A Weekend in the Arts and Culture District
Discover an Aurora arts weekend: Murals, theatre, diverse eats, and easy stays near Anschutz.
Why base yourself here?
- Walkable culture cluster on Colfax: Aurora Fox, Vintage Theatre, Mango House, ACAD murals
- Eat exceptionally without leaving Aurora
- Easy base at Anschutz: The Benson or Hyatt Regency; quick rideshares, simple parking
- Vibe: Historic Colfax energy + modern polish
- Best for: Arts lovers, food weekenders, date nights, small groups, families
- DIA: ~20–25 minute drive
- Highlights: Stanley Marketplace; Aurora Fox; Vintage Theater; Hyatt-Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center; Sand Creek Park; Mango House
Friday
Check in: Base yourself near the Anschutz Medical Campus for quick access to everything. The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club is a polished boutique stay right on campus, with chic rooms and an on‑site restaurant/bar, The Common Good. It’s stylish without being fussy and puts you close to shows, murals, and Stanley. For another close option, the Hyatt Regency Aurora–Denver Conference Center sits just across from campus, with comfortable rooms, a pool, and Borealis restaurant, plus a patio for golden-hour bites. Both are ideal for a car‑light weekend.
Dinner: Dan Da is a modern Vietnamese standout. Bright, herb‑loaded bowls, grilled meats, and crispy shareables served fast in a sleek room.
Evening: Slide into Vanishing West Ciders for pre‑show pours, then catch a performance at Vintage Theatre, The People’s Building, or the Aurora Fox Arts Center. After the curtain, end the night at Society 303, open until 12am on Fridays, to debrief the show properly.
Saturday
Morning: Start to head West along Colfax and start the day with coffee! Carbon Coffee for a sweet‑and‑caffeine combo or Banh & Butter Bakery and Café for pastries and Vietnamese‑inspired drinks.
Then walk the Colfax Canvas mural tour featuring dozens of large-scale works within a tight grid, and be sure to swing through Fletcher Plaza for “The Canopy,” a standout public art installation. Visit in the morning while the light is low for the best photos.
Brunch/Lunch: After the murals, walk a few blocks North to Stanley Marketplace. Depending on the time, grab breakfast or a snack at Rosenberg’s Bagels, or roll into lunch at Stanley Beer Hall for hearty plates, communal energy, and 51 self-pour taps.
Afternoon: Wander all the vendors at Stanley Marketplace and check out the event calendar for anything special going on that day. Grab a Cloud Tea at Bad Peach Café or boba from Chi Lin while you stroll.
Vendors to hit at Stanley:
- Friends of Friends: Drop‑in Craft Studio
- The Local Drive: Indoor golf simulators
- Poppy & Pine: Florals and small gifts
- Tattered Cover: Bookstore browsing
- Abstract: Colorado streetwear
- Create Kitchen and Bar: Cooking Classes (must book in advance)
Dinner: Book Annette at Stanley. It's Caroline Glover’s James Beard Award‑winning, wood‑fired American spot with exacting technique and zero pretense. It’s intimate, seasonal, and the district’s must‑do dinner. Pre- or post‑game with a pint at Cheluna Brewing.
Dessert: Grab some chocolate at Miette et Chocolat on your way out the door.
Sunday
Morning: Ease in with Change Please Coffee, then take a mellow stroll through Sand Creek Park. The trail has flat paths, birds, and a breather before you head out.
Lunch: Hit Mango House on East Colfax, a lively immigrant- and refugee‑run food hall, where you can mix and match Nepalese momos, Syrian shawarma, and Somali sambusas for a fast, affordable global feast.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon steeped in local culture.
- Manos Sagrados: Non-traditional art space with studio vibes, live music, and community-forward events. Check what’s on and drop in.
- Theater round two: Matinee at Aurora Fox or Vintage Theatre for a full arts-weekend arc.
- Library culture stop: The MLK Jr. Library on Colfax runs community programs, talks, and arts-adjacent events. Worth a peek at the calendar if you like local.
If you have time before or after the show, stop by Cerebral Brewing for a final local pour, or Ollin Cafetzin for a non-alcoholic option with local coffee and even books for light reading on ethnic studies.
Bulleted List: A Weekend in the Arts and Culture District
Friday
- Stay at Benson or Hyatt
- Dinner: Dan Da
- Evening: Pre show drinks at Vanishing West Ciders
- Attend show at Vintage Theater, People’s Building, or Aurora Fox
- Society 303 for post show drinks
Saturday
- Coffee: Carbon Coffee or Banh and Butter Bakery and Café
- Colfax Canvas Mural Tour
- Lunch: Rosenberg's Bagels for early morning, Stanley Beer Hall for Lunch
- Explore the vendors at Stanley Marketplace (some favorites: Local Drive, Tattered Cover, Abstract)
- Bad Peach Café for Cloud Tea or Chi Lin for Boba while you stroll
- Dinner: Annette
- Pre- or post‑game with a pint at Cheluna Brewing
- Dessert: Miette et Chocolat
Sunday
- Coffee: Change Please Coffee
- Morning: Stroll around Sand Creek Park
- Lunch: Mango House
- Afternoon: Manos Sagrados, Matinee at Aurora Fox or Vintage Theater, Library Culture stop: MLK Library
- Final Stop: Cerebral Brewing or Ollin Cafetzin
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