Hotel Scene
The epitome of industrial chic in the heart of Denver’s arts nabe
“The best time to be up here is around sunset. That’s when the mountains turn that Colorado Rockies purple,” one of the bartenders at The Woods, the rooftop restaurant at the Source Hotel, recommends. The restaurant itself is simple, black chairs, black walls, wooden tables — the space is about the view. Floor-to-ceiling windows open up like garage doors, turning the bar into an open air room. Outside of downtown, Denver is not a particularly tall city, and from this angle, there is nothing standing between you, your beer and the mountains to the west, towering over the plains.
Although you might feel like you’re at the edge of the mountains, the hotel is within city limits. It’s in a northwest portion of the Five Points neighborhood dubbed the River North Arts District, or RiNo. In the first half of the 20th century, Five Points was nicknamed “The Harlem of the West” and has been the center of Black culture and, more recently, a growing art scene in Denver. In RiNo, there are murals everywhere – huge swaths of dreamlike technicolor scenes. Many of the buildings also look as though they’ve been built from scrap metal or old shipping containers, nodding at the neighborhood’s industrial past.
The Source Hotel fits this mold but a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese design. The building is a repurposed 19th century iron foundry with an attached market hall. The industrial feel is echoed in the interior design, with the concrete floors, high windows, and brick walls in the bustling market hall unchanged from the manufacturing space it once was. Large iron grates function as walls for the store-fronts and potted plants dot the lounge area with its leather couches. Inside the hotel, the bright orange fabric of the chairs contrasts with the concrete pillars in the shared spaces, and a subset of guest rooms have the same, very cool garage windows as the bar. Some rooms also have Japanese tubs. A mixture of older tourists and young locals browse the shops and work at the long tables, sipping on coffee purchased from the in-house bakery.
Location
Right off the train from the airport and a walking bridge away from the best of Five Points
The Source Hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Blake and 38th St. stop on Denver’s A line. This means that if you’re willing to walk a short distance with your luggage, you can catch a train there directly from the Denver airport. After you’ve dropped your bags, the same train line will take you down to Union Station where you can hop on any of Denver’s other light rail lines or catch the free Mall Ride bus shuttle downtown. If you’re driving to the hotel, there’s an on-site garage.
While convenient from the airport, the rail line does cut the hotel off a little from the rest of the Five Points neighborhood. If you’re planning on exploring nearby on foot, you’ll have to cross the walking bridge between 35th and 36th Streets or head across at 38th (you’ll also have to take one of these routes if you initially take the train from the airport). A quicker way to get around might be via bikeshare or scooter. Lyft and Lime bicycles and scooters are easy to find and access via app.
If you’re looking to take in the neighborhood — on top of touring the murals in RiNo and checking out the myriad of nearby breweries, bars, galleries, and music venues within walking distance — you might want to head down to the area around Welton Street, the heart of Five Points, where you can not only patronize the local businesses, but also take in some history via a walking tour or the Black American West Museum.
Rooms
The Source Hotel’s rooms are minimalist, but provide maximal views
Like the rooftop, the focus here is on what you’re seeing out the windows. Whether it’s the Rocky Mountains, the Denver skyline or people watching the customers at the market hall, each room has large windows taking up most of the outside wall. Like the communal areas of the hotel, the rooms also incorporate industrial motifs in a nod to the building’s history. Each has a loft-like feel with concrete pillars, ceilings, and floors (although, there are rugs, if you’re worried about cold feet). The message is clear: your stay will be cool and comfortable, but they know you’re here to see the rest of it. There are basically three different room types.
Standard Room
The rooms in the Source Hotel are designed to be sparse and comfortable. Standard rooms come with either a single king bed or two queens (294 ft2 and 344 ft2 respectively) and there is an ADA accessible version of each. As far as decor goes, it’s simple. There’s light wood, cream colored walls, and some magazines hanging along the wall instead of art.
Deluxe Rooms
The deluxe rooms are essentially the same as the standard rooms when it comes to size and features. However, with a deluxe room, you get to choose your view. For approximately $25-$30 more dollars, depending on your booking, you can choose a view of the mountains or the Denver skyline. Also included in this grouping is the Garage Door King, which features a balcony wall and windows that roll up like a garage door, leaving the room open to the air.
Suites
Suites at the Source Hotel come in three varieties: market view, mountain view, or skyline. Each comes with a king bed and a larger square footage than the standard or deluxe rooms (up to 450 sq ft.) as well as a deep soak tub, a sitting area, and a sleeper sofa.
Packages
The most basic package is the “Bed and Breakfast,” which costs $20 but gets you a $40 credit for breakfast at the hotel. Some other fun options include a “Become Your Own Artist” package which includes a polaroid camera rental, two packets of film (16 photos), and a coloring book with pencils, as well as the “Perfect Picnic” package where they set you up with a blanket, a packed up charcuterie board and directions to a outdoor space to enjoy. Also notable is the Pride package, although more as a signal to LGBTQ travelers that this is a queer-friendly space.
Amenities
Restaurants
The Source Hotel has four distinct restaurants: Safta, The Woods, Temaki Den, and Smōk. Both Safta and Temaki Den are on Michelin’s recommendations list for the Denver area. While the food is top tier, all of the restaurants have a fairly casual and friendly vibe.
- Safta is an Israeli restaurant particularly notable for its hummus toppings – from basic tahini to lamb ragu – and inventive cocktails. However, you can’t really go wrong with anything on the menu.
- Temaki Den is serving up some of the best sushi in Denver. The menu is focused on temaki (hand rolls) and nigiri (rice molded into a small oval with fresh fish laid over it).
- Smōk is the Source’s on-site barbecue. While the smoked meats are always a hit, they’re also serving up their pulled pork sandwich Carolina style and their fried chicken Nashville hot.
The Woods and New Belgium Brewing
Along with the rooftop views and a menu that ranges from salmon tostadas to a margherita pizza to steak, The Woods restaurant serves as a tap room for New Belgium Brewing. A few of the beers are even brewed on the ground level of the hotel and in barrels you can see from your table.
The Market Hall
Like the restaurants, the Source’s market hall is popular among locals as well as visitors. The vintage store, Dark Lands, which offers coffee and espresso to sip while you browse, has an old VW bug in the middle of it like it’s been backed into a garage and sells racks of t-shirts (such as one for the 1992 International Women’s Bowling Tournament in Lansing, MI), jackets, pants and some small housewares. Additionally, there’s a barbershop, BarberX, and a florist, which for anyone in town for a wedding or another important event might be especially convenient – Beet and Yarrow, the florist, has greeting cards. If you’ve got dinner plans somewhere else and are looking for a snack, there’s Reunion Bread, where you can pick up a variety of breads and pastries.
Events
Once a month, the Source Hotel puts on a maker’s market with local artisans. The booths range from ceramics to chocolates to jewelry. There’s a couple of different workshops and classes offered occasionally as well: cocktail making, floral arranging, pilates. Additionally, the hotel has hosted a gallery spotlighting local artists during Denver’s monthly First Fridays and trivia at The Woods on Mondays. Take a look at their calendar before your trip.
Gym and Work Spaces
The fitness center at the Source Hotel has the same views as their rooftop bar. There’s also free weights, machines, bikes and a terrace. There is also a pool. Outside. On the roof. If you need to work while you’re there more than you need to work out, there is some nice space on the second floor with tables and couches where you can post up for a while.
Amenities Fee and Dog Policy
There is a $25 USD nightly fee for access to their rooftop pool and gym as well as a complementary beer at check-in and a $15 credit to The Woods. Your dog or cat under 75 lbs is also welcome to stay with you in your room. There’s a one-time $45 pet fee, but the hotel will provide dog beds and extra cleaning.
#thesourcehotel on TikTok
FAQs
What is the hotel’s address?
The hotel is in the RiNo Art District at 3330 Brighton Blvd Denver, CO 80216
What’s the phone number?
(720) 409-1200
How far away is downtown Denver from the hotel?
The hotel is just north of downtown and about two miles away.
How far is Coors Field from the hotel?
Coors Field is a 1.4 miles from the hotel.
What are the hotel’s other amenities?
There are two rooftop plunge pools (one heated, one cooler), a hot tub, fitness center, room service, free WiFi, 24-hour front desk and a concierge. All guest rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, minibar coffee machine, hair dryer and a desk. There’s also business center, event space, parking garage, valet parking and laundry service and a hair dresser on site.
Anything else to note?
Some rooms feature those cool Japanese tubs.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary.
Do I need to use a credit card at check-in?
Guests need to show photo ID and a credit card at check-in. They’ll take a deposit of 250 USD when you arrive so you don’t rock-star the room. The deposit goes on the credit card and you’ll be reimbursed back on the card within 7 days after check-out.
Is Great Divide Brewing nearby?
The hotel is across the street from Great Divide Brewing.
Wait, I thought Comida was located in the Source Hotel?
It was but then it closed in 2019.
