Here's a closer look at Denver's newest eateries, lounges, hotels, conference areas and other spaces available for events this spring. The new and renovated Denver venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, galas, bachelor/bachelorette parties, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to COVID-19, or they may be operating at a lower capacity. As venues begin to slowly reopen across North America, we encourage event organizers to contact the venues to verify current capacity restrictions.
Hotel Clio
Renovated and reopened in March, Hotel Clio—which is inspired by the Greek muse of history—recently underwent a multimillion-dollar transformation featuring a fully reinvigorated lobby experience along with refreshed interior spaces. The new-and-improved property is home to 10,000 square feet of functional space easily transformed to create events such as board meetings, conventions, conferences and team retreats, along with weddings and galas. Breakout rooms host capacities of 60 to 90 guests, while ballrooms can accommodate 275 to 360. Additionally, The Deck has room for up to 115 guests, and the Toro private dining room welcomes 275. Hotel Clio offers state-of-the-art AV equipment, creative banquet menus and sweeping views of Rocky Mountain. Plus, event planners can take advantage of custom itineraries for activities in between meeting sessions, as well as team-building offerings like ceviche- and guacamole-making classes at Toro. Meeting room rental pricing ranges from $1,000-$5,000 per day based on the size of the room, day of the week and seasonality.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Clio
Water Grill Denver
Water Grill Denver opened in February and offers an authentic and nautical setting with industrial design touches for an approachable-yet-elevated dining experience. There’s a captivating custom copper bar top and large operable windows that can open and close to suit all seasons. The space also offers a raw bar that is not only functional but also serves as a design feature and enticing photo backdrop, along with saltwater tanks that showcase live, spiny lobsters and gigantic king crabs, adding to the sea-to-table vibe. Water Grill Denver offers 9,400 square feet of event space with a capacity of 275 and includes several semiprivate vignettes, which can seat groups of 15 to 35, 50 to 70, and everything in between. Full buyouts have access to AV capabilities. From intimate dinners to large celebratory gatherings, pricing ranges based on menu (think: seafood and steaks) and guest count, with no set minimums.
Photo: Courtesy of TJ Romero
GC Lounge
The concept and design of GC Lounge, which opened last December, is inspired by golf movement. The architecture features smooth, arching parabolic forms that resemble the style of a golf swing, accented walls wrapped in turf and three floor-to-ceiling glass windows that pour natural light into the space. The venue boasts 3,904 square feet of event space and can accommodate capacities ranging from 43 on the patio to 144 for seated receptions. There are also four TrackMan simulators. The lounge is ideal for private corporate gatherings, holiday parties, team-building happy hours, client meetings and bachelor parties. Food and beverage options are country club-inspired and include salads, sandwiches and burgers along with beer, wine and cocktail options.
Photo: The Denver Dish
Five Nines
Designed in collaboration with AvroKO’s San Francisco design studio, Five Nines opened in February. The elevated cocktail lounge is nestled within the Clayton Members Club & Hotel in Cherry Creek. The dark, moody atmosphere is inspired by a gem grotto, weaving together rich, jewel-tone colors with brushes of brass and an undulated feature above the bar that is a nod to the stratum of the Colorado landscape. The space spans 1,100 square feet and is perfect for standing or seated cocktail receptions of up to 60 guests (no seated dinners at this time) with a customizable banquet menu. There’s also a small stage with entertainment and AV capabilities that anchors the room. Buyouts range from $3,000-$15,000 depending on the day, plus a food and beverage minimum.
Photo: Courtesy of David Lauer
Thompson Denver
Opened in February, Thompson Denver is a boutique Hyatt hotel located downtown in the historic LoDo neighborhood, complete with 7,500 square feet of event space. Noteworthy spaces include the Mattie Silks premiere ballroom, which hosts 240 and first welcomes guests to a living room with a fireplace before entering via sculptural staircase. The Kate Fulton Ballroom offers views of the hotel’s showpiece hearth and caters to everything from weddings to corporate functions for 120 guests. Reynard Social is a sixth-floor sunroom lounge featuring seasonal cocktails and Alpine-inspired bites comprised of three event spaces (Sunroom: 75 guests, Library: 75 guests and Living Room: 100 guests) ideal for wedding showers, social gatherings and team meetings. Finally, Chez Maggy, decorated in elegant banquettes, dark-wood paneling and interior foliage, offers a cozy dining space and bar perfect for wedding rehearsal dinners, team celebrations or brunch events. At the helm is Michelin-starred chef Ludo Lefebvre, who crafts unapologetically French cuisine, from French onion soup and steak tartare to Denver-inspired dishes like bison bourguignon and the French-ified Denver omelet.
Photo: Courtesy of T2 Hospitality
Lucchese Denver
Lucchese Denver, a historical boot-making shop, opened its Denver outpost last December. Sporting a familiar, made-in-Texas feel, there are also classic Denver-centric design motifs such as antlers, deer hides and Western patterns exclusive to the Mile High City. The 1,500-square-foot space is available for private shopping experiences, and pricing starts at $2,500 per hour with payment applied to purchases. The private shopping option is great for corporate events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, wedding showers, retirement celebrations and graduation gatherings. Guests can create custom boots, choosing anything from color to boot style to type of leather used. As guests finalize their designs with personal details, they can relax on custom Lucchese Denver-monogrammed and -embroidered leather chairs while enjoying local spirts, wine and beer.
Photo: Courtesy of Lucchese Denver
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver
Last October, Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver opened its doors among the heart of the city’s skyline. The property pays homage to Denver throughout, and includes a custom mural in the driveway as well as local artwork. Notable is the penthouse level, which offers ample natural light and an outdoor terrace that flows into a prefunction area with 2,350 square feet of flexible meeting space for 120 guests. Plus, there’s a 975-square-foot hospitality suite (aka the CEO Penthouse Suite) complete with a dedicated living area, spacious high-end dining table for eight and a private rooftop terrace with mountain and city views. Buyout pricing ranges from $500-$5,000, with catering options available from on-site Apple Blossom by renowned chef duo Aileen and Paul Reilly.
Photo: Steve Werk/Werk Creative
