LoDo

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 LoDo 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.

One of Denver’s most historic hotels, The Crawford is located within Union Station (built 1881), aesthetically an impressive combination of opulent luxury and old-world charm. From ornately carved wood furnishings to plush, luxe linens, the accommodations here are top of the line, and from here you’ve got direct access to several highly recommended eateries, cafés, and bars—try the coffee at Pigtrain in the morning, and pop into their bar, The Cooper Lounge, for a proper cocktail. Guests have access to their fitness center, spa, and salon, the Oxford Club, for indulgent massages, decadent body treatments, and a full-blown cut-and-color by their in-house experts. Aside from its status as a historical landmark, its central location—and the main hall’s popularity as “Denver’s living room”—makes this glorious institution a must-see, even if you aren’t staying as a guest (and if you come into town via The Train to the Plane, you’ll likely pass it by on your way in and out of town).

For a high-energy, core-strengthening workout, Natalie Uhling’s NUFit™ program—classes take place at the Colorado Athletic Club (Union Station location)—combines elements of cardio and spot toning in an intense, hour-long session, set to blasting music. If Natalie’s training clientele is any indication (spoiler: it includes Olympians), this is the class to go to for an incredibly energizing, sweat-breaking, unconventional, and actually fun workout that’s suitable for all kinds of athletes (or anyone looking for a passionate, hardcore way to get in way better shape).

Nestled in Larimer Square (with another location now at the Cherry Creek Mall), 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.

Tucked away in Union Square, this top-notch, multi-coastal seafood house and oyster bar flies in fresh seafood daily. The space is kind of narrow, but the high ceilings, exhibition kitchen, and 40-seat patio more than make up for it; and their fresh raw bar, craft cocktails, and perfectly shucked oysters are the real reason to pay a visit. If you can, try to take advantage of their happy hour, where you can get the same amazing oysters at $2 a pop.

MCA Denver Director Adam Lerner first got the attention of the museum world with his quirky "Mixed Taste" program, which presented talks by lecturers from completely different fields on topics like "Porcini Mushrooms & the American Ideal," "Ukulele & Afrofuturism," or "Tomatoes & Leonardo da Vinci," which had the effect of making contemporary art more accessible by infusing it with laughter and lightheartedness. Since then, the museum (which occupies a gorgeous David Adjaye-designed building and is marked by a giant, blinking, rotating heart sculpture by Tim Noble and Sue Webster) has garnered further attention for some groundbreaking exhibitions, including originating the first Marilyn Minter career retrospective, and an exhibition of Basquiat works from the critical, formative years of 1979 and 1980. Parents of Denver teens should know about Failure Lab, their internship program for a select group of Denver teens who spend the year making artwork, planning programming and drop-in events, and working with professional artists to create new projects. Oh, and if you happen to be in town for one of their openings, locals will tell you they throw the best parties in town.

This spot, on the eastern edge of the newly renovated Union Station building downtown, is part white-tablecloth restaurant and part takeaway market. The sit-down portion serves a roughly Italian menu (caramelized potato gnocchi, parsnip tortellini, burrata with beets and citrus confit) with a few American menu items thrown in (broccoli cheddar soup, crispy chicken with vegetable pot pie) in a dining room that features Union Station's signature high ceilings and tall windows that look out onto the plaza. In the takeaway section, you'll find a deli counter with imported cheeses and sliced-to-order prosciutto, plus pastries, a coffee bar, and office-lunch-style sandwiches and salads—including an Italian sandwich that's in the running for Denver's best.

Opened in 2010, the Four Seasons is one of downtown Denver's tallest buildings, with 24 floors of hotel space at the base and several floors of condos at the top—it's important to ask for a West-facing room here, because you'll be all but guaranteed gorgeous views of the mountains in the distance (and an excellent show if you happen to be around at sunset). The luxe accommodations offer everything you'd expect from any Four Seasons, but what really sets this location apart is the spa, decorated with stones and sleek wood and inarguably one of Denver's best places for treatments. There's also a fully outfitted gym that overlooks a rooftop pool—and since Denver gets 300 days of sun a year, you'll be able to use it more often than you'd imagine.

The Born Hotel, which officially opens its doors in late spring, is owned by long-time Denverites (and, coincidentally, the parents of a goop staffer) who recognized the city's lack of hotels that offered good design. With mountain-inspired interiors that aren't at all kitschy—think plaid throw pillows; mid-century furniture and light fixtures; and custom millwork for the walls and beds—the Born is a pretty elegant solution. The hotel itself is a block from the restaurants and buzz of Union Station and the city's recently opened fast-track rail line to the airport, and in the halls, you'll find artwork from local Denver artists curated by Adam Lerner, the director of nearby MCA Denver. While the hotel is a major win for out-of-towners, locals are most excited about Tavernetta, the first-floor restaurant from Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson of the beloved Frasca Food & Wine (only their second fine dining restaurant, and their first in Denver).

The Squeaky Bean originally started as a tiny little spot in LoHi, growing most of the restaurant's greens in raised beds on nearby lots. When they expanded to their much larger space downtown, the farm grew too, and it now occupies three acres (including two year-round greenhouses) at Warren Tech High School, where the farmers and co-owners run an educational program for students. While we're always excited to support a social enterprise, the real reason to come to Squeaky Bean is for the food, which is some of the city's most ambitious: The menu includes a steak tartare with quail eggs and pickled horseradish, an excellent chicken liver mousse, Maine lobster with cauliflower and grapefruit, and miso-marinated eggplant and squash with tomato jam. If you're there for lunch (it's very conveniently located for business meetings), be sure to order the burger, which is arguably the city's best.