Continuing my tour of new Denver hotels, I had the good fortune of visiting Cherry Creek North’s Halycon, which opened in August 2016 and was the first new lodging property in this hip, high-end district to open in a decade, with more coming online in the near future. In our recent Colorado Hotel Boom feature story in the Summer 2017 issue of Colorado Meetings + Events, industry pros Chris Starkey from AXS Group and Deana Mitchell from Realize Colorado praised Halcyon, and now I see why.
Upon walking in, there is the kitchen counter/registration desk right inside the front door ready to serve up a complimentary coffee drink (all front desk staff are trained baristas) 24 hours a day or wine, beer and select cocktails from 3–10 p.m. When heading through the comfortable and attractive lobby to the elevators, guests go by an illuminated gear garage filled with items to like Vespa scooters, bikes, Colorado-made longboards, hamboards, Polaroid and Leica cameras, adventure packs, board games and more to check out and use. My niece and I had fun with the Polaroid camera and the vinyl record player in our room. We also liked the glass bottles with still and bubbly water that could be refilled at a station by the elevator where hot tea also could be brewed.
Other favorite parts about the hotel, in addition to the 6,500 square feet of meeting space with windows, are the art collection that exceeds 750 pieces including several by 40 Colorado artists; welcoming guest room hallways with wood floors and welcome mats with fun sayings and leather pouches by each door, and the rooftop pool deck that includes Departures Elevated (rooftop bar) and plenty of cabanas, tables and comfy chairs. The rooftop deck can be booked for events in the evening, and there is a new sunset yoga series this summer held every other Sunday from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. in partnership with PURA VIDA fitness & spa.
I am excited about the addition of more lodging capacity for groups in Cherry Creek North as it is a very walkable district where transportation isn’t needed to access great shops, restaurants and the Cherry Creek Trail. We strolled a few blocks to Del Frisco’s Grille Cherry Creek for a terrific dinner on the rooftop, which definitely satisfies the standards of selective meeting and event planners with great views, unique spaces, and creative culinary dishes and cocktails. Why not have two evenings or an evening and an afternoon on two of Denver’s most enjoyable rooftops during a group visit?
SOL Mexican Cocina also is another tasty and newer restaurant in Cherry Creek North that has nice private dining space indoors. The eatery’s Blueberry & Basil Margarita (scheduled to be the featured farmer’s market margarita for September) will be the Signature Drink in our Fall 2017 issue.
Just looking at the photos are sure to leave you thirsty and wanting to plan a meeting or event in Cherry Creek North!
