Downtown Boulder

Hotel Boulderado

★★★★★

Hotel Boulderado is the most characterful place to stay in Boulder and the perfect base for a night or two out of Denver at the foot of the Flatirons. It opened with a gala ball on New Year's Eve 1908, welcomed its first guests on New Year's Day 1909, and was the town's first luxury hotel. It remains a City of Boulder landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic building is the reason to come: a soaring lobby with a stained-glass ceiling, a grand staircase, period woodwork and the original Otis elevator, still carrying guests more than a century later. The hotel has 160 rooms split between the historic building, decorated in a Victorian style with antiques and period details, and a newer wing with a modern mountain look and more consistent sizes. Dining and drinking are part of the experience: Spruce Farm and Fish is the hotel's restaurant, the Corner Bar has a patio that is one of downtown Boulder's favorite meeting places, and License No. 1, in the lower level, is a moody, speakeasy-style cocktail bar. History buffs can take a free self-guided tour on the third floor of the historic section, and guided tours can be arranged at the front desk when available. The location is ideal: one block from the Pearl Street Mall, walking distance to restaurants and shops, and a short drive to Chautauqua Park and the Flatirons trailheads.

Choosing a room is the key decision. Historic rooms give you the full Boulderado experience, with high ceilings, antique furnishings and the sense of sleeping inside history, but they vary in size and some have older quirks. Modern rooms in the newer wing are more spacious and predictable, with contemporary comforts and mountain-inspired décor, and they suit families or travelers who prefer consistency. Either way, the shared public spaces, especially the lobby and the mezzanine overlooking it, are where the hotel shines.

A stay works beautifully as part of a Front Range loop. Spend a morning hiking at Chautauqua, wander Pearl Street in the afternoon, then end with cocktails at License No. 1. In winter, the lobby's holiday decorations are a local tradition, and the hotel makes a cozy base for day trips to the ski areas west of Boulder. Parking is limited downtown, so ask about the hotel's arrangements when you book, and remember that Boulder is about forty minutes from Denver and around forty-five minutes from the airport by car or regional bus.

For couples, history lovers and anyone who wants a small-town stay with big character, the Boulderado is one of the most memorable hotels in Colorado. Travelers who need resort amenities like a pool or large spa should look elsewhere, but for atmosphere and location, this is the pick in Boulder. Even if you stay elsewhere, the lobby and the Corner Bar are worth a visit for a drink, and the free self-guided history tour takes only a few minutes.