DENVER (Jan. 22, 2024) – Winter starts in Denver. With 300 days of sunshine, world-class dining, a thriving cultural scene and endless outdoor adventure, Denver is the perfect destination to begin your Colorado winter vacation. Below is a list of new restaurants, hotels and attractions to check out this season, as well as an overview of can't-miss winter favorites. Check out the VISIT DENVER website for trip planning resources and hotel deals.

New in Denver this Season 

RESTAURANTS

MICHELIN recognized 26 Denver restaurants in their inaugural and highly anticipated Colorado-based Guide this past September. The famously anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors selected a diverse range of restaurants across the city that exude culinary excellence. Denver joins Boulder, Aspen and Snowmass Village, the Town of Vail and Beaver Creek Resort in the Colorado MICHELIN Guide, the eighth Guide destination in North America. More information about these restaurants and the MICHELIN Guide program are available on the VISIT DENVER website.

Alama Fonda is a new restaurant by chef Johnny Curiel in the Lower Highlands Neighborhood north of Downtown Denver. The intimate space offers Mexican dishes deriving from Curiel's upbringing.

After winning season five of Top Chef, Hosea Rosenberg opened Blackbelly Market in Boulder, which received a MICHELIN Green Star. Rosenberg is opening a second Blackbelly Market location on Tennyson Street in Denver in late February 2024.

Corsica is planning to heat up the Denver restaurant scene this season, serving coastal French- and Italian-inspired shareable plates. The space will also feature wine, cocktails and aperitifs in what was once a warehouse transformed into a central bar and dining room with private dining options.

A new concept in Lower Downton Denver (LoDo) is opening February 2024. Wonderyard Garden + Table is inspired by The Secret Garden and The Great Gatsby and will feature indoor and outdoor spaces with birdcage booths, teacup tables and a repurposed turntable “carousel."

Of course, long-time favorites such as downtown's Tavernetta, Cherry Creek's Barolo Grill and many more serve up delicious meals in cozy environments this season and are a staple on any Denver itinerary. For a complete list of Denver's best restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and more, head to the VISIT DENVER website.

HOTELS

Denver's Kimpton Hotel Born rebranded as the Limelight Hotel in spring 2023. The Limelight Denver is under the operation of Aspen Hospitality, the hospitality division of Aspen Skiing Company. Conveniently located adjacent to Denver's Union Station, the hotel is the first urban location for the Limelight brand and joins the existing Limelight portfolio in Aspen and Snowmass, CO., and Ketchum, Idaho making it the perfect complement for a Colorado winter vacation.

The new Acoma House, Denver's premier boutique art hotel, is in the vibrant Golden Triangle district. Guests can immerse themselves in a one-of-a-kind experience as they step into 24 custom rooms, each thoughtfully designed by a unique artist.

Head to the Halcyon in Cherry Creek for Denver's new rooftop skating experience complete with breathtaking views of the Mile High City. Guests can also gather for a dip in the rooftop hot tub, enjoy hot beverages and bites, warm blankets and more.

ARTS AND CULTURE

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) boasts an impressive calendar of performances and events this season including Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Cebollas and more. And do not miss DCPA's Off-Center's Space Explorers: THE INFINITE at the Hanger in Stanley Marketplace Feb. 3- May 5.

The Denver Art Museum's (DAM) exhibit, Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks is on display through Feb. 19. This is the debut solo exhibition for Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo, featuring more than 30 of Boafo's creations between 2016 and 2022 telling stories about the beauty and complexity of Black life. While you are at the DAM, check out the All Stars: American Artists from The Phillips Collection through March 3, which highlights some of the best American art from one of the most celebrated collections in the United States. See landmark works by more than 50 artists, including Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, Childe Hassam and more.

Meanwhile, the Museum of Contemporary Art's (MCA) exhibit Cowboy speaks to the museum's ambition to challenge, revise and reconceive how such a myth originated and might be probed in exciting, courageous and nuanced ways. It brings together loans and new commissions from 27 artists representing a wide range of perspectives, including Asian American, Latinx and Native American/Indigenous.

The Museum of Illusions is new to downtown Denver. The space offers an intriguing visual, sensory and educational experience with illusions ranging from tried-and-true classics to the never-before seen. Guests will enjoy more than 80 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions and immersive rooms that are designed to tease the senses and trick the mind.

The season brings many blockbuster concerts to Ball Arena including Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull and Ricky Martin on Feb. 13, Nicki Minaj on March 3, and Madonna on March 19. For more intimate concerts, check out Denver's Gothic, Bluebird or Ogden theater's line-up. There is something for every music taste. And don't miss Icelantic's Return to the Rocks on April 19, 2024 with IceCube, The Game, BoneThugsNHarmony, and Living Legends. Learn more here.

Learn more and check out additional new things on the VISIT DENVER website.

Additional Winter Favorites

Alongside new things in Denver, there are many beloved winter activities, events and traditions perfect for the whole family.

Feel the energy at Ball Area this season with the 2023 NBA Finals Champions, the Denver Nuggets, the 2022 Stanley Cup winners, the Colorado Avalanche or the Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team.

Denver's personality is really exemplified in its neighborhoods. From shopping in Cherry Creek, to exploring street art in River North (RiNo), each neighborhood offers unique ways to enjoy the season. Check out an interactive map on the VISIT DENVER website to learn more.

Bring the whole family along for your Denver adventure with a wide array of kid-friendly activities. Head to the Denver Zoo to see more than 3,000 animals including elephants, orangutans, lions and more. Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to explore fossils and dinosaurs, ponder the mysteries of space at Gates Planetarium, discover Egyptian mummies and watch larger-than-life films at the Phipps IMAX 3D Theater. The Downtown Aquarium is a perfect spot for kids to awe at astounding marine life, feed the stingrays, pan for gold, see a mermaid show or become a marine biologist for a day. Learn more about family-friendly activities on the VISIT DENVER website.

Outdoor Activities

Denver is the perfect winter destination, with a backdrop of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Head northwest to the Boulder Flatirons or Rocky Mountain National Park to enjoy iconic stretches of scenic trails and spots that offer spectacular views. Try out cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in nearby Idaho Springs, Estes Park or Golden. Or hop on the Winter Park Express Ski Train to enjoy mountain adventures without the hassle of renting a car and driving on mountain roads. Service for the seasonal train began Friday, Jan. 12 and will run through the weekend of March 29 with departures each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The train leaves from downtown Denver at Denver Union Station at 7 am and arrives at the mountain at 9 am. The return trip departs Winter Park at 4:30 pm and arrives in Denver at 6:40 pm, so it is a great option for a weekend or day trip. Bring the whole family because kids ride for 50% off!

After a full day of outdoor adventures, return to the city and have a feast at an award-winning restaurant, grab a craft beer along the Denver Beer Trail or explore the city's vibrant neighborhoods, teeming with arts, culture and urban flair. Browse adventure day trip ideas and more on the VISIT DENVER website.

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About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 115 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs, and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 36.3 million visitors in 2022, generating $9.4 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city's largest industries. Learn more about Denver on the VISIT DENVER website or at Tourism Pays Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:

Caroline Campbell: (303) 549-3537 or ccampbell@visitdenver.com

Abby Schirmacher: (303) 358-0096 or aschirmacher@visitdenver.com