Can’t wait to see everyone at ARVO 2026 in Denver, May 3–7! Every year we leave this meeting energized — the research presentations, the poster sessions, the conversations that happen in the hallways between talks — it all adds up to something worthwhile, year after year.
Phoenix-Micron has deep Colorado roots, and several of our team members know Denver well — grew up there, trained there, or have made more conference trips than they can count. This year we thought we’d put together a resource guide to help everyone make the most of their time in one of our all-time favorite cities. Denver has changed a lot in the last decade, and what you’ll find is a genuinely walkable, food-obsessed, craft-beer-serious city surrounded by some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent. There’s a lot to love here. Enjoy!
Food | Beer | Sweets | Things To Do | Hotels | Getting Around
Food
Restaurant Guides
Female Foodie’s Best of Denver Restaurant Guide
The Infatuation’s Full Denver Coverage
Best Breakfast Spots in Denver – The Infatuation, updated 2025
Where to Have a Great Breakfast in Denver – Visit Denver
Breakfast
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery – Denver’s most beloved breakfast institution. The pineapple upside-down pancakes are legitimately famous, and the Benedict duos let you try two versions at once. Check in online to skip the wait. Multiple downtown locations including Union Station. 1700 Wewatta St (Union Station) · Denver, CO 80202
Denver Biscuit Co. – Buttery biscuits loaded with fried chicken and sausage gravy. A proper Mile High original.
Onefold – Small, stylish counter service in Uptown. Come for the congee with duck confit and a poached egg. Fills up fast on weekends. 1429 E 18th Ave · Denver, CO 80218
Mercantile Dining & Provision – Alex Seidel’s market-restaurant inside Union Station. Elevated comfort food, beautiful space. Perfect if you’re arriving via the airport light rail. 1701 Wynkoop St (Union Station) · Denver, CO 80202
Lunch & Dinner
Rioja – Mediterranean-inspired New American on historic Larimer Square. One of the most consistently excellent kitchens in Denver and a great pick for a proper dinner after a long day on the exhibit floor. Reservations strongly recommended. 1431 Larimer St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.820.2282
Tavernetta – Housemade pasta and a thoughtful Italian wine and spritz program inside Union Station. Happy hour runs 4–6 pm, and the cacio e pepe at that hour is probably the best value in downtown Denver. 1701 Wynkoop St · Denver, CO 80202
ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro – East-meets-West fusion in LoDo. The French onion soup dumplings are one of those dishes that gets mentioned in conversations months later. Good for groups. 1555 Blake St · Denver, CO 80202 · 720.274.9199
Guard and Grace – 9,000-square-foot modern American steakhouse with a raw bar, open kitchen, and one of the best patios in Denver. Michelin-recommended. The right pick for a team dinner. 1801 California St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.296.3500
A5 Steakhouse – Rare cuts, Japanese-inspired starters, and a Michelin recommendation without the stuffiness. One of the better steakhouses in a city that takes steak seriously. 1600 15th St · Denver, CO 80202
Ultreia – Spanish tapas and one of the best gin-tonic programs in the city, inside Union Station. Perfect for a post-session drink and small plates with colleagues. 1701 Wynkoop St · Denver, CO 80202
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar – One of the best seafood restaurants in a landlocked city; local legend for oysters and happy hour. Steps from LoDo. 1539 17th St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.292.5767
Church and Union – Modern American from Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch. Look up when you walk in — 13,500 words of Sun Tzu are hand-painted across the ceiling. Casual but refined, right near Union Station. 1742 Blake St · Denver, CO 80202
Wynkoop Brewing Company – Colorado’s first brewpub, co-founded in 1988 (Senator John Hickenlooper was an early co-founder). Great pub food, 22 pool tables upstairs, rotating cask ales, and a spot where you feel like a local in ten minutes. 1634 18th St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.297.2700
Vegetarian & Vegan
Watercourse Foods – Long-running Denver vegetarian restaurant with a menu big enough to satisfy everyone. Capitol Hill neighborhood. 837 E 17th Ave · Denver, CO 80218 · 303.832.7313
City O’ City – Plant-forward cafe in Capitol Hill with an impressive cocktail program and late hours. One of those places that feels genuinely lived-in. 206 E 13th Ave · Denver, CO 80203 · 303.831.6443
Beer
Colorado is second only to California in total brewery count, and Denver alone has over 150. This is a city that takes its beer seriously.
Craft Beer Trails & Tours
Denver Beer Trail – The official neighborhood-by-neighborhood brewery map.
Denver Microbrew Tour – Guided 1.5-mile walking tour through LoDo, 10+ samples at 4 breweries.
Recommended Breweries
Wynkoop Brewing – Colorado’s first brewpub. The Rail Yard Ale is the right starting point. 1634 18th St · Denver, CO 80202
Bierstadt Lagerhaus – Lager-only brewery with traditional German technique. The Slow Pour Pils takes five full minutes to pour and is absolutely worth the wait. RiNo neighborhood. 2875 Blake St · Denver, CO 80205
Cerebral Brewing – Consistently one of Denver’s top-rated craft breweries; known for IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and a rotating tap list that’s rarely boring. 1477 Monroe St · Denver, CO 80206
Raíces Brewing Company – Award-winning brewery celebrating Latin American culture, with Denver’s only riverside patio right on the South Platte. Worth the trip. 2060 W Colfax Ave · Denver, CO 80204
Sweets
Little Man Ice Cream – Colorado institution in a cream-can-shaped shop in LoHi. The line wraps around the block on warm evenings for good reason. 2620 16th St · Denver, CO 80211
The Inventing Room – Willy Wonka meets molecular gastronomy. Glow-in-the-dark cotton candy, liquid nitrogen ice cream sundaes. A full experience. Reservations required. 1550 S Pearl St · Denver, CO 80210
Azucar Bakery – Cuban bakery in the Santa Fe Arts District. Good pastries, strong coffee, and a nice detour from the convention center corridor. 606 W 26th Ave · Denver, CO 80211
Things To Do
Visit Denver’s Full Activity Guide
Outdoors
Denver Family-Friendly Activities – Visit Denver
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre – One of the most iconic concert venues in the country, and even without a show it’s worth the drive out. The geological formations alone are stunning. Check the May concert schedule — a show at Red Rocks in early May is an experience you won’t forget. About 30 minutes from downtown. 18300 W Alameda Pkwy · Morrison, CO 80465
Denver Botanic Gardens – 24 acres in the city, genuinely beautiful in May when the spring blooms are at their peak. The Mordecai Children’s Garden is a special stop for families. 1007 York St · Denver, CO 80206 · 720.865.3500
Washington Park – The park that locals go to. Paddle boats on the lake, jogging paths, and the kind of people-watching that makes you understand why people move here. E Virginia Ave & S Downing St · Denver, CO 80209
Cherry Creek Trail – Paved multi-use trail running roughly 40 miles from downtown along the creek. Good for a morning run or bike ride starting close to the convention center.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge – 17,000 acres of prairie and wetlands about 15 minutes from downtown. Bison herds, bald eagles, and prairie dogs. Completely free. One of the stranger and more wonderful things you can do from a downtown Denver conference. Commerce City, CO · east of I-270 and Quebec St
Museums & Culture
Denver Art Museum – One of the premier art museums between the coasts. Free for anyone 18 and under, every day. Worth several hours of your time. 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy · Denver, CO 80204 · 720.865.5000
Denver Museum of Nature & Science – The region’s leading science museum with IMAX, a planetarium, and a deep permanent collection. Plan at least a half-day. 2001 Colorado Blvd · Denver, CO 80205 · 303.370.6000
Meow Wolf Denver: Convergence Station – Immersive, psychedelic art installation that’s genuinely hard to describe. Surreal and well worth your time; best for kids 10 and up. 1338 1st St · Denver, CO 80204 · 866.636.9969
History Colorado Center – Interactive state history museum with a 60-foot walkable map and exhibits that make history genuinely fun. 1200 Broadway · Denver, CO 80203 · 303.447.8679
Clyfford Still Museum – One of the best single-artist museums in the country, dedicated to the abstract expressionist painter. Small, quiet, and consistently excellent. 1250 Bannock St · Denver, CO 80204 · 720.354.4880
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum – 50+ aircraft in a landmark former Air Force hangar. One of the best aviation museums in the country, accessible for all ages. 7711 E Academy Blvd · Denver, CO 80230 · 303.360.5360
Family-Friendly Picks
Denver Zoo – Consistently one of the top-rated urban zoos in the country. 4,000+ animals in naturalistic habitats. Budget a full morning. 2300 Steele St · Denver, CO 80205 · 720.337.1400
Downtown Aquarium – Full aquarium plus interactive exhibits in the city. A solid choice for families on a rainy afternoon. 700 Water St · Denver, CO 80211 · 303.561.4450
Children’s Museum of Denver – Genuinely excellent hands-on children’s museum, one of the best in the country for kids under 10. 2121 Children’s Museum Dr · Denver, CO 80211 · 303.433.7444
U.S. Mint at Denver – Free guided tours of the facility that produces billions of coins a year. First-come, first-served tickets in person the day of your visit. Go early — they fill up fast. 320 W Colfax Ave · Denver, CO 80204
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park – Denver’s amusement park with 53 rides and a full water park. Opens mid-May. Great for families with older kids. 2000 Elitch Circle · Denver, CO 80204
The Inventing Room – Willy Wonka-meets-molecular-gastronomy dessert experience. Kids love it; so do adults who allow themselves to enjoy something wonderfully ridiculous. Reservations required. 1550 S Pearl St · Denver, CO 80210
Day Trips
Rocky Mountain National Park – About 90 minutes from downtown. May means wildflowers, snowcapped peaks, and elk with new calves. Timed-entry permits are required for peak season — check ahead. Estes Park, CO · ~90 min from Denver
Boulder – 30 minutes from Denver, accessible via the Flatiron Flyer bus from Union Station. Walk Pearl Street Mall, hike the Flatirons trailheads, enjoy a university town that somehow also became a tech hub.
Coors Brewery Tour, Golden – The largest single-site brewery in the world, 20 minutes from downtown. Free self-guided tour with generous samples in the hospitality lounge. 13th and Ford St · Golden, CO 80401
Colorado Rockies at Coors Field – Check the May schedule. Beautiful ballpark, real mountain views beyond the outfield wall, and a May evening game is a genuinely nice way to spend a night off. 2001 Blake St · Denver, CO 80205
Cinco de Mayo Festival at Civic Center Park – Denver hosts one of the country’s largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and it falls right at the start of ARVO week (May 3–4, 2026). Three stages of live music, food vendors, and a genuine street-party atmosphere just a short walk from the convention center.
Hotels
If you haven’t locked in accommodations yet, start with the official ARVO housing block. Booking through the block supports the meeting and gets you the best negotiated rates. The deadline for ARVO rates is March 11, 2026, and rooms in the block do go fast.
Official ARVO 2026 Hotel Reservations – Book by March 11, 2026 for conference rates.
Full ARVO 2026 Hotel List and Map (PDF)
Denver Convention Center Hotels – via TripAdvisor
- Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center – Directly across the street from the venue. Hard to beat for location. Indoor pool, fitness center, three on-site dining options. 650 15th St · Denver, CO 80202
- Embassy Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center – Diagonally across from the convention center. Full suites, complimentary made-to-order breakfast each morning, indoor pool. One of the better family-friendly options right at the venue. 1420 Stout St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.592.1000
- Grand Hyatt Denver – 3 blocks from the convention center. Outdoor running track, tennis court, 24-hour fitness center, and solid on-site dining. 1750 Welton St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.295.1234
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver – Boutique hotel about 4 blocks from the convention center. Complimentary evening wine hour, great design, and the on-site Panzano restaurant is worth your time. The right pick if you want something with more personality than a convention-block hotel. 1717 Champa St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.296.1717
- The Crawford Hotel inside Union Station – For a genuinely Denver experience, this is it. Historic Union Station, beautifully renovated, right in the heart of LoDo. Pricier, but memorable. 1701 Wynkoop St · Denver, CO 80202 · 720.460.3700
- The Curtis Denver – Pop-culture-themed boutique hotel directly across from the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 2 blocks from the convention center. Lively atmosphere and a fun place to stay. 1405 Curtis St · Denver, CO 80202 · 303.571.0300
- Homewood Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center – 1 block from the convention center. Suite-style rooms with full kitchens, complimentary breakfast, pool. The practical pick for families or anyone staying the full week. 550 15th St · Denver, CO 80202
- The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs – Before/after ARVO retreat. If you’re extending your Colorado trip, the Broadmoor is one of the great American resort hotels. About 90 minutes south of Denver. Genuinely worth it. 1 Lake Ave · Colorado Springs, CO 80906 · 719.634.7711
Getting Around
Denver’s downtown is very walkable, and the convention center sits in a central location. The RTD A-Line light rail connects Denver International Airport directly to Union Station in about 37 minutes — no rental car needed for the conference itself. For day trips to Red Rocks, Boulder, or the mountains, a rental car or rideshare is the way to go.
One thing worth mentioning if you’re coming from sea level: Denver sits at exactly 5,280 feet. Give yourself a day to acclimate when you first arrive. Drink a lot of water. And pace yourself on the craft beer your first evening — the altitude affects how quickly it hits. Friendly advice from people who’ve learned the hard way.
We’re looking forward to seeing you in Denver! Stop by the Phoenix-Micron booth and say hello. Safe travels.
– The Phoenix-Micron Team
