
Populus
Best for travelers who want a new, sustainability-minded downtown hotel with rooftop dining and close access to Civic Center cultural sites.
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Populus is a 13-story, design-forward downtown Denver hotel focused on Civic Center culture, rooftop views and sustainability; this guide is for travelers who want a modern, walkable base with rooftop dining and meeting space. The Crawford Hotel is a 5-star luxury boutique property located inside Denver Union Station; read on if you prefer a historic-station address with full-service spa and classic boutique service.
Updated · about 0.8 km apart

Best for travelers who want a new, sustainability-minded downtown hotel with rooftop dining and close access to Civic Center cultural sites.

Best for travelers who want a luxury boutique stay inside a historic train station with easy access to transit and multiple on-site restaurants and a full-service spa.
When Populus wins: choose Populus if you value modern biophilic design, a strong sustainability narrative, larger room count and rooftop mountain/skyline views beside Civic Center Park and nearby museums.
When The Crawford Hotel wins: choose The Crawford when you want the convenience and atmosphere of staying inside Denver Union Station — direct transit access, multiple dining venues, a full-service spa, and a smaller boutique scale.
Bottom line: Populus is the newer, design-and-rooftop-forward option for Civic Center-centered stays; The Crawford is the classic luxury pick for guests who want to stay inside Union Station with full-service hotel amenities.
| Category | Populus | The Crawford Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Modern, biophilic, sustainability-focused design | Historic-station luxury boutique |
| Location | Across from Civic Center Park; steps to museums and Capitol | Inside Denver Union Station (LoDo), immediate access to transit and 16th Street |
| Size (rooms) | 265 rooms across 13 floors | 112 individually decorated guestrooms |
| Ages / check-in minimum | Guest checking in must be 21+ | Check-in minimum 18+ (supplier listing notes check_in_min_age: 18 years) |
| Pools | No on-site pool | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Pasque (ground-floor), Stellar Jay (rooftop), Little Owl Coffee — 3 venues | Four restaurants, two bars/lounges, 24-hour room service |
| Spa & wellness | No on-site spa; 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes | Full-service spa on site and 24-hour fitness facilities |
| Known for | Rooftop live-fire dining, civic-center views, sustainability claims | Being located inside historic Union Station and station-facing luxury |
| Event & meeting space | Multiple Level 2 meeting rooms + rooftop event options; ~3,135 sq ft total meeting space | Conference center with ~8,000 sq ft and 6 meeting rooms |
| Pets | Dogs allowed; $75 cleaning fee per stay, max two dogs | Pet fee USD 50 per pet, per night; service animals exempt |
| Wi‑Fi | Complimentary high-speed Wi‑Fi included | |
Populus sits across from Civic Center Park in downtown Denver, within easy walking distance of museums and the Colorado State Capitol.
Pick Populus for direct Civic Center access and museum walks.
The Crawford Hotel occupies space inside Denver Union Station in LoDo, placing guests at the city's main transit hub and close to downtown nightlife and Coors Field.
Choose The Crawford for ultra-convenient transit access and a Union Station address.
Populus offers 265 rooms with a nature-inspired design and several suite options.
Populus is the larger, design-led property with more room inventory and suite options.
The Crawford presents 112 individually decorated guestrooms with luxury fittings and in-room minibars/espresso makers.
The Crawford is smaller and boutique in scale, with individually styled rooms inside the station.
Populus centers its food and drink around three on-site venues, including a rooftop restaurant with mountain views.
Populus is a rooftop-and-local-ingredient dining destination for Civic Center visitors.
The Crawford provides multiple in-station dining options and daily complimentary reception.
The Crawford offers more on-site dining variety and in-room service at a boutique level.
Populus's rooftop (Stellar Jay) delivers live-fire dining with panoramic downtown and mountain views.
If skyline and mountain-facing rooftop experiences matter, Populus is built around that.
The Crawford's standout feature is its location inside a working historic train station, which is as much a part of the experience as the rooms.
The Crawford's location inside Union Station is its defining 'signature' amenity.
Populus focuses wellness on a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes rather than a spa.
Choose Populus for round-the-clock workouts and rooftop evening dining rather than spa services.
The Crawford includes a full-service spa and on-site fitness facilities alongside station-adjacent nightlife.
The Crawford is the stronger choice for guests who want an on-site spa plus easy access to downtown nightlife.

Populus — Stellar Jay rooftop and Level 13 terraces deliver downtown and Rocky Mountain sightlines.

The Crawford Hotel — a true in-station luxury stay with immediate transit access.

The Crawford Hotel — offers a full-service spa for massages and body treatments.

Populus — more total rooms and multiple rooftop/level meeting spaces geared to events up to about 120 guests.
The Crawford is inside Union Station; Populus is a walk away (about 0.8 km).
The Crawford has a full-service spa on site. Populus does not have an on-site spa or a pool.
Populus centers rooftop dining at Stellar Jay with mountain and skyline views; The Crawford offers station-facing dining but Populus is the rooftop-view option.
Yes — Populus offers rooftop and Level 2 event spaces with a Pando Suite for prep; The Crawford has larger conference space and multiple meeting rooms inside Union Station.
Explore how Populus stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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