LoDo

The Oxford Hotel

★★★★★

The Oxford Hotel is the intimate historic choice in LoDo. It traces its roots to 1891, built just a block from Union Station to welcome rail travelers, and it is widely regarded as the oldest operating hotel in the city. Today it has 80 rooms and suites, decorated with antiques, rich fabrics and a curated art collection that runs through the public spaces, and it feels more like a well-kept private club than a hotel. Its most famous room is the Cruise Room, an art deco bar modeled on a lounge aboard an ocean liner, which opened shortly after the end of Prohibition and remains one of the best places in Denver for a martini, glowing pink and red under its curved ceiling. The Oxford Club, the hotel's spa, salon and fitness center, is a full-service operation with group classes and treatments, and the Urban Farmer steakhouse handles dinner. The hotel's daily amenity fee covers extras such as breakfast, fitness classes and local discounts, and the hotel is pet-friendly. The location is ideal for LoDo: Union Station is around the corner, Larimer Square and Coors Field are a short walk, and RiNo is a short ride away. Rooms in a building of this age vary in size and layout, so read the descriptions carefully, but for character, value and location, the Oxford is one of the best stays downtown.

The Oxford's history mirrors LoDo's. It opened during Denver's silver-boom years, survived the long decline of the rail era, and was restored as the warehouse district came back to life. The restoration preserved the hotel's historic character, including the deco masterpiece of the Cruise Room, while updating rooms for modern travelers. The hotel is part of the Sage Hospitality family, which also runs the Crawford in Union Station, and guests at both share access to the Oxford Club's gym and classes.

Inside, expect warm, traditional decor rather than sleek modernity. Rooms are comfortable and characterful, with antique furnishings and art; some are compact, so couples with lots of luggage may want to upgrade. The Cruise Room is the essential stop even if you are staying elsewhere — order a classic cocktail, settle into a booth, and enjoy one of the most atmospheric bars in the West. The Oxford Club spa offers massages and salon services, and the gym's classes are a nice way to adjust to the altitude.

For travelers, the Oxford's appeal is its combination of location, character and price. It costs less than the Crawford next door, puts you a minute's walk from the A Line to the airport, and sits at the center of LoDo's restaurant and bar scene. Families may prefer larger rooms elsewhere, but for couples, solo travelers and anyone who loves historic hotels, this is a gem. Book directly to see what the amenity fee includes on your dates, and reserve a table in the Cruise Room on busy weekend nights, when the small bar fills fast with locals and hotel guests alike.