Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood is unlike any other neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. This vibrant, walkable community encompasses more than 16-blocks and is home to over 300 businesses, making Cherry Creek North a destination in itself!
Located just outside of Downtown Denver, the Cherry Creek North neighborhood is a fabulous area boasting loads of local restaurants, art galleries, spas, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, and a fabulous boutique hotel.
There are so many great reasons to visit Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood that you might never want to leave!
Please note, I visited Hotel Clio and the Cherry Creek North neighborhood as part of a fully sponsored press trip. All opinions are my own.
1. Stay In A Luxury Hotel
Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood prides itself on being an upscale, walkable neighborhood, and one of the businesses that definitely embraces this feel is the Hotel Clio.
The hotel, which is part of the Marriott Bonvoy’s Luxury Collection, is the perfect place to stay during your time in Cherry Creek North. The minute you enter the hotel’s luxurious reception area, the staff goes above and beyond to ensure that you have a fabulous stay at the Hotel Clio.
Each guest is greeted with hot and cold scented towels and offered the hotel’s signature beverage, the Clio Cherry Spritz, upon arrival. After checking in, your room key is accompanied by a jasper stone, which is said to evoke a feeling of calm and zen — exactly how you are going to feel when staying here.
The guest rooms at the Hotel Clio are huge and feature a luxurious bathroom and toiletries, a Lavazza coffee machine, a complete mini-bar, and comfortable bedding.
One of my favorite things about the Hotel Clio are the fun “Epicurean Moments” that the hotel offers to its guests. These Epicurean Moments happen daily in the Toro restaurant lounge and feature everything from a tequila tasting to a guacamole-making class. The classes rotate daily and are completely free for hotel guests.
2. Shop In Cherry Creek North
Denver’s Cherry Creek North is the mecca of shopping in the Denver area, offering the highest concentration of retail stores in the city. Here you will find everything from locally-owned boutiques to internationally-known high fashion brands.
If you are in the market for one-of-a-kind finds, then consider visiting some of the local shops like the A Line Boutique, Inspyre Boutique, or Love Saro. One of my favorite places is the Artisan Center, which features all sorts of handcrafted pottery, jewelry, and glassware that make for unique and fun souvenirs and gifts.
3. Eat At The Fabulous Restaurants
It is no secret that there are some great restaurants in Denver. Luckily, Cherry Creek offers guests over 50 restaurants to choose from, so you are sure to find something to please your palette in this Denver neighborhood. Restaurants in Cherry Creek range from casual to super chic and offer up everything from a delicious burger to a 5-star culinary treat.
Toro, which is located inside of the Hotel Clio, serves up amazing Latin cuisine that includes small plates, a ceviche bar, delicious entrees, and craft cocktails. Take it from me: Toro’s traditional guacamole paired with the Lomo Saltado is the perfect meal, especially when you finish it off with a piece of the Toro’s crepes layer cake!
If you want something a little more casual, then head to The Cherry Cricket. The Cherry Cricket is a Cherry Creek neighborhood staple. They have been serving up delicious and fun burgers since 1945.
Another noteworthy restaurant in Cherry Creek North is Blue Island Oyster Bar. The Blue Island Oyster Bar specializes in exactly what you think, oysters. The Blue Island prides themselves on serving up some of the oysters and seafood that you can find in the landlocked town of Denver.
4. Visit An Art Gallery
Art lovers will love checking out the many art galleries and studios found in Cherry Creek. This area showcases local, national, and international artists in all forms of media. A great example of this can be found at Show of Hands, a local gallery which displays works from national artists. Here you will find handmade items like jewelry, potter, furniture, paintings, and more.
Another noteworthy gallery that is worth visiting during your time in Cherry Creek is Relévant Galleries. During my visit Relévant Galleries was showcasing the work of one of my favorite photographers, David Yarrow!
5. Relax With A Spa Treatment
Cherry Creek is home to numerous spa facilities, so why not partake in a relaxing treatment during your time in the area? If you are in the mood for a traditional spa service like a massage or facial, then you can book a treatment at one of the retail facilities like Massage Envy or Hand & Stone Massage.
Of course, if you are in the market for a more unique spa treatment, then Cherry Creek has you covered there also. There are numerous spas in the neighborhood offering innovative spa treatments like float sessions, cryotherapy, IV treatments and more.
During my time in Cherry Creek, I had a revitalizing IV treatment at Hydrate IV Bar and loved it! The IV treatments here are administered by licensed medical professionals and truly make you feel so amazing. I had the Health and Wellness cocktail that is full of vitamin b-complex, vitamin c, and magnesium.
6. Have A Fun Workout
In addition to wellness spas, Denver’s Cherry Creek also offers numerous workout studios. You can try your hand at a boxing class at Rumble Boxing, or stretch until your heart’s content at Pure Barre. For those of you looking for a challenge, see how long you can last biking at SoulCycle.
7. Enjoy The Outdoors At The Denver Botanic Gardens
Granted, the Denver Botanic Gardens are technically just outside of the Cherry Creek neighborhood, but they are so close that I just had to include them. Located about 2 miles outside of Cherry Creek, the Denver Botanic Gardens is the perfect place to spend some time outdoors during your visit to Denver.
The botanic gardens are housed on 23-acres and highlight the flora and fauna native to this region of Colorado. There are a variety of themed gardens, a conservatory, numerous art installations, and a sunken amphitheater which hosts concerts in the summer.
One of the highlights of the Denver Botanic Gardens is the Japanese Garden, Shofu-En, or “Garden of the Pine Winds.” This incredible garden features native Colorado plants displayed in a classic Japanese style. Walking through the gardens evokes a sense of tranquility and peace and is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
During your time at the botanic gardens, don’t miss the opportunity to shop in The Shop at the Gardens. Their gift shop contains more than 10,000 items ranging from plant seeds to custom works of art. This is a great place to find the perfect Denver souvenir.
The majority of gardens and attractions at the botanic gardens are on paved paths, but it is important to note that the Denver Botanic Garden does have a few gardens which are not accessible by wheelchair without assistance. Please visit their website for more information on hours, prices, and accessibility.
8. Attend An Event Or Festival
Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood is the perfect venue for events and festivals, so it only makes sense that they host several throughout the year.
In the fall, you can check out the Handmade in Colorado Expo, which highlights local art and artists. The winter months bring about the holiday extravaganza known as Cherry Creek North Winter Wonderland. This free holiday event includes over one million lights throughout the neighborhood. There are also weekend events that include entertainment and festive treats happening here from mid-November until late December.
Of course, the warmer months of spring and summer really bring this walkable neighborhood to life. In spring, check out the Love, Cherry Creek North event that begins on February 1 and continues through Valentine’s Day. This event highlights the romantic offerings of the businesses in the Cherry Creek neighborhood as the neighborhood is lit up with love with over one million lights. The spring season also brings Denver Restaurant Week and the Smash Fine Arts Festival to Cherry Creek.
The highlight of summer in Cherry Creek North is Cherry Creek Al Fresco, a food and wine event that takes place over several days in August. Cherry Creek Al Fresco is a foodie’s dream as they get to taste some of the best food, wine, and spirits that Cherry Creek North has to offer. I had the pleasure of attending this event, and I have to admit, it was truly one of the best food and wine festivals that I have experienced. The event offers daily events, tastings, classes, and more all leading up to the Grand Tasting and the finale, Dinner on the Plaza, an alfresco dining experience like no other on Cherry Creek’s Fillmore Plaza.
Pro Tip: Your Base In Denver
For the ultimate Denver vacation, use the Cherry Creek neighborhood as your starting point before exploring more of the city. Spend time here during one of their fun events so that you can explore the area while experiencing the excitement of the Cherry Creek area all at the same time.