City: Denver, CO

Category: Accommodations

Telephone: (303) 297-3111, (800) 321-2599

Insider Pick:

Description: This is Denver’s most famous hotel, and deservedly so. If you want a central downtown location, prestigious accommodations, and a historic experience all in one, you can’t do better than the Brown Palace. The list of celebs and potentates who have stayed here since Henry C. Brown opened the doors in 1892 includes the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Snoop Dogg, British royalty, kings from Sweden and Romania, Japan’s emperor, US presidents that stretch back to Teddy Roosevelt, and entertainment industry names ranging from Lionel Barrymore to Bruce Willis. Flo Ziegfeld wanted to stay here, but stormed off in a huff once he was told he couldn’t bring in his dog. When the Brown Palace opened, it represented the state of the art in Italian Renaissance hotel design, with a sunlit eight-­story atrium lobby and tiers of balconies above white onyx walls. Today, it has earned Mobil’s four-­star and AAA’s four-­diamond ratings, and is a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America. Its 241 rooms and suites feature all the modern conveniences required by business and pleasure travelers alike, as well as pure artesian water from the deep spring that flows beneath the hotel. The hotel offers more than 13,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 800; three elegant restaurants and a cigar bar; a full-­service 5,200-square-­foot spa; and traditional afternoon tea, served daily in the atrium lobby much as it was a century ago. Valet parking is available for $26 a night.