Thompson Denver hotel review – The Points Guy

What is the Thompson Denver?

Opened in 2022, the Thompson Denver was designed by New York City firm Parts and Labor Design with a goal of incorporating the Thompson brand’s signature midcentury modern style with subtle (not kitschy) nods to the nearby Rocky Mountains. Having lived in Colorado for more than a decade (and seen my fair share of kitschy mountain-themed lodging), I’d say it succeeded.

The rooms and common spaces draw from a palette of earth tones, with elements like wood, marble and leather adding to the natural feel. Contemporary art pieces and industrial light fixtures keep the decor from feeling old or fusty, and fun touches like a puzzle in the lobby and snacks at check-in add to the approachable vibe.

With several ways to book with points and miles, this is an affordable place to stay in style while exploring the Mile High City. It’s also a haven for foodies (and nonfoodies like me), with an on-site French restaurant helmed by award-winning French chef Ludo Lefebvre and an unbeatable location in the heart of Denver’s dining scene.

How to book the Thompson Denver

Cash rates at the Thompson Denver generally hover around $300 per night, though they can climb past $800 on peak dates. Thankfully, there are several ways to save using hotel points and credit card perks.

This is a Category 5 Hyatt property, meaning you can’t use Hyatt’s valuable Category 1-4 free night certificates here. Per Hyatt’s award chart, an award stay here will cost you 17,000, 20,000 or 23,000 points per night, depending on whether the dates fall into Hyatt’s definition of “off-peak,” “standard” or “peak” periods.

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The location can’t be beat

The Thompson Denver is in the heart of LoDo (Lower Downtown), the city’s most historic and central neighborhood, and around the corner from Denver’s ever-popular 16th Street Mall. You can easily explore the mall’s shopping and dining on foot or by hopping on one of the free MallRide buses that run from Union Station to Civic Center Station. You’ll be within easy walking distance of the Denver Mint, Downtown Aquarium, Elitch Gardens theme park, Comedy Works Downtown, Holey Moley minigolf and more.

During my visit in December, the area was decked out in festive lights and garlands, with an outdoor skating rink just a couple blocks from the hotel.

Foodies may never want to leave the Thompson’s flagship restaurant, Chez Maggy. But if you do, you’ll find plenty of dining options within easy walking distance, from the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant Bruto to the hip Milk Market food hall.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor hoping to hit Denver’s main attractions or a longtime Coloradan looking for a fun weekend downtown, the Thompson Denver is ideally situated.

Getting there

Of course, with this prime location comes the struggle of parking downtown. If you’re coming from Denver International Airport (DEN), your best bet is to take the RTD A Line from the airport to Union Station and walk or catch a ride the last few blocks to the hotel.

If you’re driving, the only hotel parking option is valet, which costs $64 per night with in-out privileges. This is certainly the most convenient and pleasant option — the valets were incredibly friendly (to both me and my dog), and the QR code they provided made it easy to request my car.

Rooms are small but luxurious

My standard king guest room felt appropriately elegant for the vibe of the hotel — but there were also several thoughtful, homey touches that made the room more comfortable.

I arrived to find a piece of chocolate on the bed and a handwritten note with the weather forecast for the next day. Another note listed the hotel’s dining venues and their hours, the fitness center hours, and a map showing the location of water and ice stations on each floor.

There were two bathrobes waiting for me, along with a pair of velvety slippers.

A barn door revealed a well-equipped bathroom, with extra towels, a hair dryer, a double-sided vanity mirror and a brown washcloth for makeup wearers. The spacious shower had both a rain-style overhead fixture and an extendable wand. There were Bowmakers bath products and a few other toiletry items provided for free, as well as for-purchase kits (like the Mile High Miracle skin kit by Skin Authority for $75) in case I wanted to have a spa night.

Dried eucalyptus hanging over the toilet added a spa-like touch and a light fragrance.

Instead of an iron, there was a steamer provided in the closet. There were also bags and instructions for how to get your shoes shined and gym clothes laundered for free, some of the amenities included with the $25 nightly destination fee (more on that later).

Besides the usual coffee/tea station, the room was loaded with snacks, drinks and other handy items available for purchase. Prices weren’t cheap; a few examples include a $10 bag of kettle chips, a $16 chocolate bar, $20 canned cocktails and a $25 smartphone charging kit. I appreciated the notes included in the snack tray explaining how much each item cost, which some hotels leave out.

The nightstands held a phone and an old-school Victrola radio, which you can connect to your phone via Bluetooth to play music. The thermostat was easy to use, and I found both the heat and air conditioning extremely quiet when running. There were also both standard and USB outlets around the room.

The closet had a couple of slick touches that I found very useful. Its glass doors automatically lit up when I opened them (and beeped if I forgot to close them), and motion-activated lights underneath illuminated the floor when I walked by (handy when I needed to find my way to the bathroom during the night).

Storage is limited

Like many city hotels, the Thompson Denver has a small footprint, so each floor has only around 18 rooms. This means every room is conveniently close to the elevator and ice/water station, but the rooms are also on the smaller side.

The tall glass-fronted cabinet was the only place to store my belongings — but with only two small drawers and a curtain rod, it didn’t seem very thoughtfully designed for this purpose.

Although the shower was roomy, there wasn’t much space to store toiletries. Similarly, there was no logical place to hang a hand towel near the sink.

Since I’d brought my mischievous dog along, all the snacks lying around were more an inconvenience than an amenity. I had to lock the snack tray in the closet, shrinking my storage space even more. In addition, all the delicate glassware everywhere seemed at odds with the hotel’s extremely dog-friendly policy (more on that later) and could pose a challenge for anyone traveling with boisterous pets or young children.

Between the small, cozy rooms, upscale decor and luxurious touches, the Thompson Denver seems ideal for a romantic getaway. It may be less suited to a large family group, unless you’re prepared to splurge for a suite.

The pet policy is generous

Amenities range from standard to unexpected

The hotel lobby is a beautiful place to work or read, chat with your traveling companions, or try your hand at a puzzle. It never seemed very crowded (though to be fair, I stayed from Monday to Wednesday). There’s also meeting space downstairs; if it’s not in use, you can enjoy some peace and quiet in the seating areas between meeting rooms.

There’s a fitness center on the bottom floor with a variety of cardio machines, free weights, kettlebells and exercise balls.

There are also several amenities that come with the nightly $25 destination fee. A note in my room outlined the “citywide perks” included with this fee:

• Bubbles and cookies at check-in
• In-house shoe shining and gym clothes laundering
• Printing and business services (15-page limit)
• Refillable bottled water in room
• Free tickets to the Denver Zoo and a 10% discount on food and gift shop purchases (up to four per day available to the entire hotel on a first-come, first-served basis)
• Discounts at various local shops and restaurants (for instance, a free beverage at Milk Tea People or 20% off all services at Luxe Salon). To use these, I was told to simply bring the card with me.

The dining is divine

The Thompson Denver is home to a restaurant, bar and coffee shop. The hotel used to have a lounge called Reynar Social, but that recently closed and is slated to reopen in early 2025 as event space.

Chez Maggy

The star of the show is Chez Maggy, a traditional French brasserie helmed by Ludo Lefebvre, an award-winning chef and restaurateur who’s appeared on cooking shows such as “Iron Chef.”

Although Chez Maggy sounds (and tastes) upscale, the atmosphere felt as down-to-earth as any Denver brewery. You could get dressed up and make a date night out of it, or you could stop by in yoga pants to eat breakfast while working on your laptop.

Since I’m vegan — and French cuisine isn’t known for being particularly veg-friendly — I was surprised to find myself becoming a Chez Maggy convert during the course of my stay. The restaurant staff members were extremely helpful when I informed them of my dietary needs, and every (veganized) dish I sampled was delicious, including the chopped salad ($14), crispy chickpea wrap, oatmeal ($12) and avocado toast ($13).

There’s a handy QR code in each room to order room service. The restaurant charges a $5 fee for delivery, or you can pop downstairs and grab takeout for free.

In addition to Chez Maggy, there’s the swanky Bar M next door, where you can get mixed drinks and all the same food as Chez Maggy.

Accessibility

The Thompson Denver is equipped for a variety of guests’ needs. It offers wheelchair-accessible guest rooms with wider doorways, roll-in showers and bathroom grab bars. According to the hotel’s site, the concierge desk, registration desk, restaurants, public restrooms and fitness center are all wheelchair-accessible as well.

For visually impaired guests, Braille signs can be found throughout the building. Hearing-impaired guest rooms are available, with text telephones and closed-caption decoders — but I didn’t see these as an option when booking, so you’ll probably have to contact the hotel to ensure one is ready for you.

Reasons the Thompson Denver might not be for you

I was impressed by the hotel’s perfect location, gorgeous common spaces and delectable dining. However, depending on your travel style, you may prefer to look elsewhere.

• If you’re traveling with children or pets, this hotel might feel a bit cramped, with too many edible and breakable items within easy reach.
• If you’re extremely sensitive to smells, the Thompson brand’s signature eucalyptus scent could be uncomfortable.
• If you’re seeking a relaxing retreat, you may prefer a hotel with a pool, hot tub or spa.

Checking out

Overall, the Thompson Denver felt luxurious yet accessible — in more ways than one. Its (usually) reasonable cash rates and many ways to book with points and miles make this upscale hotel easy to book for a variety of travelers and budgets. The restaurant was classy, with excellent food and service, without feeling pretentious. And the staff members were always friendly and attentive, never making me feel out of place — even in my gym clothes.

Plus, the Thompson’s location in the center of downtown makes it a perfect home base for first-time and repeat visitors alike to explore the Mile High City.

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