Mile High Escape
By Laurette M. Veres
Hotel Monaco: A Kimpton Hotel is a quaint boutique hotel located in downtown Denver. The evening H Texas visits, we feel extremely welcome. We receive a bottle of wine at check in, but don’t open it yet. Happy hour is in full swing in the lobby. “Just a welcome for our guests,” we are told. The party includes free chair massages. My photographer challenges me to Wii bowling – right in the lobby. I win. This place is fun.
The rooms are exquisite; colors are cool: brown and orange. An accent blanket in animal print continues the modern feel. The location is even cooler, right in the heart of vibrant and bustling downtown Denver, near the LoDo entertainment district.
For dinner, we consult yelp and
head over to Osteria Marco. The meats are cured in house and homemade cheese fills the menu. The extensive drink menu features Absinthe (aka The Green Fairy) served in the traditional manner with sugar and ice water.
Brunch on Sunday morning at Panzano is spectacular, and convenient. Panzano is attached to the hotel. We enjoy fresh-baked bread, mimosas, turkey sandwiches and tomato soup. Fresh and rested, we head west on I-70 to enjoy a week of skiing.
Essentials:
Hotel Monaco Denver, 800-990-1303; monaco-denver.com
Osteria Marco, osteriamarco.com
For starters, dogs are welcome here. Before you reach check-in, a chalkboard welcomes the in-house pooches.
