4* The Art Hotel Denver

Ember is a particularly good Denver option for solo travellers who want somewhere sociable without being miles away from the LGBTQ+ scene. It occupies a handsome old mansion in Capitol Hill, with cafés, restaurants and neighbourhood bars around you and the Colfax gay venues within walking distance. This is definitely a hostel rather than a budget hotel — most accommodation is in shared dorms — but the atmosphere is considerably more polished than the word hostel might suggest. There are comfortable communal rooms, a garden and hot tub, and recent guests give the staff especially strong ratings. Downtown is easily reached by bus or on foot, while staying here lets you experience a more residential side of central Denver rather than disappearing into the convention-hotel district. GayMapper tip: probably the best choice on the list for sociable solo travellers who want both low prices and relatively easy access to Denver’s gay scene.

Urban Cowboy is a small, adults-only boutique hotel in Capitol Hill, set inside a wonderfully characterful Victorian mansion just off Colfax. The location works particularly well for an LGBTQ+ weekend: X Bar is only a few blocks away, other queer venues are easy to reach, and the surrounding streets are packed with cafés, restaurants and neighbourhood bars. That means you can spend much of the weekend on foot rather than constantly heading back Downtown. The rooms are individually designed and decidedly romantic, with bold interiors and copper soaking tubs, while the Public House downstairs is a popular spot for cocktails and pizza even if you’re not staying at the hotel. GayMapper tip: a great choice for couples who want something intimate, memorable and genuinely close to the gay scene.

Kimpton Monaco is one of the nicer choices if you want to stay Downtown but would rather avoid the corporate-conference-hotel feel. The interiors are colourful and contemporary, the atmosphere is relaxed, and Kimpton’s nightly social hour gives the lobby a genuinely sociable feel in the early evening. The Champa Street location puts 16th Street, restaurants and Downtown sights within easy walking distance, while Union Station and LoDo are also straightforward to reach. That works particularly well if you want to move between different neighbourhoods rather than base the whole trip around Capitol Hill. The gay bars are a short journey away, but you’ll have plenty of places for dinner or a first drink closer to the hotel. GayMapper tip: a good couple’s choice if you want something stylish and friendly in the centre without paying purely for five-star trimmings.

The gay friendly ART Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton is a particularly good fit if museums and neighbourhood exploring appeal more than staying amongst Downtown office towers. It sits in Denver’s Golden Triangle, almost opposite the Denver Art Museum and close to the State Capitol, galleries and several good restaurants. As the name rather gives away, art is central to the hotel itself too, with a substantial contemporary collection running through the public spaces. FIRE’s terrace is also a pleasant place for a drink when the weather cooperates. Capitol Hill begins just beyond the Golden Triangle, so the Colfax gay bars are walkable if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll, while Downtown is equally easy to reach in the other direction. GayMapper tip: a good choice for an LGBTQ+ city break where culture, neighbourhood restaurants and nightlife all feature rather than just the bars.

Grand Hyatt works well if you want an upscale Downtown base without getting too precious about it. You’re close to 16th Street, restaurants and shopping, with the rest of central Denver easy to explore on foot or by public transport. The hotel is large, but there are a couple of touches that make it less anonymous than that sounds — particularly the rooftop jogging track and tennis/pickleball court, plus Rocky Mountain views from some of the higher rooms. Recent guest ratings are also consistently strong. You won’t be walking out of the lobby straight into Denver’s gay scene, although Capitol Hill and Colfax are close enough that heading there for the evening is easy. GayMapper tip: a comfortable step up if you want Downtown convenience and plenty of space, but your Denver plans extend well beyond the nightlife.

Sheraton remains our Denver favourite largely because the location gets the balance right. You’re firmly Downtown, but at the Capitol Hill end of the centre, so the gay bars around Colfax are considerably easier to reach than from hotels further towards Union Station. There’s plenty happening immediately around the hotel too, with 16th Street, restaurants and shopping outside and light rail nearby. The Sheraton itself underwent a major transformation and now feels much more contemporary than its old big-convention-hotel reputation might suggest. The year-round heated rooftop pool is a nice bonus, especially with Denver’s ridiculous number of sunny days. You can walk to parts of the LGBTQ+ scene and still have Downtown sightseeing on the doorstep. GayMapper tip: still our best all-rounder if you want central Denver during the day and easy access to Capitol Hill at night.