Top of the Town 2017: Services

New Hotel

Halcyon
Editors’ Choice & Readers’ Choice 

Imagine the comfort of staying at your best friend’s house for a weekend…if that friend just happened to be a gazillionaire in Cherry Creek. That’s the vibe at Halcyon, which opened last fall and is operated by the folks behind Union Station’s the Crawford Hotel. Guests can rummage through the complimentary Colorado gear closet, stocked with longboards, cruisers, and even Arc’teryx down jackets (in case you take an unplanned daytrip up Trail Ridge Road). Your room—one of 154 that start at $259 a night—has a custom doormat with a quirky saying (like “You belong here”) and a record player with a stack of vintage vinyl albums, from Johnny Cash to the Rolling Stones. With the ritzy Departure and Quality Italian (see Steak in Top of the Town Dining) restaurants on the main floor, an on-site speakeasy, and a rooftop pool deck that reveals enviable views of the Front Range, you’ll soon discover that this friend comes with plenty of benefits. 245 Columbine St., 720-772-5000

Pet Services

Little Brown Dog Pet Grooming Studio 
Editors’ Choice 

Not only do owners (and siblings) Melissa and Scott Fidge make sure our fur babies look fresh, but their spotless converted Highland Victorian also creates a rare atmosphere in the pet-care biz: calm. By-appointment-only scheduling ensures walk-ins won’t jam the waiting room, so your cat or dog gets the Fidges’ full attention—whether she’s getting a bath and brush, haircut, de-shedding treatment, nail trimming, or Soft Paws application (rubberized caps are attached to your cat’s nails so she doesn’t claw up your new La-Z-Boy). Plus, certified master groomer Melissa has more than two decades of experience, and Scott is a professional pet photographer. Which is fortunate because after a session at the Fidges’ studio, you might have an Instagram star on your leash. 3235 Navajo St., 720-588-8523

Hike Doggie
Readers’ Choice 
720-524-7858

Florist

Poppy & Pine
Editors’ Choice 

From humble beginnings in its owner’s garage, Poppy & Pine has blossomed into a new brick-and-mortar retail shop in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace—one that goes beyond the traditional services of delivery and ready-made bouquets in the cooler (though it does those, too). For instance, after we cooed about a gorgeous rose gold vase on the counter, the florist whipped up an original, custom bouquet to fill the vessel, using a blend of orange, pink, and yellow roses, delicate ranunculus, and delightful craspedia. The procedure took less than 30 minutes and cost only $45. And Poppy & Pine holds periodic DIY arranging classes so that once our dazzling bouquet needs replacing, we’ll know exactly how to do it. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 303-859-3059

Honeycomb & Co.
Readers’ Choice 
 2440 W. 44th Ave., 720-503-8013 

Ski/Snowboard Tune

EVO
Editors’ Choice 

When Seattle-based e-retailer Evo acquired Denver’s gear-service stalwart Edgeworks in early 2016, locals bemoaned the loss of an independent shop that knew exactly how to tune their gear. Thankfully, our fears weren’t realized. In fact, former Edgeworks owner Matt Hupperts, who still manages service and repairs, has said the merger has allowed his shop to grow—by about 7,000 square feet. Although Evo has been injected with a renewed enthusiasm for retail, selling everything from Salomon ski boots to Devinci mountain bikes, that hasn’t affected the care our boards and poles receive. We found that out during a recent visit, when we asked for the $55 Standard Tune. After giving our Atomics a quick once-over, the hoodied repair guy talked us down to the $35 Edge & Wax. If that’s the type of corporate greed we should expect from Evo, we guess we can deal with it. 860 Broadway, 303-831-7228

Powder7 Ski Shop
Readers’ Choice
880 Brickyard Circle, Unit 150, Golden, 303-237-7547

Mani/Pedi

B Nails Salon
Editors’ Choice 

Coloradans know that to keep toes and fingers from becoming casualties of the state’s arid climate, routine manis and pedis are required. When our nails start looking like victims of the Sahara, we head to B Nails. The Speer neighborhood salon is intimate, clean, and comfortable, and perhaps most important, the service is consistently spectacular. Manicurists are courteous and punctual and take the time to make sure you get the perfect polish. They aren’t afraid to tell you if that Scandi pink tone is just a little too muted for your complexion. So leave your worries at the door but don’t forget to bring your friends—it’s BYOB for group bookings. 1121 E. Fourth Ave., 303-778-6688

Fingers & Toes
Readers’ Choice
743 S. University Blvd., 303-955-1920

Massage

White Lotus Therapeutics 
Editors’ Choice 

What was intended to be a routine, relaxing trip to the masseuse became an emergency situation when, on the morning of our appointment, we foolishly wrenched our back. (Dead lifts are dumb.) Ryan Sharp, who left much-lauded Symmetry 360 Massage to open this serene Highland spot nine months ago, dug into the offending muscle. We’d be lying if we said he Mr. Miyagied us back to 100 percent, but we went from walking like an unoiled robot to playing 36 mostly pain-free holes of golf the following morning. Afterward, he even got on the ground to show us exercises to help repair our strained back faster. With White Lotus set up to offer plenty of relaxation—daily yoga classes in the front room; massage rooms that are warm and secluded—we can’t wait to return when the only thing Sharp needs to cure are the knots in our shoulders. 2554 Irving St., 720-449-3131

Moyer Total Wellness
Readers’ Choice
1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite B-016, 303-756-9355

Hair Salon

Clementine’s Salon
Editors’ Choice 

A Denver mainstay since husband-and-wife pair Dani and John Everson opened it in LoHi in 2011, this no-frills salon with only six chairs distinguishes itself through expertise. (We required someone skilled in the art of short hair—there’s no hiding even the tiniest of mistakes when your follicles are few—and Clementine’s delivered.) Now, Clementine’s has added size to its portfolio. In February, the Eversons debuted a second spot, called Clementine’s Salon & Skincare, in Aurora’s happening Stanley Marketplace. On top of eight chairs, it also boasts a more chic, industrial design and additional services, including facials, waxing, tinting, and permanent makeup applications. In fact, Clementine’s is the only Colorado salon to offer the eyelash-lengthening Yumi treatment. If a cut or color is all you’re looking for, though, rest assured you’re in skilled hands (and ones that will give you one heck of a scalp massage). 2009 W. 33rd Ave., 720-328-3594; Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-328-3594

Deseo Salon & Blowdry
Readers’ Choice 
2855 W. 25th Ave., 720-662-7100

Bike Shop

Tribella Women’s Multisport, Colorado Triathlon Company, and Denver Fit Loft
Editors’ Choice 

These three Golden Triangle spots share a roof, an owner, and (most important) a commitment to providing specialized service to both novices and experts. TriBella concentrates on outfitting women with triathlon (aka time-trial) bikes; Colorado Triathlon Company sells wind-cheating bikes by companies such as Specialized and Cervélo to multisport athletes; and both are linked by the Denver Fit Loft, where professional bike fitter Chris Soden ensures that no matter what brand you get, you’ll be comfortable. The philosophy is simple: When you’re purchasing a bike—whether it’s an aero steed for a tri or a less aggressive road bike—a correct fit comes first. 1060 Bannock St.; TriBella,​ 303-495-2477​; ​Colorado Triathlon Company, 303-990-1997; Denver Fit Loft, 303-881-2252

Campus Cycles 
Readers’ Choice 
2102 S. Washington St., 303-698-2811

Interior Designer

Andrea Schumacher
Editors’ Choice 

Once a set designer and aspiring architect, Schumacher seems to have a sixth sense for style. Her work, which has been featured in countless national magazines—among them, House Beautiful and Luxe—nails that hard-to-define balance of beautiful modern pieces (most of them designed by Schumacher herself), charming antiques, and a serious infusion of color. She might just pair a stately antique dining table with a quirky, sculptural light fixture and then suggest colorful printed curtains—leaving us all wondering why we didn’t think of the combo. Most impressive, Schumacher passes the lounge test: Each space she creates makes us want to grab a seat and hang out for a while. 2406 W. 32nd Ave., Suite D, 303-458-6462

Studio Thomas
Readers’ Choice
 7355 E. Orchard Road, Suite 375, Greenwood Village, 720-467-0131

Barber

Finley’s Barber Shop
Editors’ Choice

With its black-and-white floors and steel-and-leather chairs, Finley’s Barber Shop reminds us of the old-school spots 1950s mobsters would go to for straight-razor shaves. More functionally, this Austin chain, which opened its first Denver location near Union Station in May, provides a needed happy medium for us LoDo office jockeys stuck choosing between a lackluster trim at a $25 haircut mill and a fancy salon that’ll pamper you but charges $50-plus for the privilege—and all you really wanted was a good cut. At Finley’s, $35 buys you a shampoo accompanied by a hot towel on your mug and a shoulder massage that feels more than perfunctory. Better yet, you get a great haircut. They’ll start serving beer and wine, too, as soon as the Texans get a handle on Colorado liquor laws. Here’s to hoping Finley’s figures those rules out quickly, what with two more Centennial State barbershops, in Cherry Hills and Westminster, to debut soon. 1630 Chestnut Place, 303-419-9716

Steel & Leather Barber Co.
Readers’ Choice 
1750 15th St., Suite 100; 613 E. 13th Ave.

Spa

The Spa at The Brown Palace 
Editors’ Choice 

Visiting the Brown Palace Hotel, celebrating its 125th birthday, feels like stepping back in time. But a recent $12 million renovation helped nudge the historic inn into the modern age. Get to the hotel’s indulgent spa plenty early to don a robe, take a steam, and relax with a cup of tea in the serene subterranean lounge (we like to play hooky on weekdays, when we’re more likely to have it to ourselves). The appetizer complete, you’re prepared for the entrée—whether that’s a Colorado river stone massage or having your nails done. Buy an après-service cocktail to enjoy in the hotel’s stained-glass-ceilinged atrium, and the experience becomes less of a spa day and more of a mini staycation. 321 17th St., 303-312-8940

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa 
Readers’ Choice 
Multiple locations