"With its street art and forward-thinking bars and restaurants, RiNo (River North) is the Mile High City’s undisputed capital of cool. If you want to kick back and linger awhile, you can’t beat this extended-stay boutique hotel, which is redefining the category; in place of the corporate furnishings and dated kitchenettes you might expect, this homey retreat is filled with smart design details throughout. Many rooms include a lofted bed, under which you’ll find pull-out tables and closets, which can then be whisked away to maximize space, and an HD projector so you can stream content at wall-sized proportions. Up on the roof, The Red Barber bar is decked out with curvy pink velvet banquettes, potted palms and monsteras, and whimsical garden gnomes that double as tables. The hotel’s most impressive feature is its treasure-trove-like Playroom, where you can rent or borrow an almost absurdly encyclopedic array of toys and tools: Sure, you’ll find the requisite cruiser bikes and record players that have become boutique hotel standards, but there are also Vespas, skateboards, fly fishing rods, binoculars, GoPros, guitars, and a whole host of useful kitchen appliances, including rice cookers, Vitamixes, air fryers, Instant Pots, panini presses, and waffle makers. When they say they want you to feel at home, they really mean it." - Nicholas DeRenzo
