In my twenties, I spent many nights in Fort Collins. We’d meet our friends and hit up The Town Pump, The Vault, the swings at The Drunken Monkey, Coop’s poolside, and The Crown Pub, among others. Then, we’d crash at my friend’s house on Remington. The good old days.
Fast forward to today, and we’re twenty years older. My friend who lived on Remington now has two kids and lives in Steamboat Springs. Quite frankly, we don’t make it to downtown Fort Collins nearly as often, although I live just 30 minutes south. Businesses have come and gone, sometimes without my knowledge. I did lament the loss of Coopersmith’s Poolside since it was such a big part of my youth.
Last month, right before Christmas, we had the opportunity to stay at The Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins, Colorado. I had stayed there in 2018, not long after they opened. The hotel is a destination unto itself, boasting a variety of guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, a music venue/bar, and a rooftop hot spot.
We were put in The Ram Suite, one of the nicest and most spacious hotel suites I’ve ever been in. If you’re an alum of Colorado State University, this suite is for you. For those who may not know, the ram is Colorado State University’s mascot, and the school is located just down the street from The Elizabeth.
Dinner was at The Emporium, the excellent restaurant at The Elizabeth, but first, we scoped out a nearby brewery. Fort Collins is the Napa Valley of Beer, I don’t know if it’s called that anymore, but it used to be called that.
Within a two-minute walk of The Elizabeth, there’s Salt Road Brewing, a dog-friendly brewery situated in a charming alley. The alleys of Fort Collins’ downtown are all quite charming, much more than twenty years ago. Seriously, it’s worth exploring these little detours off of College Avenue.
End of Eras: Craft Beer & My Youth
To stretch the dog’s legs, we took the long way through Old Town Square back to The Elizabeth, admiring the town all lit up with lights for the holidays. A bustling downtown boasted a skating rink and lots of couples strolling hand and hand. A lovely holiday scene fit for a movie.
The Elizabeth is dog-friendly, so we brought Fritzi. This dog gets to stay at all the best hotels in Colorado!
The hotel left all sorts of dog-friendly things in our suite, including dog bone cookies, which Fritzi found before I did.
I was staying at The Elizabeth on assignment for Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, and as the Mayor of HeidiTown. As wonderful as this hotel is, we got to experience some nostalgic Fort Collins on this quick, one-night trip.
Here is a video of the music library at The Elizabeth, where every guest room has a record player.
As noted above, I’ve been around this area for many years. I remember when a Mexican restaurant sat on the spot that now houses The Elizabeth, and a fantastic bistro called The Emporium.
The Emporium always makes me feel like I’m in a movie, one based in New York or perhaps a far country and I’m dining at the ex-pat restaurant, and it could be 1920 or 2025. We have eaten here a handful of times, including bringing a friend for her birthday dinner and dining here for a bachelorette party.
I had an amazing meal of sumptuous trout, and Ryan had the truffle mac ‘n’ cheese. We started our meal with the breadboard and I highly recommend it as it is some of the best bread I’ve eaten in years.
If you like wine, like me, don’t miss the restaurant’s private wine display. A knowledgeable employee can help pick the perfect wine for your meal; a fun addition to a special meal like an anniversary, birthday, or Tuesday.
After dinner, we went upstairs to the Sunset Lounge, an upscale bar with a panoramic view of downtown Fort Collins and the Rocky Mountains. No wonder this is a favorite for date nights, both of the “swipe right” kind and our kind (old married couple).
The bartenders and drinks are delightful, and if you are an old married couple like us, it’s fun to sit at the bar and chat with the bartenders as they make stellar cocktails with interesting spirits you won’t find at every bar in Colorado.
We then made our way downstairs to The Magic Rat. A live music venue at night, the space was packed with people sitting out in the hotel lobby listening to the band. So, we didn’t stay but instead decided to strike out in downtown Fort Collins old-school style.
Even though it was still early on a Friday night, The Town Pump was packed, just as I remember. Despite this, blessed by the Gods of dive bars, we got two seats at the bar where we enjoyed the appropriate Town Pump specialty of Jello shots. Fun fact: The Town Pump opened in 1909. I don’t think they’ve been doing Jello shots for that long.
Moving along, we ventured into the Crown Pub, where it was eerily quiet because we had arrived after the dinner crowd and before the bar crowd. Thankfully, we learned that this Fort Collins staple still gets a wait at dinner and is still popular with late-night Guinness drinkers. No longer on the menu, their smoked trout appetizer used to be my go-to.
At this point, we needed sleep, and yes, it was only 10:30 p.m. We’re not in our twenties anymore. The next morning, we participated in another long-running Fort Collins tradition that we haven’t done in years. We ate breakfast at the 92-year-old Silver Grill. Although prices aren’t the same as in 1933, this breakfast joint continues to feed Northern Colorado delicious downhome cooking. Don’t forget to order a cinnamon roll. You won’t be disappointed.
So, there you have it, a whirlwind night in Fort Collins with a dog-friendly stay at the swankiest hotel in town, and then a little nostalgia. If you haven’t been to Fort Collins, or haven’t been in years, what are you waiting for? The alleyways are calling.
Thank you to The Elizabeth Hotel for hosting this amazing experience.
