The Denver Detour is a mostly lesbian-oriented hangout that's popular
early in the evening for happy hour cocktails - it's right by the State
Capitol. Other good women's options include tHERe Denver, a
lesbian-owned coffeehouse and lounge, and Ms. C's, a long-running
lesbian dance club a 20-minute drive east of downtown.
Just south of Capitol Hill, the South Broadway area has several notable
locals joints, including BJ's Carousel, which has its own volleyball
court and a casual restaurant. You'll find a somewhat cruisy bunch at
the Compound, a low-attitude dance club that's popular with everyone
from collegiate hipsters to middle-aged bears. The Triangle, for the
serious leather crowd, has a big after-hours following and a notoriously
frisky basement. And Boyztown is one of the better places in town to
watch strippers strut their stuff.
Weekends are the best time to check out Denver's most happening gay
nightclub, the always-packed Tracks Denver, a massive warehouse disco
with two pulsing dance floors, one spinning the latest club music, the
other featuring classic tunes from the '70s and '80s.
Denver has a number of memorable gay-friendly hotels. The swanky,
pet-friendly Hotel Monaco is a top choice for its hip, Parisian-inspired
aesthetic and remarkably friendly and helpful service. Vibrant, stylish
decor and quirky in-room touches, such as animal-print robes and pet
goldfish, make this downtown boutique property a fan favorite. The
on-site restaurant, Panzano, serves first-rate contemporary Italian
fare.
A new kid on the block that's earned praise for its stylish look as well
as its location across from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts,
The Curtis opened early in 2007 and looks like just another high-rise
from the exterior. But inside you'll discover a whimsical,
retro-fabulous hotel that looks like something out of an Austin Powers
movie. Each floor of guestrooms is themed differently - rooms on the
eighth level have a sci-fi look, while those on the 12th are done with a
get-your-groove-on dance-floor theme. Moderate rates, VW Bug-shaped
alarm clocks, and a cool eatery called the Corner Office Restaurant and
Martini Bar are among the Curtis' many charms.
If you want to be close to the fabulous shopping of Cherry Creek,
consider booking a room at the posh JW Marriott Denver, a contemporary
11-story hotel whose cushy accommodations have 32-inch flat-screen TVs,
DVD/CD players, marble-and-granite bathrooms, and plush bedding with
custom duvets and linens. The sterling service is another plus.
One of the most romantic options is the gay-owned Capitol Hill Mansion
B&B, a stately Queen Anne Victorian on an attractive residential street.
Owners Jay Hadley and Carl Schmidt serve a lavish full breakfast each
morning as well as refreshments and snacks in the afternoon; guests
enjoy such pleasing amenities as free Wi-Fi and fresh flowers in every
room, and gas fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and private balconies in the
top units. In the same neighborhood, the gay-friendly Castle Marne B&B
offers similarly cushy, antiques-filled rooms. The imposing 1889
building is one of Denver's most distinctive houses, with its elaborate
turrets and stonework.
Probably no Denver hotel is more famous than the prestigious Brown
Palace Hotel & Spa, which has hosted such dignitaries as Teddy Roosevelt
and Sun Yat-sen during its 115-year tenure. Even if you don't have a
chance to stay in one of the hotel's lavish rooms, consider dropping by
for the daily afternoon high tea or evening cocktails in the famed
Atrium Lobby, or for the decadent Dom Perignon brunch held in
Ellyngton's Restaurant on Sunday mornings.
Andrew Collins is the
author of Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA and as well as numerous other
guidebooks.
The Hunk
