun. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Mile High City besides sunshine. Fun fact: Denver is actually the sunniest region in the United States with an average of 245 days of sunshine per year. 

I was hoping for a cozy stay in the mountains but it turns out Denver is a true city with tons of restaurants, bars, and apartment complexes. There are young people everywhere so the city has a fun youthful energy to it. And despite there not being a whole lot to do without a rental car, I could totally see myself coming back to explore some of the neighboring mountain towns. From what I gathered: Breckinridge, Boulder, and Colorado Springs are all places worth checking out for the snowy trip of my dreams. 

In the meantime, here is my Denver Travel Guide complete without the best restaurants, where to stay, a detailed packing list, and my itinerary. Enjoy! 

Where To Stay 

I spent my time in Denver staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station. This location is just a short walk away from the popular Union Station, Milk Market, and Coors Stadium. Because this is centrally located, there are tons of bars and restaurants within walking distance. I highly recommend this location if you’re visiting Denver without a rental car (which we were). 

I stayed in one of their King Bed Suites suites which was arguably the largest hotel room I’ve ever seen. This suite essentially had three completely separate rooms. 

When you walked in the door you were greeted with a huge living room space. This had a pullout couch, a television, and a small kitchenette full of sweet treats courtesy of The Hilton Garden Inn. Off of that room was the bedroom and wow what a gorgeous space this was. With floor-to-ceiling windows along half of the room, it was hard not to love this space. I sure do love a good city view, especially when you can see the mountains in the distance. 

This room also had a Jack and Jill-style bathroom with one side giving way to the bedroom and the other to the living room area. We had a huge jacuzzi tub and a large walk-in shower. The best part was the door that separated them from the toilet. There were sinks in each “room” so we were able to each have our own room to get ready in. I’ve never had a bathroom with so much counter space—it was life-changing! 

This specific Hilton Garden Inn location also offered free breakfast downstairs with the yummiest menu—highly recommend building your own omelet and trying the french toast. They also have a restaurant, Woodie Fisher, attached that has such a fun vibe. They oftentimes will have live performers here so if you’re looking to hit a good comedy show, I highly suggest checking this out! We couldn’t have asked for a better stay or to have been in a better location. 

If you’re interested in booking this property, click here to find current rates and the best availability. Enjoy! 

Where To Eat 

I can’t even begin to tell you how many places there are to eat and drink in Denver. The options are truly endless!

I spent my five days going to as many places as I possibly could, indulging in all of the savory steaks and sweet treats my heart desired. Because really, what’s better than a good meal in a new city?! There are tons of young people in Denver so grabbing a drink at one of the fun breweries or lounges should be high on your “to-do” list.  

Here’s a breakdown of my favs:

Wash Park Grille 

Menu // Directions

Wash Park Grille was actually a recommendation given to me by a follower and it did not disappoint. This restaurant was located in Cherry Creek and had the cutest, coziest atmosphere. I started off with an Aperol spritz and an amazing cheese plate full of pesto, hummus, and amazing pita bread. Super flavorful and a large portion that easily fed three of us. Yum! 

For the main courses, my mom and I shared the lobster penne pasta and chicken piccata. Both were excellent and bursting with flavor. I highly recommend getting a side of roasted potatoes they were so yummy! Of course, I had to finish the meal off with some yummy dessert—I’m not usually a fan of key lime pie but this one was to die for! The espresso tiramisu was also fantastic. 

This was probably my favorite meal of the week which is saying a lot because all we did was eat, haha. 

Milk Market (Albina By The Sea)

Menu // Directions

The Denver Milk Market is a must-see, especially if you’re wanting a quick order at-the-counter bite to eat. I went to Albina by The Sea and got their blackened mahi-mahi tacos. The fish was excellent and tastefully seasoned. I would have enjoyed a little more cilantro lime crema on my tacos but overall they were delicious. Definitely a smaller portion but still tasty! 

Happy Camper 

Menu // Directions

We met up with one of my mom’s friends at Happy Camper for dinner and a drink.. apparently this is one of the most hip places for a night out in the summertime. This restaurant was decked out with twinkly lights and disco balls—such a fun atmosphere! 

We got their burrata which had a mix of pomegranate seeds, honey, balsamic, and amazing toasted bread. I was a huge fan of this— one of my favorites to date! I ended up getting the “Clay” pizza as my main dish and it was so yummy. This pizza had a mix of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch, bursting with all kinds of flavor. The pizza was huge so I suggest splitting it with someone or else expect to come home with lots of leftovers. 

Corinne 

Menu // Directions

I can’t say enough good things about the restaurant Corinne. I came here for lunch one day and tried all the things. I started with the burrata which came with nuts, apricot jam, and the most amazing bread ever. This was one of the best I’ve ever had; so rich in flavor. 

For the main courses, my mom and I shared the grilled cheese (my personal fav, so rich and creamy), the French dip (so flavorful, with great bread), and the truffle pasta (very boring). Each dish came with shoestring fries which were so good! I finished off the meal with an “Old Dog New Tricks Cocktail” which was a mix of light fruit juices and vodka—so yummy!  

Le Bilboquet 

Menu // Directions

I’m not usually one for French food but this restaurant was amazing. They have several chic locations across the United States, NYC being the first. When they opened, the menu only offered their famous Cajun chicken, haha. This happens to be one of my favorite dishes so I was easily impressed by this meal.

We also split their mushroom risotto which was phenomenal although quite heavy— I recommend sharing. Of course, no meal of mine is complete without burrata!  

Deep Roots Winery 

Menu // Directions

We found this adorable winery in the heart of Rino—it ended up being the perfect spot to spend happy hour. The place was huge with a fun industrial feel and tons of drinking games. 

I had a few of their mixed drinks and munched on their truffle sweet potato fries which were amazing. We also had a cheese board that was full of aged cheese and interesting Colorado meats. They make the focaccia bread homemade. So yum!   

Chez Maggy

Menu // Directions

On our last night, we went to another French restaurant. They treated us to a bottle of champagne and brought out all kinds of interesting dishes. My mom and I split the crab cake (amazing) and the fillet (a little too peppery for my taste). We finished it off with a fun puff pastry that was super light and airy. 

Although this wasn’t the best food of the trip, I really loved the cozy, intimate atmosphere here. 

What To Do 

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot to do in Denver without having a car. I didn’t have a rental and because Denver is so spread out, Ubering from place to place was a little unrealistic. Therefore, I spent most of my time walking around the same areas.

There’s not a ton to do besides eat and drink (which is fine by me) but for that reason, I have fewer recs than normal. 

Milk Market 

One of my sweet followers recommended checking out the Denver milk Market and it was so cute. This is essentially a huge food hall with tons of different walk-up windows. They have everything here- Thai, Chinese, BBQ, seafood, coffee, and more. Each one is decorated a little differently and is so picture-esque. It was so cute in here. Highly recommend popping in for a quick bite to eat or happy hour fun!

Genassea Park

If you don’t have a rental car but are wanting to spend the afternoon along some nearby mountains I recommend taking a short Uber over to Genassea park.

We actually got this recommendation from another Uber driver when expressing that we wanted to see some snow and wildlife. There’s a large trail here to hike and gorgeous scenery. Lots of parking and a public bathroom too! The trail was closed because of all the snow but we still spent the afternoon taking pictures here. So beautiful!

Union Station

You have to stop in Union Station. This is a great central location for a quick bite to eat, a sweet treat, and a little window shopping. This would also be a good spot to bring your computer and work for a bit! I grabbed my postcards from one of the cute boutiques here.

16th Mall Street 

This street is known for its shopping although, in all honesty, I was a little underwhelmed by the options. Lots of your typical retailers can be found here- Express, H&M, and Sephora. 

Free Market

If you want to find cute local boutiques with funky designers and small tchotchkes, I highly recommend checking out the Free Market. There were so many unique (but pricey) finds over here that I loved! It really was the perfect place to window shop.

Coors Stadium 

I so wish it were baseball season during our visit to Denver because the baseball field is in such a pretty location. If I ever come back in the spring you’ll surely find me in the stands with a big ole hotdog in my hand. 

Packing for Denver 

 I was truly shocked at how casual of a city Denver was. Almost everyone I passed was wearing jeans and a sweater with just a few simple accessories. No need to pack your best-dressed closet this time around; just the basics will do. I was so glad that I brought a few pairs of jeans for the daytime. If you’re feeling fancy, just a basic top and leather pants work perfect for a happy-hour night out.

Of course, I did put together a detailed outfit guide complete with all of the outfits I wore throughout my trips, links to shop, and some of the most Insatgrammable photo spots. Find it all in this blog post! 

• Comfy Walking Shoes: I highly suggest bringing a comfy pair of sneakers to Denver. This is a super casual city so jeans and sneakers will do just fine for a day full of walking. I brought my Dolce Vita Zina’s and wore them almost every day. They are by far my favorite shoes to have with me on the road. 
• Snow Boots: If you plan on venturing off to any of the nearby mountain towns, I suggest bringing a pair of winter weather boots. I got these white chunkers from Steve Madden and was so glad I brought them with! These were seriously lifesavers for the cold, snowy mountains.
• Hat/Scarf: Any place I visit this time of year I suggest bringing a hat and scarf with. These are both super easy accessories to throw into your bag in case you get cold. Although it was sunny during the day, I found myself grateful to have the extra accessories in the evening.
• Puffer: I ended up bringing my biggest puffer jacket with me to Denver and was grateful I did! To be honest, it was a little hot for my trip as temperatures were creeping into the high forties but I’d rather be over-prepared than under. Best to have a chunkier puffer and a lighter-weight trench so that you can alternate.

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Well, that’s a wrap for today’s travel guide. I had a blast eating and seeing my way through Denver. I hope to be back in Colorado at some point this year to see more snow! Until then, let me know what other cities you’d like me to conquer! I’ve got New York City content coming your way next. Stay tuned!

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: What to Wear in Denver, Colorado This Winter 
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