Monday, December 2, 2024
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Sky-High Meetings

By Beth Buehler

There is something special about gathering outdoors for a cocktail reception or team-building outing. And since 2015—when The Art Hotel Denver was the first of seven hotels in Denver to open rooftop venues—the city has made it a priority to utilize fresh-air spaces to the fullest potential. We identified a collection of elevated spaces nestled downtown and in other neighborhoods of The Mile High City, as well as across the state of Colorado.  

Downtown

54thirty

Denver’s highest open-air rooftop bar, 54thirty, is located on the 20th floor of Le Méridien Denver Downtown. The seasonal lounge specializes in artfully crafted cocktails and globally inspired small plates accompanied by stellar panoramic views, fire pits, and cafe lights. Full or partial buyouts are available for up to 125 guests. 

Le Méridien Denver Downtown provides a panoramic view
of the bustling city.

54thirty

Vossloh North America of Lakewood held an event at 54thirty for railroad-industry customers who were attending the 2022 American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association Annual Conference & Expo at the Colorado Convention Center. “The space was a great outdoor area for our guests toward the end of summer,” says Sales and Marketing Coordinator Ashley DeClercq. “This rooftop has a great view of Denver, which all of our guests loved.” 54thirty.com

Colorado Convention Center 

A major addition is underway at the Colorado Convention Center (CCC). The new terrace level is slated for completion this  December and includes a 20,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city, an 80,000-square-foot ballroom, and 35,000 square feet of prefunction space. denverconvention.com

Roof16 

Nearby, Roof16 has 7,000 square feet of combined indoor-outdoor gathering space. Choose from a beautiful garden rooftop, indoor greenhouse, and other indoor space on the ninth and tenth floors, or use a combination of all three—which was the case for Meeting Professionals International Rocky Mountain Chapter’s (MPIRMC) 2022 gala and auction. 

“Attendees loved the event space,” says MPIRMC Executive Director Freddie Templeton. “It is unique due to the garden on top of the roof with its floor plan, fun seating, and great views of the city around you.” expansive.com 

Fire Terrace

The Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton is a cornerstone of downtown Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District. The artsy vibe spills over onto Fire Terrace, a fourth-floor rooftop patio that connects to Fire Restaurant and Lounge. Groups of up to 35 guests are invited to sip classic craft cocktails with a New American twist and dine on tasty nibbles while overlooking Broadway Street, the Denver Art Museum, and other cultural attractions. Gather around the main fire pit that serves as a striking centerpiece or enjoy more private settings with couches and red umbrellas arranged in cozy groups. thearthotel.com

An aerial view of the Fire Terrace at The Art Hotel Denver

The Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton

Terrace & Skybridge Rooftop Pool Deck

With a prime location by Coors Field, The Rally Hotel’s spacious 6,490-square-foot Skybridge Rooftop surrounds the pool, and the 6,400-square-foot Terrace adjoins two ballrooms and prefunction space. Both provide unmatched views of the baseball stadium and the city skyline. The Terrace also overlooks McGregor Square Plaza, which features a huge video screen, a variety of restaurants, and plenty of outdoor seating. therallyhotel.com 

River North Art District

The Rooftop Deck

At Catbird, a boutique hotel in the River North Art District (RiNo), The Rooftop Deck features The Red Barber bar and restaurant, fire pits, hot tubs, an event deck, a lawn, and a stage. It is a treat to hang out in one of the lounge areas at any time of day, play yard games, enjoy a beverage and bite to eat, or host a gathering.

“We have such unique meeting spaces throughout the hotel from traditional boardroom style meeting spaces … to the large event deck with full downtown skyline and mountain views that can host up to 500 guests,” says General Manager Courtney Griffith. catbirdhotel.com

The Woods Restaurant & Rooftop

Another option is the eighth-floor rooftop at The Source Hotel + Market Hall. The Woods is a full-service restaurant and bar that showcases experimental and small-batch beers crafted on-site by New Belgium Brewing Co. The brews are paired with beer-garden ambiance and tasty breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Book the main terrace for up to 130 guests or the pool deck for a maximum of 60. 

The 250-square-foot Flex Room is located next to The Woods and features floor-to-ceiling windows and operational garage doors that open onto a smaller private terrace. This space is ideal for intimate dinners, receptions, and board meetings. thesourcehotel.com

Cherry Creek

Kisbee on the Roof

The 1,200-square-foot Kisbee on the Roof at The Jacquard, Autograph Collection works well for groups of up to 30 guests and is perfect for mingling and watching sunsets. Buyouts of the entire rooftop, including the pool area, are available to host a maximum of 175.  

“Kisbee on the Roof is open to the public year-round,” says Melissa Bush, director of sales and marketing. “We have a great tent over the bar area and soon will have a tented area for additional seating on the south end.” thejacquard.com

Elevated Rooftop Bar & Pool Deck

The Elevated Rooftop Bar & Pool Deck at Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, is constantly in use. “The rooftop is very popular with all groups (corporate and social) for everything from breakfast and small team breakout sessions to receptions, and we have carefully curated rooftop experiences for the whole year (sun or snow),” says Group Sales
Manager Laurie Dayton. 

In the winter, cabanas are converted into individual ski chalets for Après in the Clouds and small group dining, and the West Deck is turned into a winter curling experience. “During winter months, we can have groups of up to 60 people on the West Deck, and Elevated can have events for up to 150 people during the summer,” Dayton says. “Where else can you sip on local Colorado spirits and play a few rounds of curling, all with the Colorado State Capitol and Rocky Mountains in the background?” halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com

Linger Eatuaries features a lively and bright outdoor lounge for visitors.

James Florio Photography

Lower Highland 

Linger Eatuaries 

This restaurant overlooks the Lower Highland neighborhood and has a prime rooftop for cocktail receptions involving up to 200 guests. The rooftop patio is outfitted with a 1975 GMC RV as a bar and repurposed food truck as a kitchen serving up steamed bao buns, five-spice short rib pancakes, sliders, bhel puri (puffed rice), beet salad, and more.
ediblebeats.com/linger  

Kick Back & Relax

Other Great Rooftops Around the State

The Golden Mill 

The only rooftop bar in Golden is part of a food hall with five local food concepts and two self-pour tap walls. There is also year-round outdoor seating with fire pits. thegoldenmill.com

Year-round outdoor fire pits at The Golden Mill

The Golden Mill

The Imogene Hotel & Rooftop Bar 

Indulge in handcrafted cocktails and a variety of soups at this seasonal rooftop bar in a hip boutique hotel located inside an 1890s-era building in downtown Ouray. theimogene.com

Lumen8 Rooftop Social 

At the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Colorado Springs Downtown, savor the great views, a robust cocktail and wine menu, and a wide variety of shareable plates, entrees, and desserts. lumen8cos.com

Ouray Brewery 

Enjoy a beer brewed on-site, hearty pub-style American cuisine, and a rooftop patio that overlooks downtown Ouray. ouraybrewery.com

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