The Kimpton Claret Hotel at Belleview Station, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, opened its doors earlier this month to delighted hotel guests and Denver foodies. Not just a place to stay, the hotel’s two new culinary concepts — Saverina and Halo Rooftop Bar led by beloved Denver Chef Christian Graves — are destined to become South Denver’s most popular gathering spots to dine and unwind.
“We are excited to open our doors as the first lifestyle boutique hotel in this area,” said Kimpton Claret General Manager Keith Siebenaler. “Belleview Station is a destination on the rise as it is perfectly located between downtown Denver, the South Denver corridor and Cherry Creek State Park, and really capitalizes on the live, work, play trend in development. Our location in this vibrant neighborhood positions us to become a cultural hub for locals, frequent visitors and newcomers to the area.”
Kimpton Claret is a collaboration between Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, an IHG brand, DTC Hospitality Investors, LLC, and developer Cypress 16, LLC in conjunction with McClurg Century Investments, LLC, all working in tandem to bring this project to life. Additional partners include KGD Architecture, serving as the property architect; KARAMANN, outfitting the entire hotel’s interiors; and Harvey Cleary Builders, the general contractor for the project’s construction.
The 19-floor hotel is a study of contrasts with a juxtaposition of design elements throughout, such as chunky knits and supple leather, warm woods and cool metals and textural plaster and smooth stone. With natural materials as the foundation, the infusion of bespoke furniture, curated art and rich textures creates spaces that are both effortless and evocative. In the lobby, guests are greeted by a hand-finished fireplace, a sculptural steel reception desk, numerous gathering spaces and the Saverina bar as well as a grand wood staircase leading up to the second-floor meeting spaces.
Kimpton Claret Hotel’s 190 guest rooms are intentionally minimal with a soft palette of gray, beige and cream combined with warm accents such as textural wool throws. The calming tones are offset by striking modern artwork and large picture windows that frame the Denver and mountain landscapes, creating a sophisticated respite that celebrates the beauty of its setting. Among the guest rooms are four suites – including two specialty suites, one of which offers a dining area and wet bar.
Dining
Kimpton Claret’s ground floor restaurant, Saverina, is located adjacent to the hotel lobby and features Italian-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner created with sustainable, local, and organic ingredients. Created by Executive Chef Christian Graves, Saverina’s food program embraces the best of Italy while incorporating the seasonality of Colorado in its sourdough pizzas, house-made pasta dishes and vegetable-centric starters. The restaurant boasts a chic and comfortable aesthetic that is open and airy with a display kitchen, large windows, high ceilings and street-front views. The space is outfitted with a look that’s both understated and elegant using organic materials like exposed brick, black steel, blonde wood, marble and leather. An open kitchen design helps to embraces the energy of the culinary team at
work and the meticulous approach they take in their craft.
“We wanted to create the feeling that Saverina has been here for years and will be here for years to come,” said Executive Chef Christian Graves. “In addition to the ambiance, the quality of the food, beverage and service is the real story here, and we look forward to welcoming Denver locals and visitors alike.”
Perched 19 floors above street level, Halo Rooftop Bar is Belleview Station’s newest sought-after drinking destination for young professionals and residents. Halo’s kicked up social scene features crafted cocktails, elevated bar classics geared toward a “food-in-hand” approach for sharing and social snacking, a robust live music schedule and unparalleled Rocky Mountain views. Offering both indoor and outdoor space with layouts that can accommodate parties of all sizes, Halo’s design is dynamic with a dark palette offset by bright yellows and electric purple and textures of leather, velvet and animal print. A large outdoor terrace with direct bar access and numerous fire pits with lounge seating gives guests the ability to relax under the night sky.
“Saverina’s design is chic and clean, featuring steel, leather and stone. Its open, airy layout is welcoming and unfussy, featuring an impressive expo kitchen and beautifully stocked bar,” said Savanna Linneman of Chicago-based interior design firm KARAMANN. “We designed Halo to be evocative and sexy with a darker palette of rich velvets to offset the spectacular 180-degree views of the Rocky Mountains.”
Kimpton Claret Hotel also offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space that can cater to groups of up to 250 and includes two ballrooms, a boardroom, pre-function space and an outdoor terrace. The meetings spaces are designed to be simple, clean and elegant – a blank slate for clients to convert into their ideal space – with warm accents such as artwork, large mirrors and custom glass and metal light fixtures. Saverina provides all catering for meetings and events.
Kimpton Claret Hotel is located at 6985 E. Chenango Ave. in the heart of the fast-developing Belleview Station neighborhood along the growing Denver South Corridor, which is home to restaurants and shops and a thriving tech scene, with easy access to downtown Denver via the light rail. This is Kimpton’s second hotel in Denver, a sister property to the popular Hotel Monaco Denver located at 1717 Champa Street.
Photos courtesy of Whit Preston
