Cherry Creek

Max Martinez and his eponymous stores (there are also locations in Boulder and Aspen) are really the cream of the Colorado fashion crop. An early buyer of now-household names like Isabel Marant, the boutiques (a partnership between Martinez and owner Scott Seale) always carry a mix of name-brand classics and little-known newcomers. It’s probably the most luxurious of the area’s boutiques, so go for investment pieces like Nili Lotan sweaters, Céline bags, and Pierre Hardy boots. If you can, try to stop in when Max is in the store—in addition to being the warmest host imaginable, he has an amazing eye for pieces that flatter.

True to form, this new clandestine Cherry Creek speakeasy isn’t easy to spot from the street—you have to walk down an alley between Second and Third Avenue before you find a nondescript sign that just reads “Stair 3.” There’s a gold Art Deco doorbell that gives a better indication of what greets you in the basement beneath: a sophisticated cocktail menu from Brendon Wise, the beverage director of Sage Hospitality (the group that owns the adjacent hotel B&GC, The Halcyon); a dark space (but well-lit bar), cognac leather booths, and more gold Art Deco flourishes. Drinks like Aviatrix (Plymouth gin, sparkling rose, plus other good stuff), New Money (Bourbon, smoked vermouth, amaro, house bitters), and tight-lipped bartenders await. It's also worth noting that the stylish Halcyon Hotel is a decent (new) option if you have business or friends in Cherry Creek—there aren’t too many options nearby.

In a neighborhood that's known for glitzy steakhouses and sometimes overpriced fine dining, this straightforward Italian spot is a welcome respite (and makes for an excellent lunch pit stop when you're in the area for a day of shopping). The interior is clean and warm, with exposed brick and fresh flowers in the entry, and the service is always excellent. The menu is inspired by Northern Italy, with great pizzas and pastas that they make in-house, plus some solidly filling salad options like a Tuscan kale with grapes and apples, and a seasonal vegetable chop with butternut squash and brussels sprouts.