Stellar Jay — Restaurant in Denver

My wife & I recently stayed at the Populus Hotel and made the poor decision to visit this unimpressive new hotel based on inaccurate reviews. We came with great anticipation but departed thoroughly disappointed! Populus lacked many comfort features that are always found in hotels at this price point. If sustainability is your top priority and you're willing to compromise on comfort, food quality & amenities, this hotel might be for you. However, if you're seeking a high-quality experience with essential services like spacious rooms, daily housekeeping, towel replacements, on-site parking, high quality food or even basic amenities like ice machines and reliable hot water when you shower, this hotel likely won’t meet your expectations.

Undoubtedly, one of our biggest disappointments was with our dining experiences. We tried both Pasque and Stellar Jay. The term 'Stellar' refers to something that is exceptionally good or outstanding, but what we experienced was, in contrast, far from that - mediocre at best. It was also impossible to fully enjoy the drinks and the view with the constant, unpleasant sewage smell in the air, and the service was awful as well.

The seating was uncomfortable, featuring small, short tables paired with impractical chairs that were unsuitable for a prolonged dining experience. Our table was cramped, barely accommodating our plates, and we had to ask for silverware. When it eventually arrived, the server carelessly set it directly on the bare table, without a napkin, leaving us worried about germ contamination.

As for the food, it was equally disappointing. Despite the creative descriptions on the menu, both restaurants served dishes that were bland and poorly seasoned. Many dishes were either undercooked or overcooked, which only added to our frustration. We initially found several independent food critic reviews online that warned of these same issues and dismissed them, but sadly, they were accurate.

When we expressed dissatisfaction with one of our meals, the response from the kitchen was nothing short of unprofessional. It was clear, presumably the head chef was not receptive to feedback, as a confrontation seemed to unfold when the server relayed our concerns. This attitude, coupled with a “sense of entitlement” coming directly from the kitchen staff, left us with a sour impression of the entire experience. There was no “aiming to please” vibe, whatsoever.

The restaurant staff we encountered were rude, unaccommodating and made us feel VERY unwelcome. This is reflected poorly on their management, who are clearly accountable for overseeing the operation. When a business first opens, you expect the staff to create a positive experience that will lead to good word of mouth. However, the employees at these two restaurants seemed entirely uninterested in meeting our needs or ensuring our satisfaction.

For us, Populus fell way short of meeting the basic standards expected from a brand-new quality hotel and has significant room for improvement before it can be considered a desirable destination. Others might think differently but with issues ranging from poor guest room design and unprofessional restaurant staff to lackluster dining, a constant lack of hot water, and a persistent sewage odor coming from somewhere within the hotel itself, this very expensive new establishment already requires serious and substantial upgrades, and new staff to boot.

I believe the initial rave reviews by friends, family and influencers, are significantly misleading & phony. In fact, I know several individuals who have left honest 1-star reviews, yet these are never published, which raises suspicions that the review process most likely is manipulated. It seems likely that sponsored advertisers are receiving preferential treatment and poor reviews are intentionally suppressed.

With that said, I wouldn’t recommend staying or dining here until they’ve made significant improvements. If you're seeking anything beyond a basic, one-star experience, I’d suggest waiting until these issues...

I recently visited Populus Hotel in Denver for dinner, as I was considering it for a potential reception for 30 to 40 guests in honor of my business partner, along with a few nights' stay. Initially, I was quite taken by the hotel’s stunning architecture, captivating art, and commitment to sustainability. However, my experience left me hesitant to pursue this venue further. On Saturday, April 5, 2025, I arrived around 6:40 PM, eager to explore the dining options. Upon arrival, I approached the hostess, who later identified herself as Camilla—a woman with dark hair and standing about 5'3". My initial encounter with her was disappointing; despite the lobby being fairly empty, she appeared dismissive and preoccupied with her device, failing to acknowledge me for over a minute as I stood about a foot away in front of the host stand. This lack of attention became more pronounced when a group of about five elder non-African women arrived. Camilla immediately diverted her focus to them, completely overlooking my presence. It wasn’t a big deal at first, but then a group of about five elderly women walked in. The hostess immediately put down her device, lifted her head, and acknowledged them. One of the women said, “Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am; he was here first.” The hostess continued to look at her. The woman then turned to me and insisted that I go ahead. I replied, “No, ma’am, it’s fine; you go.” She replied, “No, I insist you go; you were here first.” At that moment, the hostess chimed in, saying, “I don’t know who was here first.” What?!?!?!? Are you kidding. She side eyed me about four times before those ladies came in. At that point, I decided to step back, thanking the elderly lady for her awareness and consideration, but I ultimately chose to leave rather than escalate the situation. After stepping outside, I felt a wave of frustration, with a sense of discrimination. However, I reminded myself that one person’s behavior shouldn’t mar my overall experience at the venue. Taking a deep breath, I resolved to return and give the restaurant a fair chance. I approached the host stand again, I asked her for seating for one and I don’t mind if it’s a seat at the bar. Camilla asked if I had a reservation; when I answered no, she noted me down for a 7:15 PM seating. With the time being around 6:43 PM, Unfortunately, I was left unattended and unacknowledged for nearly an hour. At around 7:45 PM, I finally inquired about my seating, to which Camilla provided a bland response, expressing uncertainty about the situation. As our eyes met, I confirmed her name once again, and despite the ongoing issues, I sought to maintain my composure. Five minutes later, I found myself upstairs at 7:50 PM. While the atmosphere of the restaurant was enjoyable and the bartenders were friendly, the series of events leading up to my visit had dampened my appetite. I ended up ordering just one beer before deciding to leave, as I could not afford to wait any longer. Given that I was considering Populus for a diverse group of guests, it felt important that everyone felt welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my experience did not inspire confidence in that regard. Perhaps in the future, I might return for a more intimate occasion, but for now, I believe it’s best to pass...

We visited in August, and unfortunately, the experience left such a lasting impression that it continues to replay in my mind. It was deeply unpleasant and difficult to forget. The only thing Stellar Jay had going for it, was the rooftop view—assuming you snagged a window seat. We didn’t and everything else was just miserable.

Don’t be fooled by the suspiciously over the top reviews — it's clear someone on the inside is behind them. They are grossly inaccurate. I can say with 100% certainty that no one in our travel group, nor anyone we met along the way, had an experience remotely close to what's being described on those review sites.

Things unraveled the moment we arrived. Right off the bat, being forced to pay $64 for valet because there’s no garage on premise or self-parking option whatsoever felt like a blatant rip-off.

Then we reached the front desk to check-in, and encountered a woman referred to as the front desk manager. She was not only unhelpful but came across as flat-out rude and unprofessional. If this is the first impression the hotel wants to make, they’re off to a terrible start. I was so deeply disturbed by the parking situation and the attitude we received from the front desk manager; it was clear she was more focused on asserting her authority than resolving our concerns. I attempted to escalate the issue by asking to speak with the hotel manager, but, conveniently, that person was not available. It’s clear that oversight and accountability are lacking at this hotel.

And that was just the lead-up before we even reached the room, which once we did, proved to be tiny, dark, and weirdly laid out — more like a converted storage unit than a luxury stay. The in-room coffee setup they call an amenity was laughable — clearly the cheapest option they could muster up, tossed into a space with nowhere functional for it to go. Unfinished concrete ceilings still had the builder’s handwritten measurement marks visible. It came off as cheap and careless and in no way acceptable for a place charging $500+ for a room, not including the outrageous cost to park.

Dining was no better. The food at Pasque didn’t match its description although the service was shockingly ok, and dinner at Stellar Jay, was underwhelming — echoing the same condescending tone we encountered at check-in. Our server seemed to be playing hide and seek — nowhere to be found most of the time, and when he was, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

We came ready to enjoy ourselves and spend — but the experience absolutely didn’t justify the cost. Despite the “first of its kind” branding, this property felt more like a budget hotel wrapped in slick marketing. They cut corners at every turn, and Populus fell well short of delivering what it advertises. In fact, we ended up switching hotels mid-trip — and for significantly less money, we found far better accommodations.

Skip this place. Your time and money are better...