Populus
Eco-forward biophilic boutique. The whole building is designed as a vertical forest — lobby as forest floor, guest rooms as trunk, rooftop as canopy. Earthy tones, raw concrete ceilings, beetle-kill pine walls, cottonwood reception desk. Minimalist and natural, not precious or fussy. Locals genuinely eat here.
Book direct on populusdenver.com — packages and promotional rates are only available through the official site, not OTAs
Why It Matters
Named to Time's 'World's Greatest Places' and Esquire's 'Best New Hotels in the World' for 2025. Awarded a Michelin Key. Legitimately the first carbon-positive new-build hotel in the US, with operations, materials, and dining programs all built around measurable sustainability — not greenwashing.
Populus is a 13-story, 265-room boutique hotel that opened in October 2024, directly across from Denver's Civic Center Park. Designed by Studio Gang (their first completed Colorado project), its ivory facade is studded with 365 irregularly shaped 'aspen-eye' windows inspired by the bark markings of the quaking aspen tree. It's the country's first carbon-positive hotel — running on 100% wind and solar energy, using low-carbon concrete and recycled materials throughout, and planting one tree per guest per night through the National Forest Foundation.
Where You'll Stay
11 room types available
Aspen King
A corner room with downtown Denver views and proper space to spread out. Additional sitting area and table, larger bathroom. Named after the tree that inspired the building.
Capitol Studio Suite
Corner suite with wraparound aspen-eye windows directly facing the Colorado State Capitol and Civic Center Park. The bathroom is a genuine highlight — double-headed rainfall shower with natural light and double vanity. A sofa and workstation round out the space.
City King
A step up from the standard Grove rooms. Extra space, larger bathroom, and a sitting area with a table — useful for working or dining in the room. Views of the surrounding Denver neighborhood and skyline.
Grove King
The smallest room at Populus, but compact by deliberate design. High ceilings, sustainable materials, signature aspen-eye window, and a streamlined workstation. Best for solo travelers or light-packing couples who aren't planning to spend much time in the room.
Grove Queen
Queen bed version of the standard Grove room. Same earthy, minimalist feel — aspen-eye window, calming tones, pressed wildflower framing. Barely bigger than the King but laid out for two.
Grove Queen ADA
The accessible standard room — notably larger than the non-ADA standard rooms at 291 sq ft. Designed for accessibility and function without compromising the hotel's nature-inspired aesthetic.
Hammock Queen
Same footprint as the Grove Queen, but with Populus's signature feature: a built-in hammock bench set into the aspen-eye window alcove. A genuinely lovely spot to read or decompress. Guests frequently cite the hammock window as a highlight of their stay.
Mountain Studio Suite
The biggest room in the house at 554 sq ft. Multiple seating areas, views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains, and a bathroom setup that's genuinely luxurious — rainfall shower room plus an enclosed soaking tub with natural light. Worth the upgrade if you want to actually relax in the room.
Poplar Two Queen
The go-to for families or friends traveling together. Two queen beds in a large corner room with a work desk, sitting area, and natural light. One of the more spacious non-suite options.
Two QueensPopulus King
The largest of the Deluxe rooms. Corner position with workstation, extra table and chairs, and a standout corner bathroom with large shower, double vanity, and skyline views through the glass. Some units include the iconic window bench alcove.
Summit Junior Suite
Junior suite category between the studio suites and standard deluxe rooms. Specific dimensions not published on the official site.
The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Civic Center Park is directly across the street — a green space bookended by the Denver City Council building and the Colorado State Capitol. The hotel faces the legislative buildings, giving a view unlike most Denver hotels that orient toward the mountains.
The building itself is the activity. Touch the exposed fly-ash concrete core, spot the reclaimed Wyoming snow fence ceiling details, find the cottonwood reception desk, and read the beetle-kill pine wall shingles. The lobby plays artist-commissioned Colorado forest soundscapes synced to time of day. The building is designed to be explored floor by floor — forest floor to canopy.
Eight event spaces on Level 2 (the 'Understory'), ranging from the intimate Hollow (16 guests) to the Stellar Jay Lounge (40 guests). Level 2 spaces together accommodate meetings up to 60 and parties up to 120. Stellar Jay on the 13th floor accommodates up to 150 guests, with a private dining room for up to 16.
For every night a guest stays, Populus plants a tree in Colorado's national forests (Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison, or White River) through a partnership with the National Forest Foundation. Guests can track the hotel's carbon offset on an in-house dashboard.
Room key sleeves are biodegradable and infused with wildflower seeds — guests can plant them after checkout.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Green roof providing habitat for local wildlife and insects — sits above the canopy-level Stellar Jay rooftop.
Eight event spaces across Level 2 (Understory) accommodating meetings of 16-120 guests. Rooftop Stellar Jay accommodates up to 150 for events, with a private dining room for 16.
Provided in refillable bottles throughout the hotel — part of the sustainability ethos.
Curated mini-bar stocked with locally sourced food and drink — including Westdown and Bound beers and snacks from Denver Chip Co.
Dogs welcome — up to two per room. Civic Center Park is directly across the street. Dog treats provided. Charges may apply; confirm availability when booking.
Populus gift cards available through the Aparium gift card portal.
Built-in dashboard to display real-time carbon offset data for hotel operations — part of the transparency around the carbon-positive claims.
Filtered water refill stations on every floor. Guests can bring their own reusable bottle or purchase a Populus x MiiR bottle.
Electric vehicle charging stations available for guests.
Valet parking available at approximately $64/night. Note: there is no self-park or garage on-site — this is intentional design to encourage greener transport. The hotel is steps from public transit and bike lanes.
Populus does not have an on-site spa.
Fully equipped gym open around the clock. Includes machines, free weights, and two Peloton bikes. Modest in size but functional.
Populus does not have a pool.
BUILD YOUR POPULUS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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