Thompson Denver lodge assessment – The Factors Man

What’s the Thompson Denver?

Opened in 2022, the Thompson Denver was designed by New York Metropolis agency Elements and Labor Design with a aim of incorporating the Thompson model’s signature midcentury fashionable type with delicate (not kitschy) nods to the close by Rocky Mountains. Having lived in Colorado for greater than a decade (and seen my justifiable share of kitschy mountain-themed lodging), I might say it succeeded.

The rooms and customary areas draw from a palette of earth tones, with components like wooden, marble and leather-based including to the pure really feel. Modern artwork items and industrial lighting fixtures hold the decor from feeling outdated or fusty, and enjoyable touches like a puzzle within the foyer and snacks at check-in add to the approachable vibe.

With a number of methods to guide with factors and miles, that is an reasonably priced place to remain in type whereas exploring the Mile Excessive Metropolis. It is also a haven for foodies (and nonfoodies like me), with an on-site French restaurant helmed by award-winning French chef Ludo Lefebvre and an unbeatable location within the coronary heart of Denver’s eating scene.

Tips on how to guide the Thompson Denver

Money charges on the Thompson Denver typically hover round $300 per evening, although they’ll climb previous $800 on peak dates. Fortunately, there are a number of methods to save lots of utilizing lodge factors and bank card perks.

This can be a Class 5 Hyatt property, that means you possibly can’t use Hyatt’s invaluable Class 1-4 free evening certificates right here. Per Hyatt’s award chart, an award keep right here will value you 17,000, 20,000 or 23,000 factors per evening, relying on whether or not the dates fall into Hyatt’s definition of “off-peak,” “commonplace” or “peak” durations.

The situation cannot be beat

The Thompson Denver is within the coronary heart of LoDo (Decrease Downtown), town’s most historic and central neighborhood, and across the nook from Denver’s ever-popular sixteenth Avenue Mall. You possibly can simply discover the mall’s buying and eating on foot or by hopping on one of many free MallRide buses that run from Union Station to Civic Heart Station. You will be inside simple strolling distance of the Denver Mint, Downtown Aquarium, Elitch Gardens theme park, Comedy Works Downtown, Holey Moley minigolf and extra.

Throughout my go to in December, the realm was decked out in festive lights and garlands, with an out of doors skating rink only a couple blocks from the lodge.

Foodies could by no means need to depart the Thompson’s flagship restaurant, Chez Maggy. However in the event you do, you may discover loads of eating choices inside simple strolling distance, from the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant Bruto to the hip Milk Market meals corridor.

Whether or not you are a first-time customer hoping to hit Denver’s predominant sights or a longtime Coloradan on the lookout for a enjoyable weekend downtown, the Thompson Denver is ideally located.

Getting there

In fact, with this prime location comes the wrestle of parking downtown. In the event you’re coming from Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN), your greatest guess is to take the RTD A Line from the airport to Union Station and stroll or catch a experience the previous couple of blocks to the lodge.

In the event you’re driving, the one lodge parking possibility is valet, which prices $64 per evening with in-out privileges. That is actually essentially the most handy and nice possibility — the valets had been extremely pleasant (to each me and my canine), and the QR code they supplied made it simple to request my automobile.

Rooms are small however luxurious

My commonplace king visitor room felt appropriately elegant for the vibe of the lodge — however there have been additionally a number of considerate, homey touches that made the room extra comfy.

I arrived to discover a piece of chocolate on the mattress and a handwritten observe with the climate forecast for the subsequent day. One other observe listed the lodge’s eating venues and their hours, the health middle hours, and a map exhibiting the situation of water and ice stations on every flooring.

There have been two bathrobes ready for me, together with a pair of velvety slippers.

A barn door revealed a well-equipped lavatory, with further towels, a hair dryer, a double-sided vainness mirror and a brown washcloth for make-up wearers. The spacious bathe had each a rain-style overhead fixture and an extendable wand. There have been Bowmakers tub merchandise and some different toiletry gadgets supplied without spending a dime, in addition to for-purchase kits (just like the Mile Excessive Miracle pores and skin package by Pores and skin Authority for $75) in case I needed to have a spa evening.

Dried eucalyptus hanging over the bathroom added a spa-like contact and a lightweight perfume.

As an alternative of an iron, there was a steamer supplied within the closet. There have been additionally luggage and directions for find out how to get your sneakers shined and health club garments laundered without spending a dime, a number of the facilities included with the $25 nightly vacation spot charge (extra on that later).

In addition to the standard espresso/tea station, the room was loaded with snacks, drinks and different helpful gadgets accessible for buy. Costs weren’t low cost; a couple of examples embrace a $10 bag of kettle chips, a $16 chocolate bar, $20 canned cocktails and a $25 smartphone charging package. I appreciated the notes included within the snack tray explaining how a lot every merchandise value, which some inns pass over.

The nightstands held a telephone and an old-school Victrola radio, which you’ll be able to hook up with your telephone by way of Bluetooth to play music. The thermostat was simple to make use of, and I discovered each the warmth and air-con extraordinarily quiet when working. There have been additionally each commonplace and USB retailers across the room.

The closet had a few slick touches that I discovered very helpful. Its glass doorways robotically lit up after I opened them (and beeped if I forgot to shut them), and motion-activated lights beneath illuminated the ground after I walked by (helpful after I wanted to seek out my solution to the lavatory through the evening).

Storage is restricted

Like many metropolis inns, the Thompson Denver has a small footprint, so every flooring has solely round 18 rooms. This implies each room is conveniently near the elevator and ice/water station, however the rooms are additionally on the smaller facet.

The tall glass-fronted cupboard was the one place to retailer my belongings — however with solely two small drawers and a curtain rod, it did not appear very thoughtfully designed for this goal.

Though the bathe was roomy, there wasn’t a lot house to retailer toiletries. Equally, there was no logical place to hold a hand towel close to the sink.

Since I might introduced my mischievous canine alongside, all of the snacks mendacity round had been extra an inconvenience than an amenity. I needed to lock the snack tray within the closet, shrinking my cupboard space much more. As well as, all the fragile glassware all over the place appeared at odds with the lodge’s extraordinarily dog-friendly coverage (extra on that later) and will pose a problem for anybody touring with boisterous pets or younger kids.

Between the small, cozy rooms, upscale decor and splendid touches, the Thompson Denver appears supreme for a romantic getaway. It might be much less suited to a big household group, until you are ready to splurge for a collection.

The pet coverage is beneficiant

Facilities vary from commonplace to surprising

The lodge foyer is a good looking place to work or learn, chat along with your touring companions, or attempt your hand at a puzzle. It by no means appeared very crowded (although to be truthful, I stayed from Monday to Wednesday). There’s additionally assembly house downstairs; if it isn’t in use, you possibly can take pleasure in some peace and quiet within the seating areas between assembly rooms.

There is a health middle on the underside flooring with a wide range of cardio machines, free weights, kettlebells and train balls.

There are additionally a number of facilities that include the nightly $25 vacation spot charge. A observe in my room outlined the “citywide perks” included with this charge:

• Bubbles and cookies at check-in
• In-house shoe shining and health club garments laundering
• Printing and enterprise providers (15-page restrict)
• Refillable bottled water in room
• Free tickets to the Denver Zoo and a ten% low cost on meals and present store purchases (as much as 4 per day accessible to the complete lodge on a first-come, first-served foundation)
• Reductions at numerous native outlets and eating places (for example, a free beverage at Milk Tea Folks or 20% off all providers at Luxe Salon). To make use of these, I used to be informed to easily convey the cardboard with me.

The eating is divine

The Thompson Denver is house to a restaurant, bar and occasional store. The lodge used to have a lounge known as Reynar Social, however that not too long ago closed and is slated to reopen in early 2025 as occasion house.

Chez Maggy

The star of the present is Chez Maggy, a standard French brasserie helmed by Ludo Lefebvre, an award-winning chef and restaurateur who’s appeared on cooking reveals akin to “Iron Chef.”

Though Chez Maggy sounds (and tastes) upscale, the ambiance felt as down-to-earth as any Denver brewery. You possibly can dress up and make a date evening out of it, or you might cease by in yoga pants to eat breakfast whereas working in your laptop computer.

Since I am vegan — and French delicacies is not identified for being notably veg-friendly — I used to be shocked to seek out myself turning into a Chez Maggy convert through the course of my keep. The restaurant employees members had been extraordinarily useful after I knowledgeable them of my dietary wants, and each (veganized) dish I sampled was scrumptious, together with the chopped salad ($14), crispy chickpea wrap, oatmeal ($12) and avocado toast ($13).

There is a helpful QR code in every room to order room service. The restaurant costs a $5 charge for supply, or you possibly can pop downstairs and seize takeout without spending a dime.

Along with Chez Maggy, there’s the swanky Bar M subsequent door, the place you may get combined drinks and all the identical meals as Chez Maggy.

Accessibility

The Thompson Denver is provided for a wide range of visitors’ wants. It presents wheelchair-accessible visitor rooms with wider doorways, roll-in showers and toilet seize bars. In response to the lodge’s website, the concierge desk, registration desk, eating places, public restrooms and health middle are all wheelchair-accessible as nicely.

For visually impaired visitors, Braille indicators will be discovered all through the constructing. Listening to-impaired visitor rooms can be found, with textual content telephones and closed-caption decoders — however I did not see these as an possibility when reserving, so you may most likely must contact the lodge to make sure one is prepared for you.

Causes the Thompson Denver won’t be for you

I used to be impressed by the lodge’s good location, beautiful widespread areas and delectable eating. Nevertheless, relying in your journey type, chances are you’ll choose to look elsewhere.

• In the event you’re touring with kids or pets, this lodge would possibly really feel a bit cramped, with too many edible and breakable gadgets inside simple attain.
• In the event you’re extraordinarily delicate to smells, the Thompson model’s signature eucalyptus scent may very well be uncomfortable.
• In the event you’re searching for a calming retreat, chances are you’ll choose a lodge with a pool, sizzling tub or spa.

Trying out

Total, the Thompson Denver felt luxurious but accessible — in additional methods than one. Its (often) cheap money charges and some ways to guide with factors and miles make this upscale lodge simple to guide for a wide range of vacationers and budgets. The restaurant was elegant, with glorious meals and repair, with out feeling pretentious. And the employees members had been at all times pleasant and attentive, by no means making me really feel misplaced — even in my health club garments.

Plus, the Thompson’s location within the middle of downtown makes it an ideal house base for first-time and repeat guests alike to discover the Mile Excessive Metropolis.

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