Downtown / 17th Street

The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

★★★★★

The Brown Palace is Denver's historic hotel of record. Built in 1892 to serve the money pouring into the city from the gold and silver mines, it fills a triangular downtown block with a facade of red granite and sandstone and, inside, one of the great hotel interiors in America: an eight-story atrium lobby ringed by cast-iron balconies and topped with a stained-glass ceiling, where afternoon tea is served to piano music. The hotel draws its water from its own artesian well, still flowing beneath the building, a detail that delights guests and staff alike. Over more than a century, it has hosted presidents, royalty and celebrities, along with a famous stay by the Beatles in 1964, and staff are happy to share the stories. Today the hotel has 241 rooms and suites, ranging from historic-wing rooms with period character to larger suites, plus a well-regarded spa, a fitness center, and a collection of restaurants and bars that runs from a clubby cigar-friendly lounge to a nautical-themed tavern that has been a downtown fixture for generations. The location is right on the 17th Street business corridor near the 16th Street pedestrian mall, so the Capitol, the art museum and LoDo are all within walking distance. This is the hotel for travelers who want history with their luxury, special-occasion stays, and anyone who has ever wanted to take afternoon tea in a room built for silver barons.

The building's design was a feat of its time. Architect Frank Edbrooke shaped the hotel to fit an awkward triangular lot, and he made the atrium its heart, a radical idea in the 1890s that has aged beautifully. Look closely at the exterior and you will find carved medallions of native Colorado animals set into the stone; inside, the onyx-paneled walls and the balconies rising to the stained glass are best appreciated from the lobby's armchairs. Historical tours of the building are offered, and they are worth joining to hear about the famous guests, the hotel's role in Denver society, and the secrets of its construction.

Staying here is a classic experience rather than a trendy one. Rooms vary considerably in size and style because of the building's age and shape, and the historic rooms lean traditional, so check category descriptions and ask for a quieter, higher room if possible. The spa is one of the best downtown, and afternoon tea in the atrium is a ritual worth booking even if you are staying elsewhere, especially in the holiday season when the lobby is dressed for Christmas. The restaurants and bars give you options from a power breakfast to a nightcap without leaving the building.

As a base, the Brown Palace works well for downtown-focused trips, business travel and special occasions. It sits a few blocks from the Capitol and Civic Center museums, a walk or short MallRide from Union Station and LoDo, and a reasonable drive from the mountains. Rates sit in the upper tier, but the experience — staying in a living piece of Denver history — is one no newer hotel can replicate. Book directly for packages that include tea or spa treatments.