The 13 Best Hotels in Denver
At first glance, newcomers to Denver will notice the picturesque Rocky Mountains, sparkling high-rises, and then something they might not expect: cranes. Over the past few years, tall they have risen out of nearly every part of the city—from downtown to Cherry Creek—many of them building new hotels. Meanwhile, the properties built before 2015 have invested in pricey renovations; revamping lobbies, freshening guest rooms, and expanding already robust amenities. The result? The Denver hotel scene is new and shiny, full of panoramic rooftop bars and Instagrammable artwork. The historic properties remain, including a hotel with the first elevator ever built west of the Mississippi. But even Denver’s hotels from the 1890s combine nostalgic charm with modern luxuries. From chic name brands to independent boutiques, Denver hotels are on par with cities twice its size; here are the 16 best hotels in Denver.
Read our full Denver travel guide here.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Nathan HindmanhotelThe Rally Hotel
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Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023America’s favorite pastime takes center stage—center field?—at this subtly baseball-themed hotel, which anchors the new McGregor Square development directly across the street from Coors Field. You’re so close to the stadium that you might almost feel like the pitcher could bust out your window with a particularly robust fastball. But don’t be fooled by the proximity to the action: Once you walk through the front door, the rowdiness of the stadium fades away, and you’re whisked into a surprisingly sophisticated boutique experience. The Rally doesn’t shy away from its theme, but it's more conceptual than overt. Take, for instance, the leather-panel walls with exaggerated red stitching in the lobby café, which captures the essence of a baseball and glove. The memorabilia that is on view, including signed bats and balls and bases, is housed in dimly-lit cases that look more like an elegant museum display than a theme resort.
Nathan HindmanhotelCatbird
$With its street art and forward-thinking bars and restaurants, RiNo (River North) is the Mile High City’s undisputed capital of cool. If you want to kick back and linger awhile, you can’t beat this extended-stay boutique hotel, which is redefining the category; in place of the corporate furnishings and dated kitchenettes you might expect, this homey retreat is filled with smart design details throughout. Many rooms include a lofted bed, under which you’ll find pull-out tables and closets, which can then be whisked away to maximize space, and an HD projector so you can stream content at wall-sized proportions. Up on the roof, The Red Barber bar is decked out with curvy pink velvet banquettes, potted palms and monsteras, and whimsical garden gnomes that double as tables. The hotel’s most impressive feature is its treasure-trove-like Playroom, where you can rent or borrow an almost absurdly encyclopedic array of toys and tools: Sure, you’ll find the requisite cruiser bikes and record players that have become boutique hotel standards, but there are also Vespas, skateboards, fly fishing rods, binoculars, GoPros, guitars, and a whole host of useful kitchen appliances, including rice cookers, Vitamixes, air fryers, Instant Pots, panini presses, and waffle makers. When they say they want you to feel at home, they really mean it.
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Courtesy Life House Lower HighlandshotelLife House Lower Highlands
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Hot List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2021The first hotel in Denver’s hip Lower Highlands neighborhood sits quietly on a residential street. It’s easy to mistake the nondescript façade for just another apartment building, but the cement exterior—a nod to the industrialists who built the city—is part of the carefully crafted narrative that’s become a signature of the Life House brand. Inside, the lobby feels like a prospector’s Victorian home, with Louis XVI Bergère chairs, velvet drapes, and cowhide throws; the 16 rooms upstairs range from king suites to bunk rooms. Its restaurant, Wildflower, keeps the story going with a menu honoring the neighborhood’s original Italian and Mexican settlers. At the low-lit bar, a young crowd sips old-fashioneds, bringing the story full circle from frontier outpost to modern urban epicenter of cool.
Jimena Peck & Caleb AlvaradohotelClayton Members Club & Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022Denver’s local answer to Soho House, the Clayton occupies prime real estate in sophisticated Cherry Creek. You can expect to be surrounded by digital nomads and power lunchers—they’ll probably be impeccably dressed. (Remember: High style in the Mile High City often means luxe athleisure wear.) But this place isn’t about all work and no play. For a sense of the hotel’s whimsy, look no further than the art collection, curated by Denise Joseph of NINE dot ARTS; standout pieces include Laura Goodson’s black-and-white cowboy paintings, Brien Hollowell’s cinematic photographs, and Christi Palitto’s colorful mural which sprawls across lobby walls and wooden panels. The Clayton debuted last spring in the former home of the Inn at Cherry Creek, and the property was the brainchild of Denver-based developer Matt Joblon, who’s played a pivotal role in bringing hip hotels—like the Moxy and the Halcyon—to Cherry Creek. The owners tapped Rachel Smith, formerly of Soho House, as the opening head of membership, and she devised a scheme to make the membership-based club feel inclusive, which is no small feat.
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Shawn O'Connor/The Brown Palace Hotel and SpahotelThe Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021Located in the heart of the Financial District, the Brown Palace is the city’s original luxury hotel, host to everyone from pop stars to presidents. Understated opulence greets you the moment you walk through the doors of the 241-room hotel, where you'll find an eight-story atrium surrounded by ornate cast-iron railings. Luxurious guest rooms and cloud-like beds ensure a good night’s sleep, while an onsite spa and the hotel’s history are unique to the Denver lodging scene. But ask any longtime local of Denver what they remember about the Brown Palace, and it’s probably the afternoon tea. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, guests sip tea and munch on cucumber finger sandwiches beneath the hotel’s soaring atrium. Devonshire cream is shipped directly from England, a harpist plays music softly in the background, and you’re transported to a more civilized, less hurried world.
D'Arcy Leck/Courtesy Hotel TeatrohotelHotel Teatro
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023Towering bookshelves, comfy leather couches, and abundant reading lights feel like a well-to-do professor's library in this boutique 110-room theater-district hotel. An inviting fireplace seals the deal for city dwellers, business travelers, and couples on a romantic getaway here. The king corner rooms are a treat thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, and deep soaking tubs to help soothe weary legs. The hotel has spacious, well-styled rooms in an imminently walkable section of LoDo, but beware, you could be tempted to stay put: The beds are addictively comfortable. A seasonal menu of farm-to-table options at the on-site Nickel restaurant packs a punch, taking advantage of local produce and meats.
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Courtesy The ArthotelThe Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Forget a tired valet pull-through: At this boutique hotel in Denver’s thriving Cultural District, your first impression is a Leo Villareal–designed light installation. Keep walking and the art continues, including pieces by stars like Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith. Artwork isn’t just a design flourish here—it’s the main objective of the hotel itself. If that's not enough, you're also steps away from the Denver Art Museum and the Clyfford Still Museum. You'll find serious culture connoisseurs and business travelers looking for something different staying in its 165 rooms, which sport a minimalist design and—surprise!—even more artwork.
Courtesy Hotel CliohotelHotel Clio
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021A family-friendly standby in the bustling shopping district of Cherry Creek North and formerly the JW Marriott, facilities include spacious, well-appointed rooms, plenty of dining options. Spacious rooms feel like mini-houses, with writing desks, a seating area, and more than 400 square feet. Larger-than-normal guest rooms and kid-friendly servers at the onsite restaurant, Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge, make this a good option for families. Complimentary cribs are available upon request, or you can ask for a king room with a queen-sized sofa sleeper for the kiddos.
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James Ray Spahn/Courtesy The Crawford HotelhotelThe Crawford Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022This boutique hotel in LoDo's historic train station—called Union Station—just might have the best lobby in the city. Luxurious guest rooms and cloud-like beds ensure a good night’s sleep. And while the shell of Union Station might be old, the guts are new. The historic renovation maintained the train station's original architecture, so no two rooms are alike. Pullman guest rooms recreate the feeling of a train car with custom Art Deco furnishings and vintage train advertisements. Walk a few feet out of your room and a plethora of dining options await in Union Station. Union Station connects downtown Denver to the city's international airport via the A-line train, making the Crawford Hotel a top choice if you have an early flight.
Courtesy The Ramble HotelhotelThe Ramble Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019The first hotel to open in River North, an industrial-turned-chic artist neighborhood, the Ramble Hotel is functional, vintage-inspired, and, best of all, it's home to the second outpost of Death & Co. Arriving at the Ramble Hotel feels like you’re visiting your neighbor’s living room, if you’re neighbor was a hip, cocktail-drinking antique furniture collector—it's luxurious, richly decorated, and vintage-inspired, with a peerless minibar. But beyond the interior design, the hotel also functions well. Everywhere you look there are small touches added because it makes the hotel stay better—the rooms have coat hooks on the wall, the windows open to catch a breeze, and the minibar has food you want to eat. This is a hotel for people who are sick of other hotels.
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Don Riddle Images/Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel DenverhotelFour Seasons Hotel Denver
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2022Nestled in the center of the city’s theater district, the Four Seasons Hotel Denver impresses with a sleek, tranquil lobby full of natural light and giant floral arrangements. An all-white, towering fireplace is a welcome sight in the winter, and large reception desks host attentive staff ready to serve. The hotel's signature restaurant, Edge, delivers Colorado-ranched beef and a well-curated wine list to locals and guests alike. Enjoy a hot summer night poolside on the third-floor terrace with a cocktail, and the prompt—albeit pricey—room service has a laundry list of options to keep the whole crew happy. A complimentary car service will drop you anywhere within three miles, and the Four Seasons Hotel Denver also offers an array of family-friendly amenities that make traveling easier—think complimentary snacks, in-room tents, a toy wagon, and game consoles. Finally, relax at one of nicest spas in the city; the yummy-smelling evergreen massage soothes every tired muscle.
@2017 Jason DeweyhotelThe Oxford Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021The LoDo's Oxford Hotel has been impressing guests since 1891, making it the oldest hotel in the city. But recently renovated and in a prime location just steps from Union Station (and the train to the airport), it's anything but dated. Still, certain charming details remain: Downtown’s only wood-burning fireplace crackles as a bow-tie-wearing bellman shows you to the front desk, and original tiling and intricate iron handrails show off the building’s history. A recent renovation overhauled 80 of the guest rooms, swapping out heavy Victorian tropes for a lighter feel of whites, grays, and rich emerald green. The new rooms have a great combination of old bones—think antique headboards and claw-foot tubs—with more contemporary pieces and an Art Deco vibe. But the real standout at the Oxford is the Cruise Room, the city's original cocktail lounge. Opened the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, this red-hued temple to all things Art Deco is shaped like a wine bottle, modeled after a bar in the Queen Mary, and features ten panels depicting “cheers” from different countries. It’s the perfect place to lose track of time and pretend that you’re on a ritzy 1920s yacht, awash in glamour.
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Cris Molina/Courtesy Kimpton Hotel BornhotelKimpton Hotel Born
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2021It doesn't get more convenient than the Hotel Born, a 200-room Kimpton located in the hot Union Station neighborhood just steps away from the A-line train to the airport. Mixing plaid, wood, and rich leather furniture, the lobby feels like a modern, upscale cabin. It's mountain chic decor distilled into a high-rise, downtown setting. Spacious rooms blend a modern vibe with Colorado touches; the sliding closet door is a wood and steel combo, blonde walnut and pine ordain the walls and ceiling, and all of the forest elements are contrasted with exposed concrete columns. Bathrooms are white with pops of wood, and plaid pillows sit atop luxury Frette linens. Also on site is Tavernetta, run by the team from Boulder's famous Frasca Food & Wine. Expect fresh pasta, an all-Italian wine list, and enticing small plates. Reservations essential.
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