Can’t get enough of Justin Timberlake? Try the next best thing—dining in his popular Southern Hospitality restaurant. The first one opened in New York City in 2007 only to be followed by three more, all in Colorado.

The concept for the eatery, which specializes in authentic Memphis-style BBQ, was largely created by Timberlake and friends Trace Ayala and Eytan Sugarman.

The Denver restaurant is just two blocks from Union Station, in a building that once housed the St. Elmo Hotel (c. 1896). One banner advertises happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and from 8:30 p.m. to closing, while another promotes the Bourbon Lounge on the lower level.

Inside, patrons sit at wooden tables and black-cushioned booths set against red brick walls. When I visited the establishment, the mid-afternoon vibe was low key, however the restaurant is apparently a frequent hot spot for local and national celebrities such as NFL players and Grammy-winning musicians.

BROADMOOR

About 120 kilometres south of Denver in Colorado Springs is the celebrity-owned Broadmoor Resort, a historic, ultra-luxe property, purchased in 2011 by Philip Anschutz, the 76-year-old billionaire who holds stakes in the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, several pro soccer teams and more. While Anschutz himself keeps a low profile, the multi-award-winning Broadmoor basks in the limelight.

Case in point is the resort’s Walk of Fame, displaying hundreds of photos of famous guests hosted over the years. Among them are Babe Ruth, Walt Disney, Cher, Michael Douglas, Margaret Thatcher, Pierre Trudeau and, more recently, Barack Obama.

The 779 rooms in five buildings and cottages are located on 2,023 sprawling hectares, with plenty of room for three championship golf courses, a 4,000-square-metre spa and fitness centre, tennis courts, 26 boutiques, three pools (including a lap pool) and a movie theatre.

On a guided tour of the Italian Renaissance-style property, we passed through some of the 20 bars, lounges and restaurants; walked along a path around tranquil man-made Cheyenne Lake, where resident ducks sidled up near shore as we sauntered by; and marvelled at the quirky attraction known as Bottle Alley. Displayed behind glass cabinets is an extraordinary collection of 1,142 liqueur bottles (many from the early 1900s), which belonged to the resort’s original owner Spencer Penrose who had stashed the bottles (many with fascinating stories) around the hotel during Prohibition.

Next, we hopped on a shuttle bus for a short, scenic ride to the resort’s newest dining spot, Restaurant 1858, named for the year Colorado’s Gold Rush began. Rustic with era-appropriate decor, the focus is on local cuisine inspired by immigrants who travelled west to seek fortunes. Its unique location at the banks of the Seven Falls is spectacular. Climb 224 steps or take an elevator to the top of the falls to experience upscale dining in the wilds of nature that’s hard to beat for ambiance.

TRAVEL PLANNER

Air Canada and United Airlines operate non-stop daily service from Toronto and Vancouver to Denver. For more information, visit shbarbecue.com and broadmoor.com.