By Katie Rapone, editor
Urban Cowboy, a boutique hotel and lifestyle brand designed to be an oasis for travelers, dreamers and romantics, has launched its latest western outpost in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The new hotel occupies the historic George Schleier mansion, a Gilded Age landmark at 1665 Grant St., and offers 16 unique rooms. The property also includes the Urban Cowboy Public House, a two-story carriage house-turned-restaurant fast becoming a popular spot for hotel guests and the local community.
Co-founded by Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks, Urban Cowboy Hotels began in Williamsburg, BK, and has since added Nashville, TN and Upstate NY to its growing portfolio. Expanding west had always been in the plans for the brand, but it wasn’t until Porter discovered the landmark George Schleier mansion, a quirky Queen Anne built in the 1880s, that Denver fell into place.
“Our expansion into Denver marks an exciting chapter in our journey and a homecoming for my partner Jersey Banks, who grew up in Denver,” said Lyon Porter, co-founder of Urban Cowboy Hotels and full-service design studio, Cowboy Creative. “To be able to bring Urban Cowboy out west is something we’ve thought about since the inception of the brand, and the opportunity to reimagine this historic mansion in my hometown is a dream come true,” said Jersey Banks, the co-founder and matriarch of the company.
Designed by Denver architect Frank Edbrooke for hat tycoon turned politician George Schleier, the century-old landmark mansion was slated for demolition but is now primed for its next chapter. Working with GBX Group and Historic Denver, Porter and Banks took great care to preserve as much of the original detail and architecture as possible – from the mansion’s Queen Ann style façade, original staircase with carvings of gargoyles, Bavarian swans, and “onion” tower cupola, hand-carved coffered ceilings, eight immaculately preserved art tile fireplaces, and old carriage house where the original owners kept their horse and buggy – while still infusing the brand’s signature design aesthetic, which thoughtfully caters to the modern traveler’s needs and desires.
As with every Urban Cowboy Hotel, the property is full of “found objects” hand-picked from Porter’s road trips across the U.S., ranging from an 1800s hand-carved wooden saloon bar from the Wooden Nickle in Cincinnati to a “honey pot” found in Colorado filled with Western frontier period art, a horn and fur “cowboy” couch, and of course, hand-hammered copper soaking tubs in each room – and in the penthouse Honeymoon Suite, a pair of tubs side by side. Just as well known for maximalist patterned walls as its tubs, Porter designed his first custom wallpaper for Denver inspired by a 1700s block print pattern, fusing a romantic nostalgia of the past with the Denver Frontier Cowboy aesthetic.
Urban Cowboy Public House
Urban Cowboy Public House features an exclusive menu from the famed Brooklyn-based Roberta’s Pizza. This marks Roberta’s second collaboration with Urban Cowboy Hotels, building on the success of their initial partnership at Urban Cowboy Nashville in 2020.
“Denver’s Urban Cowboy Public House is a vibrant nod to the historic 1880s saloons that once graced every corner of Downtown Denver,” said Urban Cowboy Hotels co-founder Lyon Porter. “With its inspired decor and charm, the upstairs area offers an exciting opportunity for private events, making it a versatile and dynamic space for any occasion.”
Roberta’s Pizza brings Brooklyn’s iconic flavors to Denver. Menu offerings will focus on locally sourced ingredients, including a rotating selection of seasonal pies, specialties from the wood oven, market vegetables, and their infamous house-made stracciatella. A customer favorite, the Bee Sting pizza features soppressata, basil, chili and honey for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
In addition, the restaurant and bar offers a selection of craft cocktails curated by six-year Urban Cowboy veteran Alex Jay, head of beverage and general manager, who helms Urban Cowboy’s renowned cocktail programs across each property. Highlights of the cocktail menu include The Mama Rita, Public House Old Fashioned, Holy Molé, Little Charmer, Rattlesnake Jake, and a seasonally rotating milk punch. Guests can also enjoy wine and local brews.
“Roberta’s expansion to the Mile High City has been on our radar for quite some time, and we couldn’t be happier to join forces with the Urban Cowboy team once again to bring a little Brooklyn flavor to Denver’s dynamic food scene,” said Roberta’s co-founder Brandon Hoy. “We believe that great food has the power to unite and inspire, and Carlo and I are excited to introduce Roberta’s to Denver’s diverse culinary landscape.”
