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.

Bloom has a backstory as fascinating as its unique selection of flowers, jewelry, and gifts. Originally from a small town in Germany, Anuschka Pashel traveled the world as a fashion model before landing in Denver in 1998, where she worked out of a studio and in the local markets until she opened this boutique in 2011. With a subtly eclectic combination of modern and Victorian-inspired furnishings, shopping at Bloom feels like perusing a beautifully appointed living room—and the best part is, the home accessories are shoppable, from blankets, pillows, mirrors, and light fixtures to small accessories like candles and vintage-chic wall art. For Anouschka, floral arrangements are a fine art, so come here when you need a gorgeous, original floral arrangement, plus Rifle Paper Co. gift cards and ornate pots and planters to gift them with.

Aillea is the go-to brick-and-mortar shop for clean beauty in Denver. Owner and self-described lifetime beauty junkie Kathryn Murray Dickinson, formerly a beauty industry executive in New York, stocks a rich variety of non-toxic makeup, skincare, hair care, bath & body, nail care, and fragrance—most of which, at the very least, are wholeheartedly goop-approved.

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.