‘Mile High City’ Denver boasts as many as 300 days of sunshine during the year. Now that we’re almost stepping into summer, it’s time to soak up those sun rays before cooling off, right? And just because Denver doesn’t have a beach doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a plethora of water oases to enjoy in the form of hotel pools. What’s even better is when these poolside jaunts meet spectacular skyline views. And while they were at it, the best options for a rooftop pool hotel, Denver, even threw in a cocktail or two in the form of pool bars. Moreover, there are several such hotels in the best parts of Denver that transformed their rooftops into spaces of pure relaxation. The best bit? They’re also available across various budgets and vibes, whether one is traveling solo, as a couple, or with the family.
When we began looking for Denver stays with cool pools and elevated views, we found quite a number of excellent options. While some were limited to overnight hotel guests, many had poolside activities and bars open to the public. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your best one-piece swimsuits and two-piece sets for summer and check out these amazing rooftop poolscapes in the aptly named Mile High City.
Table of contents
- The Jacquard Autograph Collection
- The Halcyon
- The Source Hotel & Market Hall
- Clayton Members Club & Hotel
- Sonesta Denver Downtown Hotel
- Grand Hyatt Denver
- Four Seasons Hotel Denver
- The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square
- Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
- The Westin Denver Downtown
- Warwick Denver
- Our Verdict!
- Where to Stay in Denver?
- Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Denver
- Recommended Activities in Denver
The Jacquard Autograph Collection
11
The 75-foot lap pool is the focal point of the Rooftop at The Jacquard Autograph Collection. This hotel sits in the most walkable neighborhood in Denver, and its ninth-story Rooftop is a beautiful place. It not only has a pool, but also a whirlpool, a rooftop bar, Kisbee on the Roof, and some truly amazing views of the city and the Rocky Mountains.
The long and sparkling heated pool was wonderful to swim in, after which we relaxed on the plush sun loungers and daybeds that were reserved only for hotel guests. That said, the bar is open to guests too, but we could order a wide range of cocktails right to our daybeds. We highly recommend the Outrigger, which is a Mile High mai tai made with Colorado Vodka. What’s more, there’s seating all around the rooftop, including lounging areas, community tables, and bar seating. If that wasn’t enough, the entire rooftop can also be covered with a translucent cover for events that are spread over the entire patio.
Did you know that the Rooftop even has personal igloo experiences in private heated igloos in the winter months? The pool, which is open seasonally, can be accessed every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the season. It’s no wonder it’s one of Denver’s best hotel pools.
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The Halcyon
10
The Halcyon is a quirky Cherry Creek gem, and its rooftop made us feel like we were on top of the world! It’s one of Denver’s only hotels with a heated rooftop pool that’s open throughout the year, complete with views of the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains.
For us, the pool deck was nothing less than a perfect blend of an upscale bar, a cantina, and an urban observatory. After a languorous swim in the heated pool and a soak in the hot tub, we lounged in the private cabana we reserved for a special experience. Moreover, the cabanas were available for either 4 or 7 hours daily and for up to 6 people, making it great for a group of friends too. Of course, there are also loungers, daybeds, and sprawling community couches. Plus, we could even order drinks and snacks from the elevated rooftop bar. The best bit? The pool is open from 8 am to sunset every day. Did you arrive at sunset? They’ll give you a special treat!
During summer, the Halcyon’s “Summer Fitness Series” is very popular. It’s where travelers and locals indulge in complimentary “Wine-Down” happy-hour workouts on the pool deck – how cool is that!
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The Source Hotel & Market Hall
9
The Source Hotel & Market Hall sits in the trendy River North Art District and is surrounded by amazing creative places like art galleries, breweries, and jazz bars. But its crown jewel is “The Woods,” its fabulous eighth-floor rooftop space which is more cozy than buzzing.
Imagine a long heated plunge pool with a hot tub/jacuzzi and even fire pits for cold Denver evenings. What’s even better is that the Woods restaurant next door not only serves drinks to the daybeds but also has happy hours and 45 beers on tap. So, if you’re looking for a historical ironworks structure from the 1870s with a casual and easygoing vibe and a rooftop pool, then this RiNo hotel is where you should be. The pool is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., one of the longest pool hours in Denver. The best part? It’s open throughout the year rather than just during the season, which makes it even better.
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Clayton Members Club & Hotel
8
The Clayton Members Club & Hotel was curated for the curious and designed for socializing. In fact, this trendy boutique hotel gives hotel guests and members unlimited access to the rooftop pool and bar. So, we were able to unwind and relax without too much of a crowd around. Not only was it the perfect place for unwinding and mingling, but it’s also available for splashy and flashy private events.
Coming back to the rooftop pool, it’s one of the most gorgeous rooftop poolscapes in the city, especially since it’s surrounded by blue-and-white-striped comfy sun loungers, couches, and cabanas. What’s more, we could order cocktails, drinks, and delicious food from a fabulous all-day dining menu. And since the rooftop restaurant/pool bar is right next door, we could simply go in for a snack or even brunch after cooling off at the pool. Open from 8 am to 10 pm every day, the picturesque poolscape feels very intimate and exclusive.
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Sonesta Denver Downtown Hotel
7
The Sonesta Denver Downtown Hotel, formerly the Crowne Plaza, boasts an unbeatable location right in the heart of Downtown Denver. Its crown jewel is the outdoor pool on the rooftop, which boasts 360-degree views of not just Downtown but also the mountains surrounding the city.
The minute you enter the pool area, a warm and welcoming feeling overcomes you. The seasonal heated pool opens up during summertime (May to September) and is open every day from 7 am to 9 pm. What’s more, the rectangular-shaped pool is perfect for swimming laps, after which we could lounge on the daybeds and soak in the scenic views of the city’s skyline. Besides daybeds, you’ll also find colorful lounge sofas and comfy couches to sprawl out even more comfortably. The best part is that the pool is open to not just hotel guests but also to other people on a day pass. Using that, they can not only book access to the pool but also the gym and even get towel service.
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Grand Hyatt Denver
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Best value for money. The pool at the Grand Hyatt Denver is slightly different. Yes, it’s on the fourth-floor rooftop, and yes, it’s an amazing pool, but it’s an indoor one. However, that didn’t deter us from trying it out, and we did. With the indoor pool and outdoor roof set up on the fourth floor, this hotel probably has the most interesting setup in all of Denver. First, let’s turn our attention to the indoor poolscape, which is spacious and features a gorgeous heated pool.
We loved all the space on the pool; especially since it comes with lots of seating daybeds, chairs, and loungers. When the weather was nice, we could even sit out on the rooftop deck right next door. So, we would soak up the nice sun rays before we’d return inside for a second dip. All in all, this is one of the most affordable downtown hotels you’ll find if you’re looking for something value for money.
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Four Seasons Hotel Denver
5
Most luxurious. When we went looking for rooftop poolscape indulgence, the Four Seasons Hotel Denver was the only place we could look at. This luxurious, five-star escape boasts a rooftop urban retreat on the third floor, at the center of which sits a heated rooftop pool. Set in a deep-blue mosaic, the pool was surrounded by gardens, flowers, and plants, making for a lush escape in the heart of Downtown. Plus, there were even lounge seats, sun loungers, and daybeds from where we could spy superb mile-high views of the city. After a long and languorous swim, we’d unwind right at the daybeds, ordering snacks and cocktails from the poolside bar.
But what makes this pool different from the others is that it’s attached to the rejuvenating Four Seasons Spa. So, both the pool and spa would be open to everyone from Monday to Thursday during the summer season. However, during the weekdays between Friday and Sunday, it would be open to just us hotel guests, which we greatly appreciate.
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The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square
4
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square has one of the best rooftop pools we’ve ever seen in the Mile High City. Sitting on the penthouse level with the most epic downtown views, this stylish Skybridge Rooftop Deck and Pool is only open to hotel guests. We loved the easy sloping entry, which allowed us to simply lounge, but our absolute favorite was the fact that there were designer daybeds right in one shallow portion! Furthermore, there was even a blue-tiled jacuzzi that matched the long sparkling pool.
So, our days spent on the rooftop were nothing less than a pool party, especially since the pool would be open every day. Add to the fact that we were treated to spectacular 360-degree views of the city, and you can see why we loved it so much. If all that wasn’t enough, we could even order cocktails and food to our daybeds from the High Society Pool Bar & Grill during the open summer season. Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the rooftop pool deck can only be accessed through the Penthouse floor, so one needs a hotel key to access it.
Finally, one needs to wear proper swimwear to access the pool deck, children need to be accompanied by adults, and the pool is designed for entering and swimming, not diving.
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Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
3
Best year-round pool. The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is home to the other year-round heated pool in the Mile High City. We could enjoy the pool at any time of year, but we were here during summer, and we had a blast. After enjoying a wonderful swim in the heated pool, we retreated to the plush bright-red sun loungers under the sun umbrellas sprinkled around the pool deck. Plus, we were surrounded by lots of lush foliage. What’s more, we also had the choice of comfy cabanas with curtains for privacy, especially since booking a cabana also comes with a whole lot of perks. These include excellent service with ice-cold water, a fruit plate for two people, and a personal cooler.
If that wasn’t enough, we could even order bites, cocktails, and refreshments right to our daybed or cabana from the Spritz rooftop bar. All in all, this redesigned rooftop pool deck is one of the most sophisticated pool decks we’ve seen in Denver. Of course, it also offered superb views of the vibrant city from our comfy perches. The best bit? The rooftop pool is open from 6 am 10 10 pm, and that too only to hotel guests on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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The Westin Denver Downtown
2
Longest pool hours. The Westin Denver Downtown is one of the best hotels in Downtown Denver, and its fourth-floor rooftop pool is one of its most wonderful amenities. This fabulous rooftop pool deck offers unobstructed views of the magnificent Rockies, so we could enjoy some amazing views, including those of Denver downtown. We loved the unique, rounded shape of the rooftop pool, which was heated, so we could enjoy swimming no matter the weather. After a swim, we’d retreat to one of the many couches, deck chairs, or loungers on the spacious sun deck.
Not only did the hotel provide us with towels, but it was also open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., which is one of the longest pool times in Denver. So, we could not only take an early morning swim but even enjoy a night swim with the twinkling city lights in the distance. And even though there’s no restaurant on the pool level, we could actually order food and beverages from the room service straight to our poolside perch. What fun!
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Warwick Denver
1
Best overall. Sitting at the top of the list is the Warwick Denver, which has the most fascinating history of any hotel in Denver. That’s because it used to be the Denver Playboy Club earlier! It still retains that sexy ambiance, including its stunning rooftop poolscape. Firstly, it’s one of the only two poolscapes (and rooftop bars) in the heart of Denver’s downtown that are open throughout the year in all seasons, the other being the Sheraton Denver Downtown. What’s more, the pool boasts not just 360-degree views out over Denver, but it also has a full bar right beside it. Hence, we’d enjoy long swims in the heated pool, following it with a lounge on the plush daybeds.
Not only that, but we could also order snacks and drinks right to our sun loungers and plush chairs. Of course, everything was dropped by panoramic views of Denver’s skyline and the snowcapped Rocky Mountains. Open from morning to evening, the poolscape even provided us with towels.
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Our Verdict!
While we loved all of Denver’s poolscapes, these ones were our favorite:
- Best overall: Warwick Denver
- Best value for money: Grand Hyatt Denver
- Longest pool hours: The Westin Denver Downtown
- Best year-round pool: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Where to Stay in Denver?
Denver has many varied neighborhoods for specific activities, such as sightseeing, interests, and more. We start off with LoDo, a.k.a. Historic Lower Downtown, which was an excellent home base for exploring the top things to do in Denver. Moreover, it’s also where the city’s Central Business District (CBD) sits, where we found some of the best opera and ballet venues in the city.
Next, there’s the trendy and hip RiNo (River North Art District), which was perfect for all sorts of late-night revelry. It’s buzzing with some of Denver’s most inventive cocktail bars, breweries, craft distilleries, and restaurants. Of course, who can forget the “Golden Triangle” neighborhood, which sits just south of CBD? It was perfect for culture vultures like us, as it’s home to many of the art galleries and museums in Denver. Plus, there’s also the verdant Civic Center Park with its lush flowerbeds and foliage, as well as lots of public art everywhere. Finally, if you’re a fan of African-American subculture and jazz, then head to Five Points. Sitting just northeast of Downtown, it’s famous as the “Harlem of the West.”
Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Denver
- Potager: This Cap Hill gem practiced farm-to-table dining long before it entered the mainstream scene. Since 1997, this restaurant has built its menu around locally sourced ingredients. In addition to food delights like the Maine halibut, don’t miss the thoughtful wine pairings.
- El Five: The pan-Mediterannean El Five is a cross between a souk and a midcentury cinema and is as sexy as they come. Dig into paellas, meze, and tapas with wines and flamboyant cocktails that seemed to whisk us off to far-flung lands.
Recommended Activities in Denver
- City Highlights, Views, and Secret Spots Bus Tour: This tour is one of the best ways to explore Denver. We boarded a bus as a local guide regaled us with stories, tales, and facts about Denver, even as we discovered top sights and hidden spots. These included the Mile High Steps, the Big Blue Bear, the Denver Art Museum, and Larimer Square, among others.
- Denver Middle Clear Creek Beginners Whitewater Rafting: Are you as excited about whitewater rafting as we are? Start off your beginner’s adventures on the roaring waters of Clear Creek in Denver, which boasts class I-II rapids amidst stunning Rocky Mountain scenery.
