4 Best Hotels in Denver, Colorado

This grande dame of Colorado lodging has hosted public figures from President Eisenhower to the Beatles since it first opened its doors in 1892, and the details are exquisite: a dramatic nine-story lobby is topped with a glorious stained-glass ceiling, and the Victorian rooms have sophisticated wainscoting and art deco fixtures. The hotel pays equal attention to some modern necessities, such as high-speed Wi-Fi. The formal Palace Arms ($$$$) is the in-house restaurant; the Churchill cigar bar sells rare cigars and single-malt scotches. The addition of a coffee-and-tea shop added a much-needed casual option for a quick snack or light breakfast. A full-service spa has Swiss showers and a natural-rock waterfall that draws from the hotel's artesian well.

The Cherry Creek shopping district is 4 miles away, and the major museums and the zoo are a five-minute drive from this bustling hotel, which provides coveted mountain views from many of its rooms. The rooms sport a plush feel while retaining a business-traveler environment. There's a small but serviceable fitness center, and the indoor pool is great for families traveling with kids. In the morning, breakfast—both buffet and à la carte—is available for purchase in the Eggcetera full-service dining room off the lobby, while the on-site Flagstone's serves burgers and Southwestern comfort food for lunch and dinner.

Stained-glass windows and homey accents throughout make this 1896 Victorian brownstone in Capitol Hill, the neighborhood immediately east of downtown, exceptionally appealing. Many of the rooms have overstuffed Victorian armchairs and such historic touches as furniture once owned by Baby Doe Tabor. Some units have tile fireplaces, others have small sitting rooms. Each room has a full kitchen, a holdover from the building's days as an apartment building, and full breakfast is included.

Situated just a few feet from the Colorado Convention Center in the building that once housed the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, the Slate pays homage to the technical college's history through decor and name references that are classy and avoid cheesiness. Vintage photos of the original rooms and classes complement the prep school atmosphere, with its plaid upholstered chairs, navy-and-gray color scheme, and tiled stairwells. Rooms are quiet and offer walk-in rain-forest showers, blackout curtains, and minifridges. The on-site Teacher's Lounge Food + Drink serves three meals daily with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients (the Colorado lamb hand pies are delicious), and the spacious bar is a nice spot for a cocktail.