Denver has chain hotels on every corner. But the city's real charm shows in its one-of-a-kind stays. A hotel built inside a train station. A mansion turned hostel. Historic banks made into luxury rooms. These aren't just places to sleep—they're part of the trip.
This guide covers Denver's most unusual hotels at every price point. Some cost $400 a night. One costs $45. All of them give you something a Marriott can't.
Quick Guide: Best Unique Hotels in Denver
| Hotel | Vibe | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Crawford | Train station charm | History | $250-400 |
| Brown Palace | Old-world luxury | Special Events | $300-500 |
| The Art Hotel | Modern art gallery | Art & Culture | $200-350 |
| Hotel Teatro | Classy boutique | Arts District | $200-350 |
| Kimpton Monaco | Colorful and fun | Nightlife | $200-300 |
| Renaissance | Grand bank building | Architecture | $180-280 |
| Magnolia | Cozy historic | Couples | $180-280 |
| The Warwick | Modern rooftop pool | Local Vibe | $170-250 |
| Ember Hostel | Mansion hostel | Budget | $45-120 |
Historic Hotels
The Crawford Hotel at Union Station
Where: 1701 Wynkoop St (Union Station)
Price: $250-400/night
Best for: History fans, train lovers, easy transit
The Crawford sits above Denver's old Union Station. Locals call the station "Denver's Living Room." It dates back to 1881. The hotel captures the golden age of train travel without feeling old or stuffy. You walk through the grand hall where travelers have passed for over 140 years. Then you take the elevator to rooms styled around train history.
Room styles tell different stories. Classic rooms offer basic hotel comfort. Loft rooms have exposed brick and wood beams. Pullman rooms channel 1920s sleeper car style. These feel like scenes from old movies. Each type costs more as you go up in style.
What makes it special:
- Union Station's shops and restaurants are your lobby
- Tattered Cover bookstore is downstairs
- A-Line train gets you to the airport in 37 minutes
- Ultreia serves great Spanish small plates
- Terminal Bar makes excellent cocktails
The location alone adds value. You can walk to LoDo, Coors Field, and Dairy Block. The train to DIA runs right below you. But the real draw is staying inside a working station where travelers create constant energy around you.
Brown Palace Hotel and Spa
Where: 321 17th St (Downtown)
Price: $300-500/night
Best for: Special trips, classic luxury, history buffs
The Brown Palace has hosted big names since 1892. Every president since Teddy Roosevelt has visited. The Beatles stayed here in 1964. Eisenhower used it as his Western White House. The guest book reads like a history textbook.
The building itself is the star. An eight-story atrium rises through the center. A stained glass ceiling fills the lobby with natural light. The shape is a triangle—Denver's only triangle building. This creates odd room shapes that add charm. Original iron railings and onyx walls remain from 1892.
Special touches:
- Afternoon tea service (book ahead, dress nice)
- Sunday brunch with champagne in the atrium
- Live jazz in the Ship Tavern
- Full spa with historic feel
- Palace Arms fine dining
The Brown Palace costs more than most Denver hotels. It's also the only place where you sleep in rooms where world leaders have slept. For big events, birthdays, or proposals, the extra cost delivers real meaning.
Art Hotels
The Art Hotel
Where: 1201 Broadway (Golden Triangle)
Price: $200-350/night
Best for: Art fans, museum trips, modern design
The Art Hotel works like a museum you sleep in. The art starts before you enter. The ceiling at the entrance has 22,000 LED lights that pulse and shift. Inside, art fills every floor. This isn't random lobby stuff—it's a real collection that changes over time.
Condé Nast ranked The Art among the 25 best hotels in the world. The praise comes from their focus on design at every level. Guest rooms have original art on walls. The rooftop spot Fire takes its name from a quote about artists. Even the hallways feel planned rather than basic.
What to expect:
- Art on every floor (take stairs to see it all)
- Steps from Denver Art Museum
- Fire rooftop bar with city views
- Modern rooms with real artwork
- Staff can guide you through the pieces
The Golden Triangle location puts you next to Denver's best museums. The Art makes sense for culture trips. Or for anyone who wants their hotel to feel like part of the art world.
Renaissance Denver Downtown
Where: 918 17th St (Downtown)
Price: $180-280/night
Best for: Building fans, mural lovers, Larimer Square
The Denver Post once called the lobby "the most pretty room in Denver." The claim holds up. The building was Colorado National Bank until 1958. The grand banking hall style remains. High ceilings, fancy details, and 16 wall murals by western artist Allen Tupper True create a space worth seeing even if you don't stay.
The True murals alone deserve attention. Painted in the 1930s, they show Colorado's history across huge wall panels. Most hotels hang cheap prints. The Renaissance has real art made for this exact space.
Cool features:
- 16 original 1930s murals on the walls
- Three old bank vaults for private dinners
- Range restaurant with local menu
- One block from Larimer Square
- Original 1920s details still intact
The vault dinners are truly odd. For groups, you can rent an actual bank vault for your meal. Steel doors, safety boxes on the walls—eating there feels like a movie scene.
Boutique Hotels
Hotel Teatro
Where: 1100 14th St (Theater District)
Price: $200-350/night
Best for: Show nights, fine dining, classy vibe
Hotel Teatro sits in the old Tramway Building, a Denver landmark. The hotel calls itself Denver's first boutique stay, and it's true. Before Teatro opened in 1998, Denver had mostly chains. Teatro proved the market for nicer small hotels.
The design mixes old building bones with modern comfort. High ceilings with original trim set the tone. Rich leather chairs and warm lights make it feel like a fancy living room. It's upscale without being stiff. You can wear jeans and feel fine.
Why it stands out:
- The Nickel serves meals that change by season
- They roast their own coffee and age their own spirits
- Steps from Denver Center for the Arts
- Landmark building with old charm kept
- Classy but truly relaxed feel
The location works great for theater nights. See a show, walk across the street, have dinner at The Nickel. No driving, no stress.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
Where: 1717 Champa St (Downtown)
Price: $200-300/night
Best for: LoDo bars, free wine, bold design
Hotel Monaco mixes luxury with fun better than most hotels try. U.S. News calls it one of Denver's best. But the vibe feels playful, not fancy. Bright colors, bold patterns, and fun furniture give rooms real style. This is the opposite of boring hotel beige.
Kimpton adds nice touches. Free morning coffee is normal now. Free evening wine is not. From 5-6pm daily, guests gather for free wine. It's a good way to meet people and shift from day mode to night mode.
Kimpton perks:
- Free wine hour 5-6pm daily
- Pets welcome with no fees or size limits
- Walk to LoDo bars and spots
- Panzano serves solid Italian food
- Colorful rooms with real style
LoDo location puts you in Denver's nightlife center. Baseball at Coors Field, comedy clubs, live music, late-night food—all within walking range.
Magnolia Hotel Denver
Where: 818 17th St (Downtown)
Price: $180-280/night
Best for: Couples, cookie fans, old building charm
The Magnolia fills the 1911 First National Bank building. The old details show—high ceilings, brick work, and a clock on the corner that recalls when 17th Street was Denver's "Wall Street." Inside, smart updates mix with kept history.
Two things set Magnolia apart. First: big soaking tubs in many rooms. After long days of walking, a real bath helps. Second: warm cookies and milk from 8-10pm every night. It sounds silly until you try it. Fresh cookies really do make the stay better.
Nice touches:
- Warm cookies and milk 8-10pm nightly
- Deep soaking tubs in some rooms
- Harry's has great Brussels sprouts
- 1911 landmark building
- Central downtown spot
Harry's restaurant beats most hotel food. The sprouts with bacon have fans. Bar seating works for solo diners. It's worth eating there even if you stay somewhere else.
The Warwick Denver
Where: 1776 Grant St (Uptown)
Price: $170-250/night
Best for: Uptown exploring, rooftop pool, local feel
The Warwick is the only hotel in Uptown. This means you get a different Denver than the usual downtown tourist zones. You'll walk to dinner at places where locals eat. You'll shop at stores without tourist prices. You'll see the city beyond its marketed spots.
The hotel is bright and modern. Many rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and private patios. The heated rooftop pool offers a real perk—sunset views over the mountains while you swim. Gattara serves better Italian than most hotel spots try.
What works here:
- Only hotel in walkable Uptown
- Heated rooftop pool with mountain views
- Big windows and private patios
- Gattara has great charred octopus
- Local dining and shops nearby
Uptown sits 15 minutes by foot or quick ride from downtown. You trade central location for a quieter area with its own vibe. For repeat visitors wanting something new, the Warwick fits.
Budget Option
Ember Hostel
Where: 857 Grant St (Capitol Hill)
Price: $45-55/bunk, $120/private room
Best for: Budget trips, social travelers, hostel skeptics
Ember won "Best Hostel in the USA" and you'll see why. This isn't a grimy backpacker spot with bad beds. It's a 9,000 square foot mansion turned boutique hostel. The common areas rival mid-range hotels: leather couches, wood accents, a yard with fire pit, real lounge spaces.
Sleeping is hostel-style—bunk beds with shared bathrooms. But the beds are padded with nice bedding. The bathrooms have rainfall showers. The vibe lands between summer camp and boutique hotel. It draws people who want to meet others without giving up comfort.
What you get for $45-55:
- Comfy bunk in a mansion
- Nice bedding and rainfall showers
- Lounges, yard, and fire pit
- Walking range to State Capitol and Art Museum
- Social vibe with other travelers
- Private room at $120 if bunks aren't for you
Capitol Hill puts you near big sites while staying in a real hood. At $45 a night, a week costs less than two nights downtown. For solo trips, the social aspect adds value beyond cheap beds.
How to Pick the Right Hotel
For special events: Brown Palace offers the most meaning. Tea service, brunch, and historic weight create real moments. The Crawford works for history lovers who want something more modern.
For art and culture: The Art Hotel sits in the museum district and works as a gallery itself. Renaissance adds murals and building history. Both link to Denver's arts world.
For nightlife: Kimpton Monaco and Hotel Teatro put you near LoDo and downtown spots. Monaco's free wine and bright rooms are more playful. Teatro's theater vibe suits other tastes.
For local feel: The Warwick in Uptown gives access to local food spots. Ember Hostel in Capitol Hill offers budget-friendly local living with a social side.
For transit ease: The Crawford at Union Station wins. Train to airport, buses all over, central spot—you don't need a car at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most unique hotel in Denver?
The Crawford at Union Station is most unique for its setting—inside a working 1881 train station. The Art Hotel is most unique for design with its 22,000 LED lights and art on every floor. Brown Palace is most unique for history, having hosted every president since Teddy Roosevelt.
What is the oldest hotel in Denver?
The Brown Palace opened in 1892 and has run ever since. The eight-story atrium and stained glass ceiling are still there from day one. It's one of the few grand old hotels still running as planned.
Are there cheap unique hotels in Denver?
Ember Hostel has bunks for $45-55 per night in a mansion that won "Best Hostel in the USA." Private rooms cost $120. For real hotels, The Warwick and Magnolia drop to $150-180 during slow times.
What hotel has the best food in Denver?
Hotel Teatro's The Nickel gets strong praise for its changing menu and house coffee. The Crawford has Union Station's many spots, like Ultreia for tapas. Brown Palace has Palace Arms for fine dining. Harry's at Magnolia beats most hotel food.
Which Denver hotel has the best views?
The Art Hotel's Fire rooftop has city and mountain views. The Warwick's rooftop pool shows sunset over the peaks. For room views, high floors at the Crawford look over Union Station's grand hall.
What is the most romantic hotel in Denver?
Brown Palace for classic romance with tea and champagne. Magnolia for cozy vibes with tubs and cookies. Crawford's Pullman rooms create intimate train-style spaces. Monaco adds fun with bright design and wine hours.
Are Denver boutique hotels pet-friendly?
Kimpton Hotel Monaco takes all pets with no fees or size rules. Most other boutique spots take pets with fees. Check before you book if you're bringing animals.
What Denver hotel is best for families?
The Warwick's rooftop pool works for kids. Renaissance near Larimer Square gives easy walks to family stuff. The Crawford at Union Station keeps kids busy with trains and shops. Most boutique spots welcome kids but aim at adults.
Which hotel is closest to Denver Art Museum?
The Art Hotel sits right across the street. It's also close to Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado, and Kirkland Museum. They picked the spot just for museum access.
What is the best area to stay in Denver?
LoDo has the most walkable bars and food. Union Station area offers transit access. Golden Triangle suits museum trips. Uptown gives local feel with real restaurants. Capitol Hill has budget spots and quirky charm. Downtown works for first visits wanting central access.
The Bottom Line
Denver's unique hotels offer more than chain spots can match. Sleeping in a train station, eating in a bank vault, or staying in a mansion hostel makes memories. The extra cost for boutique stays runs $50-150 more per night—worth it for special trips.
For first visits wanting uniqueness without stress, the Crawford at Union Station mixes history, location, and ease. For budget trips, Ember Hostel gives real charm at backpacker prices. For big events, Brown Palace sets the standard Denver luxury is judged against.