A Romantic Wellness Retreat In The Heart Of Cherry Creek At The JW Marriott
WRITTEN BY ANNIE BLOJ // CULTURE & STYLE EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
It’s safe to say that like so many parents, my husband and I were feeling as though we needed a break. After one of the most challenging years of our lives, we were thrilled that my vaccinated mother decided to come for a long-overdue visit over our kids' spring break. We didn’t realize until we were in the car headed to the JW Marriott Denver in Cherry Creek that we hadn’t had an overnight stay somewhere together in 3 years! When plans began to take shape, my mother reminded me of the connection that our family has had with Marriott. In the 1980s, when I was a child, my father was an interior designer for Marriott Corporations, and was in charge of many of their emerging concepts as well as revamping some of their holdings. I’ve always held fond memories of playing in the fabric swatch library and getting all the frozen yogurt that I could have at the company cafeteria.
The JW Marriott in Cherry Creek recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and the update is remarkable. Checking in was practically touchless, with partitions at the front desk and instructions on the remarkable lengths the team had taken to make sure that guests had a terrific and safe experience during their stay. Our room had an amazing view of the downtown city skyline as well as the front range; we felt right at home. The room was contemporary but comfortable, well-appointed for a relaxing staycation. My husband was particularly thrilled with the big TV and the entertainment options- I couldn’t wait to hang out in the fluffy robes and slippers! We re-filled our water bottles with the flat or sparkling water on tap on each floor and headed out to check out Cherry Creek.
Our visit was planned in tandem with the wellness program that the JW Marriott has created in partnership with some favorite local businesses and we couldn’t wait to try some of these experiences out! One of our favorite aspects of being in the heart of Cherry Creek was the easy accessibility to everything the neighborhood has to offer. We dearly miss being able to walk everywhere from the days when we lived in New York, so it was very nostalgic to walk everywhere together. The first experience we were scheduled for was an infrared sauna at nearby CYL Studio. I admit that was extremely hesitant about it. I don’t like to be hot or uncomfortable but I decided I’d give it a go. After sliding into the sauna pod and sweating it out for 30 minutes, we are hooked! The difference between a traditional sauna and an infrared sauna is that it is targeted and much more intense, when we got out of the pods, my husband checked his pulse and it was at 120- much like an intense workout. We walked away feeling incredibly relaxed.
CYL Sauna Studio in Cherry Creek
The following day we continued on our wellness/self-care journey with facials at Facial Aesthetics, which recently opened a location in Cherry Creek and is widely regarded as offering the best facials in Denver for over 28 years. I received the Gua Sha facial which was both deeply exfoliating, moisturizing, and shaping. I had just purchased a Gua Sha tool to use at home, so I was excited to try it and to get a sense of what to do. My husband received the Hydra Facial, which was exactly what he needed since he had just gotten a sunburn the previous day from sitting outside in the bright Colorado sun. We both felt completely safe and cared for at Facial Aesthetics in a way that we hadn’t in years. The last time my husband had a facial was before we were married! I finished off my wellness experience with a Jet Lag IV at Hydrate IV bar, which was the perfect way to re-hydrate after sweating it out in the sauna and getting my facial. I felt incredibly re-charged.
Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge
One of our favorite parts of staying at the JW Marriott was being able to try out Toro Latin Kitchen and Lounge located inside the hotel. I have had so many friends rave about the food, the service, and the restaurant itself. After checking in, we were lucky enough to catch the bottomless brunch which was absolutely over the top. Guests can opt-in for the bottomless brunch that includes drinks and food or just food- we went for the food option. What I loved about it is that you can try anything on the menu and order more of what you loved! It was such an amazing time, we can’t wait to go back with our family. In the evening, we were treated to a date night that made us feel transported. For cocktails, my husband ordered, “The Casual Encounter” which came out in a lantern containing the cocktail and smoke. The presentation was so fun and it was incredible of course. We went all out and got the prime rib- cooked to perfection. Chef Oscar Padilla came out to tell us about the “made from scratch” ethos of Toro, a tradition that continues with all Richard Sandoval restaurants. Describing how they make each sauce, source only the finest ingredients as local as possible helped us understand what makes Toro special. We finished the night off with ice cream from local favorite Sweet Action and felt like we truly had the getaway we needed.
We only had a one-night staycation in Cherry Creek but it honestly felt like we had been gone for days. My husband and I felt rested, reconnected, and ready to get back home. One of the most unique experiences we’ve ever had together, we had so much fun trying so many new and different things and being able to create new memories. The JW Marriott will always be a special place for us now and we can’t wait to get back. With their Wellness partnerships throughout Cherry Creek, they are able to offer special offers to guests booking through their stay at the hotel. See below for more information.
CYL Sauna Studio-
** JW guests can receive a free sweat cream and a discounted sweat rate of $15 instead of the original $30 for their first sweat session.
Facial Aesthetics
**JW Guests will receive special pricing on Facial Aesthetics Spa Facials. Offer available based on availability. JW brides can also enjoy discounts on select services at their Facial Aesthetics visits, more information will be shared during your wedding planning process.
Hydrate IV Bar
**JW guests can receive a free B12 shot and can get an additional 20% off any additional service
JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek: @jwmarriottden
Toro Latin Kitchen: @torodenver
Writer: @theblojreport
Photographer: @estherleeleach