A night in Denver just got a lot less expensive for budget travelers, now that the upscale, 66-bed Hostel Fish has opened downtown. Owner, Chad Fish, said a hostel concept was needed in Colorado because the average cost of a hotel room in the city is too expensive for travelers on a tight budget. Rates for a shared room start at just $45 a night and cap at $200 a night for a private room.
“An average room night in Denver costs $200, which is tough for a lot of people to afford. We want Hostel Fish to be a place that doesn’t cost a fortune, allowing people across the world to visit Colorado, without sacrificing a clean and safe place.”
Set up in the 120-year-old Airedale Building, a former hotel and saloon that later became a brothel, porn shop, adult bookstore and peep show, Hostel Fish is walking distance to major Denver attractions including LoDo bars, the newly renovated Union Station, the 16th Street Mall, and Coors Field.
The Victorian Building also houses Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, a restaurant and live music venue, run by Justin Cucci of Root Down & Linger fame. It’s also next door to a Greyhound bus station, making this easy access for backpackers just arriving to the Mile High City.
Hostel Fish — Photo courtesy of Hostel Fish
Inside, guests will find 11 rooms, each of which feature in-room lockers and device charging stations. Every space is individually decorated with themes ranging from motorcycles to urban, and even a Parisian theme in the all-women’s dorm room.
Fish collaborated with several local artists and design firms, along with family members, to decorate the rooms. Inside the accommodations, find unique designs including everything from a massive mural of a 1920’s flapper girl (painted by the tattoo artist for rapper Wiz Khalifa) to a wall decorated with vintage suitcases Fish collected from estate sales and secondhand spots.
Fish says the biggest compliment received – aside from the décor – is on the comfort of the mattresses.
“It’s like sleeping on a cloud. Every bed in the hostel has a 12-inch pillow top that is more comfortable than my bed at home.”
Lodgers will find a giant skylight on the second floor of the building, inviting in natural light for a refreshing feel to the space. Community areas, including a reading room, patio and social area with a piano and record player, are open for travelers.
Guests can also delight in 24-hour front desk service and security, free iPad use, Wi-Fi, complimentary continental breakfast and daily housekeeping. There's even an onsite bar coming soon, made using reclaimed wood from the plaster inside the walls of the building. We can't get over these details! It will feature local beer, international wines and budget-friendly cocktails.
“I am most proud when people say this is the best hostel they have stayed in,” says Fish. “It's so amazing to have thought about and dreamed about something for so many years and now to actually see the tangible result filling up with people from all over the world. I'm already planning the next one."
