During my trip to Colorado at the end of last month, we wrapped up our road trip around the state with a night in Denver. This bustling city is well-known for many things–amazing views, art, food, sports, and music. Obviously, there’s no shortage of things to see and do! But if you’re really into the local art scene, the best place to be is the River North Art District. And the best place to stay is the Catbird Hotel.
I’m always on the hunt for hotels that go beyond the status quo to be not just a stay but an experience. Anyone can throw two queen beds and retro decor in a dim room. Ew. But it takes a special touch to create something so truly unique that guests would rather stay and enjoy the hotel’s amenities than head outside.
That was the Catbird. And today, I want to share eight reasons why this hotel should be at the top of your list for a trip to Denver! TBH, I want to go back to Denver, just so I can stay at this hotel again! It’s that amazing.
The Catbird is in the Perfect Location for Art Lovers
The Catbird is ideally located if you hope to catch some of Denver’s art scene. It’s right inside the vibrant RiNo art district and within easy driving distance of some of the best spots. You can be on the mural-covered Larimer Street or shopping at The Source Market Hall within 5 minutes, while other favorites like the Denver Zoo and Denver Art Museum are about 10 minutes away.
And if you want to get out and walk, you’ll pass plenty of fabulous boutiques, street art, and restaurants with a unique twist.
The Catbird Lobby Makes You Want to Hang Out
I know many hotels have extensive lobbies these days, but I’ve never really wanted to go and sit there. The Catbird was different.
Their open-concept lobby has such a fantastic vibe to it. When you first walk in, little sitting spaces are scattered around, ranging from sofas to chairs, benches, and stools. Each space has a table, so you can work, eat a meal, or sip fresh coffee.
On the far wall, a large, open kitchen takes up about a third of the space (more on that later), and the hallway beyond houses three self-check-in kiosks.
Further in, you’ll find more gathering areas, including a cozy nook with a TV over a fireplace and a separate room that houses desks, more comfy seating, and lots of games! This room was one of my favorites because it had so many artistic pieces and fun elements. They even had books!
On top of that, a whole side of the building is just big picture windows, so you can look out and enjoy the street views while doing whatever in your chosen cozy spot.
It Has the Coolest Rooms Ever
The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw our room was that new Netflix show, Hack My Home, where the designers devise creative ways to use every inch of space.
Our Catbird Studio was 390 square feet of pure innovative genius. Every nook and cranny had something new to discover, but it was all super-streamlined and modern, with beautiful colors and ingenious uses of space. I didn’t realize at first that the Catbird is designed for extended stays, but I would have gladly spent a whole week just chilling here!
I highly recommend checking out my YouTube video for footage of all the unique storage solutions, but I’ll do my best to describe them below!
My Favorite Room Features
The super-comfy king-sized bed was up on a raised platform, which allowed the area underneath to house a ton of storage. There was a safe, a pull-out table, a microwave, shelves, and various hidden cabinets all tucked away in that space. A short staircase gave us access to the bed platform, but it had optional lights, so we didn’t have to worry about walking in the dark. The headboard also had some nice storage options and plugs for our electronics.
The walls also housed several convenient hanging hooks and low-profile wardrobe cabinets that kept the walkway clear but offered plenty of additional storage.
Then there’s the kitchenette. This beautiful space had just about everything you’d need to cook a basic meal, from an induction burner and sink to pots, pans, bowls, and utensils. If you need anything else, you can check out supplies from the front desk! It’s a small space, but it’s very streamlined. The cabinets under the sink area hide a small dishwasher and trashcans. And I didn’t realize until the next day that the cabinet next to the burner hid a nearly full-sized fridge and freezer!
I also loved the spacious bathroom, with lots of counter space, bright blue tiles, and a large back-lit mirror. The glass shower took up a whole wall and had two showerhead options and bottles filled with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
But my favorite part was the window. Our bed faced a large picture window, with two optional screens: a privacy screen and a movie screen! Yup, if we didn’t feel like watching TV on the wall-mounted TV, we could project everything directly onto the 6 ft x 8 ft window instead!
It Offers Tons of Extra Amenities
Complimentary toiletries are old news. But did your last hotel offer bikes and scooters? The Catbird Playroom is fully equipped to help you bring your Denver adventure to life with tons of fun stuff you can check out. They have Polaroids and GoPros, balls, games, fishing poles, picnic kits, record players, and more!
Seriously, what kind of hotel does that? This one.
In hindsight, I wish we’d borrowed bikes or scooters for our excursion around the art district, but I was a little afraid of crashing, lol. But they had the cutest Vespas you could take around town–all decked out in the Catbird colors. Next time…
The Rooftop Space is Insane!
It’s common these days for city hotels to have a rooftop restaurant. And the Catbird is no different. Its onsite bar and lounge, The Red Barber, occupies half of the hotel’s rooftop space with indoor and outdoor seating and fantastic views of Denver.
It’s got a great aesthetic that perfectly ties into the rest of the hotel: long, plush couch-style booths, lots of plants, and industrial-style ceilings and beams. You can chill up here while you enjoy a variety of drinks and small bites or head further onto the rooftop patio for more fun.
The open-air section of the roof is ready for any get-together, with a small amphitheater and stage area, a lawn space complete with lawn chairs and games, personal fire pits surrounded by bean bag chairs, and even an open deck that can be used for events!
Every section has an artsy and whimsical touch, and it’s all elevated even more by the fantastic city views.
But that’s not all–The Catbird Hotel also has 2 rooftop hot tubs!
That’s right. This downtown hotel may not have a pool, but it has two spacious hot tubs with golden views of the Denver skyline. They’re sequestered from the rest of the rooftop by a fence, so hotel guests can still get some privacy from any random people chilling on the rooftop hangout area or eating at The Red Barber.
There’s a walkway below the hot tubs with some chairs to sit and enjoy the view without getting wet.
The Catbird is Dog-Friendly
Now, I didn’t have Atlas with me on this particular trip, but I LOVE a chic hotel that’s also dog-friendly. No one wants to stay in a dismal motel with questionable bedding just so they can bring their fur baby along! So, I love this trend for modern hotels to accommodate pets as well.
The Catbird makes it super-easy for your pup to feel at home, too. They allow dogs of any size and breed and only charge a one-time fee of $75 (for up to a 30-day stay). They even have welcome amenities for your puppy and beds and bowls available. You can read all about it on their pet policy page.
The Food Here is Amazing!
I didn’t know until we arrived, but our reservation included complimentary breakfast from the hotel’s kitchen. When we came down in the morning, a hostess took our room number down and gave us a menu with several delicious choices. We settled on avocado toast and monkey bread french toast, along with the fresh drip coffee they had in the corner of the lobby.
After that, we settled into one of the cozy sitting areas to chill while a chef whipped up our meal in the open kitchen.
I’m not exaggerating when I say the monkey bread french toast was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It was absolutely delicious and made me want to try the whole menu! It was also a huge portion, and I couldn’t eat it all.
The Staff was Super Friendly
Last but not least, I appreciated the staff.
We had some issues at check-in with the self-parking, but they were accommodating and upgraded us to valet parking for free. The morning before we left, the ladies on duty were attentive to us while we were in the lobby for breakfast (they even brought it over to our table), and they were more than willing to give us some tips on how to spend our day in the art district, too.
They also went out of their way to let us enjoy the rooftop. The restaurant didn’t open until later in the day, but they unlocked the roof level on the elevator so we could check it out, and one of them popped up a bit later to make sure we had the code for the hot tubs in case we wanted to use them before we left.
I always appreciate good customer service, and the staff gave me a positive impression.
Closing Thoughts on the Catbird Hotel
Obviously, no hotel is perfect. But the only complaint I had about our stay was the parking situation. As you might expect, parking is a premium commodity in downtown Denver, so we did have to pay around $30 for onsite parking. Although they upgraded us to valet parking free of charge, we spent more on tips.
It’s a small price to pay for everything else you’re getting, but I did want to address that in my review.
If you have any questions about the Catbird (or comments on this post), I’d love for you to leave them in the comment section. Don’t be shy!
You can also check out my YouTube video to see footage of the hotel that gives you a better idea of how innovative it is!
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If you’re interested in reading about more things to do in Colorado, take a peek at these posts:
- Quick Guide to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
- Need a Hot Springs Getaway? Mt. Princeton is the Best!
- Get Lost at Meow Wolf Convergence Station
- How to Maximize Your Trip To The Bear Lake Corridor
Thanks for taking the time to read this post, and I wish you many happy travels.
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