Having grown up in Denver, Colorado, we’ve seen an unexpected evolution of the city over time. If you remember Denver of the 1980s and 1990s, you would never believe if I told you that, if given the opportunity, you would want to go spend a night or two in what residents of the city would remember as an industrial wasteland. The area that is now known as RiNo (or River North) would only have been on your radar as an area to avoid at all costs.

Now, in 2024, that has all changed and RiNo is a destination in and of itself. Brought back to life to become a vibrant neighborhood with a heavy art influence, RiNo is home to The Source Hotel, where we were privileged to stay* this past week.

Take a look around the area in RiNo and you will find that there is a lot of coruscating street art (always a favorite thing to see in different cities for me), unusual architecture, and a thriving nightlife.

The Source Hotel is located on the west side of the district. Easy to get to and close to so many downtown attractions. I wish I had known about this hotel when I went to see Ed Sheeran last summer, as the location is minutes from Coors Field.

The Source Hotel integrates into the neighborhood seamlessly. The hotel structure is full of concrete and glass, yet its oddly geometric and off- kilter black and white formation complements the art district. Walk inside and you will find this ultra modern hotel is minimalistic, yet cascading with luxury at every turn.

We were greeted by very accommodating and gracious staff who went out of their way to welcome us and see that our stay at the hotel was perfect in every way. We were celebrating a special occasion and once aware of the anniversary, we were treated to some excellent surprises. This is an excellent feature to be noted, the hotel concierge offers a wide array of add-ons for your stay including champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, delectable desserts, cheese and charcuterie boards, and even floral arrangements to enhance your stay.

We had booked the Mountain View Suite and found our way to our room on the 6th floor. I have never seen a room like this before. Incorporated into our room decor was lots of concrete, glass, and light. A nod to the history of the area, but this was an absolutely beautiful use of those materials that was very unexpected.

Normally, one likes to book a room that has as much space as possible. Probably because hotel rooms tend to feel a little claustrophobic, if I’m honest. Only having walls to carve out personal space while staying in a hotel and not being able to open windows tends to make you want as much area as possible. This room integrates the outdoors and the city into that personal space and almost erases the boundaries of a normal hotel room. Imagine getting ready in the bathroom mirror, but your view isn’t all mirrors and walls, it is a picturesque landscape because behind the mirror is an entire wall of windows overlooking the city.

To the left of the bed, we found an automated door, what appeared to be a garage door panel with many windows, that could be opened up. Here we were on the 6th floor and an entire wall lifted up to expose the elements, both air and sun, and they filled our room. This made our room feel open, airy without any wind, and without walls. Such a unique concept! If you didn’t want to leave the doors open, you can close them up and even lower the automatic black out shades that keep all light out. But, we were excited to see both the sunset and sunrise from the bedroom, as we were situated to easily enjoy both as they occurred.

Inside the bedroom was an oversized deep soaking tub also looking out over the city next to more windows, adjacent to the bedroom was a separate bathroom with shower, vanity and toilet all with an iconic view of the Denver skyline.

In a separate living area, there was a sleeper sofa, TV, and a kitchenette with even more views. Extremely high ceilings, floors, and pillars all made of concrete filled the space, which made for an absolutely soundproof room. All signs of other occupants of the building, and of the city for that matter, were completely silenced. I loved the integrated LED lighting at the base of the concrete pillars, adding to the modern, industrial feel of the decor.

The room, although simplistic in design was absolutely amazing, a sensory experience unlike any other we’ve had in a hotel before.

When it came time to retire for the night, being able to open up the door to the outdoors and see the city lights from the bed was really incredible. While we were open to the elements, the heat of our room met up against the cool air of the Mile High city and kept us temperate and comfortable in the best bed I’ve ever slept on in a hotel. If urban camping was a thing, this is it and it is spectacular. The perfect combination of the outdoors with all the amenities you could ask for.

Speaking of amenities, The Source Hotel has many included in your stay:

• Locally brewed welcome beer at check-in
• Complimentary in-room bottled water + coffee
• Access to rooftop fitness center + plunge pools
• $15 credit at The Woods rooftop restaurant + bar
• Access to 24/7 business center with printing services

I loved the pool and hot tub on the roof that had unparalleled views. I could stay up on the roof to see these sights forever.

Situated in the lobby of the hotel were retail, an artisanal market hall, and other restaurants popular with patrons and locals alike. In the morning, we tried a Chopped Brisket breakfast burrito from Billy’s Burritos that had lines out the door.

We so enjoyed our time at The Source Hotel and highly recommend this extraordinary experience for everyone–whether you are visiting Denver for the first time or are a local just wanting to try something new. The entire experience was wonderful from start to finish. We are so happy to see the rejuvenation of this hip and retro area of Denver that is called RiNo and couldn’t imagine it without The Source Hotel to overlook it all.

To learn more about The Source Hotel and to book your own stay, visit them online.

_{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own.*}