Hotel Alpenrock Embodies the Bold, Adventurous Spirit of Breckenridge

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Design details at Hotel Alpenrock are as unique as snowflakes

The hotel itself strives to offer a fresh take on mountain lodging, blending modern aesthetics with cozy alpine details such as lofted ceilings in the lobby, and check-in desks that are meant to feel like rocky granite boulders. The custom lighting fixtures in the lobby were actually inspired by ski gondolas — and there’s a cozy, two-sided fireplace flanked by plenty of comfortable seating inviting guests to spend a moment more in community, in the lobby.

These elevated design elements carry over to the accommodations. There are 205 guest rooms, including 24 suites — with a mix of junior and full suite options. The rooms are well-lit, boasting unique design details like a special carpet pattern inspired by a topographical map — invoking the surrounding majestic mountain peaks.

The decor is done up in soothing shades of blue, white, black, and gray — common colors of a mountain winter, bringing that outdoor alpine scenery inside. Strategically placed mirrors make the spaces feel larger, and the glossy finishings on the upper furniture surfaces such as the top of the desk and dresser are clean and modern.

And the bathrooms are gorgeous. I know that’s something that you might not notice or appreciate about your guest room until you either have a really nice or really poor washroom space — but these exceed expectations by a mile (or two, since again, this hotel is up at upwards of 9,000 feet). Bright white faux marble countertops and rocky tilework inspired by the exterior natural environment feel natural, and the upscale quality of the toiletries are an added bonus.

Also, my guest room felt much larger than most other standard hotel rooms I’ve stayed in. It had a nice balcony looking out onto the mountains and I loved the quirky wall art which featured a sort of comic-style map with many of the world’s most famed ski resorts including little cartoon details on what made them special.

Amenities and added bonuses like art walks and a ski valet

There are two hot tubs nestled around the back of the property, tucked into the hillside and secluded from the rest of the property, which can be a great spot to relax after a day out enjoying mountain excursions. Also, don’t miss the on-site art installations sprinkled throughout the property’s common spaces.

Works like “Moraine Magic Hour,” a photograph by Garrett Harmsen which is located in the Big Mountain Hallway, or “our place, ‘among the flowers II’” a Gouache, watercolor, ink and collage on paper piece by Crystal Liu, which is located in Edwin, are just two of the pieces that bring the hotel to life with a special touch of art and design. You can even join guided art walks led by the hotel’s guest experience concierge to learn more about the thoughtfully chosen artwork.

Other amenities include the hotel’s “pet-friendly” policy (yes, my dog accompanied me on this trip and I do believe he enjoyed it just as much as I did), an in-room humidifier in each room (believe me, this is huge when you’re in the mountains of Colorado — you won’t wake up at 2 a.m. feeling like you’ve been breathing in desert air when you have a humidifier going) and blackout curtains which are fantastic when your room faced east like mine did (it felt like midnight all the time, inside the room with the curtains shut), which was great for catching some quality shut-eye.

There was a complimentary yoga class on Saturday morning during my visit, which was the perfect warm-up for staying flexible throughout my day on the mountain. I was told by the hotel team that they’re planning to try to organize some classes on the outdoor, Northstar Deck this summer (which offers views of Peak 9).

And I admittedly didn’t see the fitness center in-person while I was visiting because I spent the majority of my two days in Breckenridge on the mountain, skiing. But I was told it features a healthy mix of upscale cardio machines and weights equipment. But on that note, skiers and snowboarders will love the slopeside ski valet service, which looks out for your gear while you’re out relaxing. Having a warm space to put on my ski boots and store my things in-between days out on the mountain is life changing.

That sounds dramatic — but it’s true. It’s really challenging to go back to putting your boots on outside of your car in a chilly parking lot, while trying to avoid the mud and slush, after having the luxury of a ski valet area (with its heated interior air and ample, clean places to sit).

Finally, even though it’s super easy to walk to Breckenridge’s historic downtown from the hotel, there’s a courtesy shuttle you can call to take you around town if you don’t feel like taking on any extra altitude during the trek.

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Dining and drinking on-site at Hotel Alpenrock

Start the day with a soul warming beverage at the on-site coffee bar & bistro, which serves fresh coffee, tea, and pastries. It’s a convenient place for fueling up before a day’s adventure. This spot also doubles as a 24/7 Cafe & Market where you can grab a canned cocktail or packaged bite and pay at the front desk at any time.

After that day’s adventure, you can’t walk through the lobby toward your guest room without passing by the bar, The Carter, which is more than just your everyday lobby bar (and that’s not a cliche). The overhead lighting in this separate space is glossy, and the golden fixtures and leather barstools add to the elegant, sophisticated atmosphere. It’s meant to be a welcoming and luxurious space to gather for a cocktail and bite to eat. Sit at the bar, get cozy in a booth, perch at one of the high-top tables, or lounge in one of the comfortable chairs around the fireplace — there are no shortage of seating options.

If you’re seeking a heartier bite or a meal in a sit-down dining space, step into Edwin, the hotel’s bustling signature restaurant, which serves breakfast and dinner. Its name is a nod to the 19th-century Breckenridge prospector-turned-naturalist Edwin Carter. This space aims to “reimagine alpine cuisine,” featuring a menu of locally-inspired, delicious dishes made from scratch and an impressively sourced wine menu. Diners can gaze into the open-fire oven which crafts a lineup of artisan sourdough pizzas with creative toppings — and there’s no shortage of other innovative entrees to dive into (the Cornmeal-Dusted Trout and Elk Green Chili are two must-try signature dishes).

Finally, to visit my personal favorite place to dine and drink (and honestly, perhaps my favorite place to spend time on-site overall), make a reservation to try The Canary — a hidden speakeasy with a mysterious ambiance and a selection of clever cocktails (the bespoke cocktails are crafted for you, personally, based on your individual tastes and mood).

This space was inspired by Breckenridge’s historic prohibition-era dance halls and got its name from the tales of the “canary in a coal (in this case, gold?) mine. The decor is dark and moody, with a sultry and romantic vibe. It’s an alluring space to lose track of time and place, since there are no windows — just the dim lights of the bar (and no real sense of time passing, as if you are lost inside the depths of the earth but enjoying yourself, with the only treasure you’re searching for being your next beautiful cocktail).

The Canary is tucked behind a hidden wall one learns that it shares with Edwin, and its intimate atmosphere and cryptic air of complexity is one you just have to step into and feel to understand. Plus, yes, sometimes there is a real canary bird inside – Nugget its name inspired by the golden nuggets from Breckenridge’s mining history).

Nugget lives full-time with one of Hotel Alpenrock’s chefs and makes an appearance at Canary on special occasions (Nugget gets lots of love and personal attention. I’ve been told Nugget prefers the ladies and is partial, in particular, to the hotel’s chef’s wife).

Hotel Alpenrock is more than a place to rest your head in-between adventures

Hotel Alpenrock is more than just a place to relax in-between the adventures you enjoy in Breckenridge — staying at this property feels like its own adventure. Even little design details including the hotel’s logo — a mountain with a rocky mountain peak inside the circle of the sun or moon (the logo has both day and night variations) to me, provokes a sense of inspiration for seeking a journey.

I thought it was very cool that there are two different versions of the logo depending on the Earth’s position in space (night versus day). In the day version, the sun appears in the signature “Aspen” yellow against a bright moonlight-colored background. In the night version, the moon is displayed in the moonlight color against a deep “Ore” background. Both variations feature these “Ice”-colored Rocky Mountains.

And the name of the hotel itself is purposeful. It’s a combination of two words, “Alpen” which nods to the towering, snow-capped peaks that make Breckenridge the mountain oasis it has grown to become, and “Rock” which is a nod to the year-round playground of the Rocky Mountains, where the property lives.

Whether you leave the four walls of the hotel or not while you’re staying here, it’s going to be a well-enjoyed journey of experiences in dining, drinking, and indulging in a balance of the excitement and ease. The feelings you experience in a mountain town like Breckenridge — a sense of exhilaration that’s been felt in the region for centuries — is exactly what Hotel Alpenrock embodies to its core (no “mining” required).

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