Denver, ColoradoDowntown Denver
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection
Gilded Age landmark
Downtown Denver Denver, Colorado
Renovated
2015
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Classic DesignOutside the door
The house
MarriottGilded Age landmark
Built as a Gilded Age showcase, it functions like a grand social parlor with daily afternoon tea and live harp music.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Generations of presidential stays and annual stock show champion steers in the lobby.
Notable
An eight-story central atrium framed by cast-iron railings and polished Mexican onyx.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The downstairs is as magnificent as ever. It’s a good place to soak up the local scene as well.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The front doors open onto 17th Street, just three blocks from the pedestrian promenade of the 16th Street Mall.
The rooms
Bedrooms retain their historic, compact scale, finished with rich walnut paneling and subtle Art Deco details.
The spa
Treatment rooms spread across two levels, with private soaking tubs and steam rooms stocked with eucalyptus cold towels.
The gym
Cardio machines and free weights line the 24-hour fitness room, where tall windows look straight out onto the street.
Restaurant
Ship Tavern
Blue leather booths circle a central wooden mast in this 1934 tavern, which serves steaks and prime rib.
Restaurant
Palace Arms
Napoleonic artifacts and 1834 wallpaper line the formal dining room, which serves French-inspired tasting menus.
At the table
Churchill Bar pours whiskey beside leather armchairs and a humidor, and Ellyngton's serves breakfast under brass chandeliers.
How it began
An on-site artesian well drilled over 700 feet deep before the 1892 opening still supplies water to the hotel.
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.