Champagne vending machines and a room with a view at Le Meridien Denver
Sep 5, 2021

Pam LeBlanc spent a night at Le Meridien Denver Downtown. Pam LeBlanc photo

My latest trip to Colorado didn’t feature outdoor adventure, but it did include a one-night stay at the trendy Le Méridien Denver Downtown.

I caught a last-minute, round-trip flight to Denver for less than $200 this week so I could visit my 84-year-old mom, who just moved to Colorado, where my sister and brother in law live. It’s been rough getting her settled.

I slept curled up like an oversized fishhook on the couch at her new senior apartment building for a few nights, but took Le Meridien up on its offer to put me up for a night.

A night of luxury at Le Meridien Denver

Pam LeBlanc gets a bottle of champagne from a vending machine at Le Meridien Denver.

The ultra-chic hotel, famous for its rooftop bar, Instagram-friendly lobby, and central location, is located near the city’s popular Arts District and within walking distance of The Colorado Convention Center.

I’m more comfortable in a tent in the woods, but somehow I found myself dropping a complimentary (and fake) gold doubloon into a Moet & Chandon vending machine in the lobby. I took my mini bottle of champagne back to my room, then made my way to the 20th floor, where I’d gotten reservations at the city’s highest open-air rooftop bar, 54thirty. A couple of friends were visiting Denver, too, and we gathered at a table and took in the view of the skyline and distant mountains. Even on a Monday, the place was bustling with 30-somethings dressed to impress. At the bartender’s recommendation, I ordered a smokey and delicious Mez Tai Meets the Sky, a blend of mezcal, falernum, lime juice and dark rum, topped with a cloud of passion fruit honey foam.

I spent that night in a sleek gray-and-white bedroom on the 17th floor of the hotel. A throw pillow with an orange and black geometric print added a retro vibe to the mostly white and gray furnishings. I slid open the curtains and watched people as small as ants on the sidewalk far below.

Breakfast at Corinne at Le Meridien Denver

Before heading back to my mom’s apartment the next morning, I stopped in the hotel’s newly relaunched restaurant, Corinne, for a plate of sweet corn cakes eggs benedict with smoked salmon.

That gave me the final shot of superpower I needed before heading back to the apartment for more quality time with mom.

For more information about the hotel, go here.

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