The History Buff’s Guide to LoDo

Home Base: The Oxford Hotel

Looking for a bit of history during your Denver visit? The Oxford Hotel, established in 1891, is Denver's oldest operating hotel and a registered landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the hotel offers individually decorated rooms and suites that blend Victorian and Art Deco influences, a spa, and the glam Cruise Room, Denver’s oldest bar, which just happened to open the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

9 a.m. 
Take a leisurely walk up the recently renovated 16th Street—a roughly $170 million overhaul to the pedestrian/mass transit corridor. With wider sidewalks, public art installations, and an increased tree canopy, you’ll enjoy taking in the restaurants and shops along this downtown Denver icon. Stop by the charming Little Finch at 16th and Blake streets for a coffee and a sweet or savory pastry for breakfast.

11 a.m.
Finish your stroll back at Larimer Square for some retail therapy at some of the city’s most unique shops. Larimer Square is where the city of Denver was founded in the late 1800s. Today, it’s a charming pedestrian area with a variety of restaurants, bars, and boutiques. For fashionable and affordable women’s clothing, check out Coco + Grace; men looking for custom suits and dress shirts should visit Black Lapel. If you’re headed up to the mountains, you’ll find gear for your next adventure at Cotopaxi. And last but not least, your pup will be thrilled with whatever you bring home from Dog Savvy, a charming and playful pet boutique.

12 p.m.
While you’re on Larimer Square, sit for a leisurely lunch at either Chef Richard Sandoval’s Tamayo, which opened in 2001. Order the red snapper ceviche and some adobo chicken tacos and try one of the more than 100 agave spirits on the menu.  Or try James Beard award–winning chef Jennifer Jasinski’s Rioja, where you can sit at the copper-topped bar and order from the Mediterranean-influenced menu. The Colorado lamb burger, served with sweet potato fries, is one of Denver’s most iconic dishes.

2 p.m. 
Head back to your hotel and refresh your mind and body with an afternoon at the Oxford Club & Spa where you can choose from multiple massage options (therapeutic, reflexology, stone) or body treatments including a calming customized bath experience, the Ultimate Zen body scrub, and a remineralizing body wrap. If you’re feeling the effects of Denver’s elevation, the Oxford Club & Spa also houses a Hydrate IV Bar to help you rejuvenate.

5 p.m.
Adequately refreshed, pop down to the Oxford’s lobby and step into the Cruise Room for a happy hour cocktail. Inspired by the RMS Queen Mary's lounge, the bar boasts a unique wine bottle-shaped layout, and its walls are adorned with hand-carved panels that celebrate international toasting traditions, from “Skål” to “Salud.” Order a classic martini or Manhattan and take in the vintage vibe, which is enhanced by the soft glow of red neon lighting.

7 p.m.
For dinner, wander a few blocks down Wazee Street to A5, the brainchild of celebrated chef Max MacKissock. A5 is not your grandfather’s steakhouse: Open and airy with a wraparound bar, A5 eschews white tablecloths, carpet, and dark wood paneling for a fun, funky, decidedly eclectic vibe. The menu showcases a diverse selection of steaks, including unique cuts like bavette, tri-tip, and the Denver steak, all cooked over wood.