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With its enviable location in the heart of Denver‘s upscale Cherry Creek shopping and dining district, Hotel Clio makes an excellent home base for a Mile High getaway. It’s especially appealing if you want to spend time in Colorado’s capital checking out the area restaurant scene, browsing dozens of locally owned boutiques, or strolling along the waterfront Cherry Creek recreational trail.
Formerly a JW Marriott, Hotel Clio rebranded in 2020 with a $25 million, top-to-bottom renovation. It’s now part of The Luxury Collection by Marriott, composed of worldwide properties — mainly in Asia — that offer elevated accommodations and experiences.
Here’s the scoop on my recent one-night stay.
Lobby and Public Spaces at Hotel Clio
Thoughtful and elegant design takes center stage at Hotel Clio, where the marble lobby floor, with its grey ripple pattern and golden veins, reflects Denver’s history as a 19th-century gold rush town. Curated contemporary art is found throughout the lobby, which has several areas with plush seating for gatherings.
I particularly liked the adjacent cozy corner with a fireplace and large pieces of artwork. The welcoming spaces are intended to serve as “Cherry Creek’s living room.”
Indeed, throughout my one-night stay, I saw hotel guests gathered by the fireplace with drinks from the nearby bar, as well as others in businesswear, presumably unwinding after a day of work. Other folks were set up with laptops at high-top communal tables near the bar and in the sunny courtyard patio.
The hotel’s concierge also sits in an approachable space at a large, solid-wood table near the lobby elevators. All of these configurations set the scene for a hospitable atmosphere.
Dining and Drinks at Hotel Clio
Open to the public, Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge by Chef Richard Sandoval also invites convivial dining and drinking. The restaurant menu focuses on Pan-Latin cuisine with many shared plates and small bites. You’ll see both South American and Japanese influences — think empanadas and sushi rolls.
The flaky Sweet Corn Empanadas served with avocado puree and chimichurri were a highlight. My husband and I also ordered the chocolate La Bomba dessert for two. I won’t ruin the fun surprise regarding how it’s served, but suffice it to say, the presentation was entertaining (and the sweets delish).
Scheduled Epicurean Moments take place every afternoon in the restaurant/bar area. These are complimentary experiences for guests that might include wine, beer, or guacamole tasting.
For our afternoon activity, my husband and I filled up on a generous portion of guacamole served with housemade corn tortilla chips and plantain chips. The guac was accompanied by small ramekins of seasonal add-ons: roasted pepitas, dried cranberries, and manchego cheese. We dumped them all into the avocado mixture for an interesting and yummy combo.
Guest Rooms and Amenities at Hotel Clio
Hotel Clio has 193 guest rooms, five suites, and one Presidential Suite. Our king one-bedroom had a stellar view of the Rocky Mountains to the west. The design is contemporary, with decor in soothing tan, taupe, and grey.
There’s plenty of room to spread out in the 403-square-foot guest rooms. The marble bathroom with a two-sink vanity and a tub/shower was also spacious. Each room is equipped with a Lavazza coffee maker and tea service, as well as a small refrigerator and honor bar.
I appreciated the reusable metal water bottle found in each room (though two would have been nice for guests traveling in pairs). Guests can fill the bottles (or provided in-room glasses) with still or sparkling water from taps found in each floor’s Butlery, also stocked with a basket of whole fruit and granola bars.
In each Butlery are refrigerated drawers filled with bags of ice to grab as you exit the elevator and head to your room. However, ours on the ninth floor seemed not to be working and/or not filled during our one-night stay. We found an empty bag in a warm-ish drawer, but no ice. (I wasn’t concerned enough with the lack of ice to follow up with staff to see if perhaps the drawers were broken and how I might get ice.)
For guests who want to keep up with their workout routine on vacation, the hotel’s below-ground, 24-hour fitness center has Peloton bikes, Hydrow Rowers, and other standard cardio and weight equipment.
There is no on-site spa, but Hotel Clio has relationships with area wellness centers for guest discounts. I highly recommend a massage at The Now, a thoroughly soothing space for relaxation just a couple blocks from Hotel Clio.
The Bottom Line
Hotel Clio shines with its top-notch restaurant, welcoming first-floor public spaces, and stellar location just steps from the action in bustling Cherry Creek.
There is a destination amenity fee of $30 plus tax per room per day. This includes a daily $30 food and beverage credit, as well as two tickets (per stay) to one of Denver’s premier attractions: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Botanic Gardens, or Denver Zoo. Guests can borrow bikes, and courtesy car transportation around town is offered on demand, based on availability.
Pre-paid, nonrefundable king rooms for Marriott Bonvoy members start as low as $232 a night. You can check Booking.com or Expedia to see if you can find a better rate there.
Hotel review and photos by Colorado-based travel writer Kara Williams. Hotel Clio hosted her one-night stay. As always, all thoughts and opinions are her own.
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