What It's Like to Stay at the First "Carbon Positive" Hotel in the Country

A change has come to downtown Denver. Amid the rows of faceless office buildings and business hotels, it's hard to miss Populus. The hotel, which opened in October 2024, is unusual with its curved windows of varying sizes, calling to mind the some of the famous structures of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona.

Designed by the Studio Gang architecture firm, the building was inspired by Colorado's native Populus Tremuloides tree, also known as the quaking aspen. And despite being located in an urban area a short walk away from the Colorado State Capitol and Denver Art Museum, inside, Populus maintains its biophilic aesthetic through natural materials, earth tones, and a reishi tapestry off to the side of the lobby.

In addition to its bold look, however, Populus makes quite the claim: it's the nation's first "carbon positive" hotel. (No, not just "carbon neutral," which is the more common term.) For starters, there's the building's sustainable construction, which includes low-carbon concrete, an insulated façade, and the decision to utilize existing parking lots in the area in lieu of an onsite parking garage.

Populus also claims to offset its carbon footprint through various tree-planting and reforestation programs with the US Forest Service and National Forest Foundation. The hotel's One Night, One Tree program, for example, is a pledge to plant a tree for every night's stay. There's also a Carbon Positive Dashboard allowing guests to keep tabs, and while the "carbon positive" terminology has been met with some skepticism, it's clear Populus is — at the very least — a very ambitious project.

I stayed at Populus for two nights in early March. Here's what prospective travelers should know.

About the Populus Hotel

What I Like About the Populus Hotel

After arriving in Denver on a fairly cold Friday in March, it took about 45 minutes to get from the Denver International Airport to Populus downtown. After a speedy and smooth check-in process, I headed up to my Mountain Studio Suite, which is the hotel's largest accommodation at about 554 square feet. The room is rather spacious, featuring a desk, sitting area, and a rainfall shower room with a bathtub.

I was immediately struck by the light, however. The room is surrounded by those signature curved windows, and at 4 p.m. in the afternoon, the lighting was so soft and peaceful, I almost didn't want to leave for the remainder of the evening. But I would indeed leave — and for a good reason: food.

I had an early dinner reservation at Pasque on the ground floor. The seasonal restaurant changes its menu regularly, but it tends to serve upscale, hearty fare, like rye tagliatelle with lamb ragu and game meats, like bison loin. That evening, I had the savory beignets and a steak served with some of the finest sunchokes I've ever had. Dessert was a salted toffee cake.

In addition to my sun-dappled suite, the food was a standout during my stay at Populus. Breakfast the following morning — again at Pasque — was also great. I had the soft scrambled eggs, which are served over toast with flavorful garlicky greens. And though I didn't end up dining at Stellar Jay, the rooftop restaurant serving wood-fired cuisine, I heard good things while chatting up fellow guests in the lobby.

There were a few other details that stood out to me: as someone with somewhat of an emotional support Owala, I appreciated the refillable water stations right by the elevators on each floor. Populus also has a ton of working areas located just above the lobby in the lofted second floor. There, guests will find various desks, common areas, and meeting rooms that can be used when not booked for private events.

All in all, Populus is a stylish, sustainable option in an area where you might not expect it.

What to Consider Before Booking the Populus Hotel

Populus is located in a fine part of Denver, but I found myself venturing further out for trendier sightseeing. The Five Points neighborhood, about 15 minutes away, for example, is where I ended up spending the majority of my time, whether I was shopping at Recital or eating at Corsica Wine Bar. (That said, Populus is very conveniently located for any travelers coming to town for Outside Festival in the summer.)

I should also note that the standard rooms are quite snug. While the Mountain Studio Suite had a lavish amount of space, standard rooms tend to be around 180 square feet. This won't be too unusual for travelers used to smaller accommodations in city destinations like New York, but bear that in mind if you are someone who likes to spend a good amount of time relaxing in the room. If so, the deluxe rooms might be a better option.

Who Populus Is Best For

Populus is a great fit for sustainably-minded travelers, in addition to business travelers needing to stay downtown but seeking something a little snazzier than your average chain.

Rating

★★★★☆

Kelsey Garcia (she/her) is the associate content director of PS Balance, where she oversees lifestyle coverage, from relationships to parenting to financial wellness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, dating trends, and changes in the workplace. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications.