Highlights: The Brown Palace Hotel

•The century-old Brown Palace Hotel combines tradition with modern conveniences

•Fantastic location in the heart of downtown Denver

•Unique triangular design allows natural light to stream through all rooms and suites

•Five different restaurants and lounges offer beloved rituals such as afternoon tea and the Dom Perignon Sunday brunch

•Hotel’s business center provides comprehensive services

•Full-service spa uses signature therapies to melt away stress

Amenities: The Brown Palace Hotel

• 241 rooms, 10 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Three restaurants, bar. Spa. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Brown Palace Hotel

The Brown Palace Hotel has been hosting dignitaries, celebrities, and discerning travelers for more than a century. Located in the heart of downtown Denver, it is the city’s most refined and historic hotel. This place, which has hosted everyone from Winston Churchill to Dwight Eisenhower, takes its heritage very seriously, yet modern conveniences are never overlooked. Dressed in full-length capes and top hats, elegant doormen stand sentry and set a refined tone. Reaching several stories high and framed by wrought-iron balustrades, the vintage stained-glass atrium lobby makes a lasting first impression on visitors. The inimitable Brown Palace is not just a home-away-from-home for out-of-towners, however. This grand dame welcomes Denver residents, many of whom frequent the hotel’s five restaurants and lounges. Afternoon tea and the Dom Perignon Brunch are as popular with locals as they are with visitors.

Guest rooms and suites look and feel historic, yet business travelers will find every possible technological amenity needed. The hotel’s business center and plentiful meeting space make it a popular choice with both individual and group business travelers, while the spa and salon appeal to vacationers and businesspeople on break from meetings. The hotel speaks to business travelers with its superb staff, convenient location, and amenities, but it would also be a good fit for historic-minded leisure travelers.

It’s a better fit for adult travelers, since it lacks amenities geared toward children. Adults planning a romantic getaway might find the hotel’s larger size lacking the intimacy they want, but it would be a good fit for some couples wanting to enjoy the first-class spa and elegant dining.

(+) Grand hotel with fascinating history has expert staff and nice amenities
(-) Not particularly well-suited for families traveling with young children

Guest Services: The Brown Palace Hotel

The Brown Palace’s reputation for providing guests with high levels of detail-oriented service is well deserved. While the hotel certainly knows how to roll out the red carpet for its celebrity clientele, the staff treats each guest as if they were the only person staying at the hotel.

I happened to arrive during the worst snowstorm in years, and the staff was especially warm, accommodating, and helpful. I felt well taken care of immediately, and the gracious service continued throughout my stay. I interacted with several phone operators who were exceptional. One operator in particular demonstrated patience and thoughtful service, and proved to me that this staff goes the extra step to ensuring a pleasant and smooth stay. While I had spoken with the operator prior to my scheduled wake-up call, she still rang my room to make certain that I had not fallen back asleep. It was such a nice touch, since many people would just make an assumption and move on without a second thought. The service was anticipatory, such as the case when I called housekeeping for a toothbrush and it was delivered with a small tube of toothpaste. Despite the hotel’s limited staff (due to the storm), I never felt that anything was overlooked or performed without care and diligence.

(+) Wonderful staff members provide exceptional service

Guest Rooms: The Brown Palace Hotel

The Brown Palace’s 241 guest rooms and suites share the hotel’s enchanting Victorian history with guests. Sunlight streams through the rooms and suites, where antique-style furnishings lend a traditional air. While all of the accommodations are perfectly suited to business travelers, the hotel’s 33 executive suites, featuring fax/printer/copier machine and laptop docking station, are ideal for traveling executives. The Brown Palace’s eighth and ninth floors are home to the exclusive “Top of the Brown” accommodations. These accommodations entitle guests to extra privacy and special privileges, including dedicated 24-hour concierge service, preferred reservations for the hotel’s Mercedes town car service, and complimentary business center services.

Since The Brown Palace is a historic hotel, I was surprised at my room’s large size, since older hotels often have smaller rooms. The room was full of character, and I found the abundance of windows to be very uplifting. The bed was also quite comfortable and inviting. There were a few items that were a bit dated, such as the bed covering, some of the furnishings, and the bathroom fixtures, but that is to be expected of a grand, old hotel.

(+) Light-filled room is charming and inviting
(-) As to be expected of an older hotel, some of the features were a bit dated

Facilities & Activities: The Brown Palace Hotel

The full-service spa at The Brown Palace is the hotel’s answer to the workaholic. This hotel knows that there is more to life than just work, and this fitness and well-being facility caters to stressed-out executives as well as leisure travelers who need a break from Denver’s shopping and cultural attractions. Natural artesian waters have flowed underneath the hotel for centuries, and it is this spirit that is harnessed at the spa, which blends Victorian elegance with modern-day Zen. The spa has six treatment rooms, including a couple’s VIP suite. Special soaks, which draw from the artesian well located 750 feet below the hotel, are among the spa’s signature therapies. The facility also boasts several treatments designed with the Colorado climate and lifestyle in mind. The treatment menu offers a diverse collection of massage therapies, facials, body treatments, and manicure/pedicure services. The menu also features a large selection of male-specific treatments, proving that real men do bliss out, especially when staying at The Brown Palace.

Once your stress has melted away, the city of Denver awaits just outside the doors of this historic landmark. Sports fans will find the Mile High City’s three major stadiums, The Pepsi Center, Coors Field, and Invesco Field, within two miles of the hotel. The Denver Art Museum, with its 55,000 works of art, has the largest collections of world art covering the Western region from Kansas City to California. This impressive museum is less than a mile from the hotel, while the Denver Zoo is just under three miles away.

(+) Wonderful spa facility, as well as proximity to Denver attractions

Dining & Lounge: The Brown Palace Hotel

Since 1892, the world has been coming to The Brown Palace for fine dining. It is home to five different restaurants and lounges, each with its own distinct personality and flavor.

The Mobil Three-Star-rated Palace Arms is one of the hotel’s fine dining establishments. Set about with tufted leather banquettes and unique memorabilia, including a silver centerpiece commissioned by the British Royal Family, the restaurant features contemporary American cuisine and boasts an award-winning wine selection. Churchill Bar is every bit the gentleman’s club with its leather wingback chairs and extensive cigar selection. Perfect for cocktails and cigars, the bar also serves lunch and dinner. Originally opened just after Prohibition ended, the Ship Tavern is a classic pub-style restaurant with its wood-paneled walls. Seafood is featured on the menu at this casual, convivial place, where diners sip micro-brewed beers and feast on lobster rolls, buffalo burgers, and grilled fish.

With its views overlooking the Financial District and its distinguished drawing room atmosphere, Ellyngton’s is among Denver’s best “see and be seen” restaurants. Featuring all-day dining, this restaurant also hosts the legendary Sunday Dom Perignon Brunch. The Atrium Lobby, with its buzzing scene and old-world elegance, is the perfect spot for traditional afternoon tea or evening cocktails. The hotel also serves room service 24 hours a day.

I indulged in room service during my stay and was delighted with the experience. The meal was delicious, nicely presented, and promptly served, and the waiter managed to make it feel special and pampering.

(+) Wonderful dining choices are popular with hotel guests and Denver residents

Business Services: The Brown Palace Hotel

The hotel’s prime downtown location alone makes it a worthy hotel for business travelers, but this hotel goes above and beyond to ensure that business travelers feel at home and their needs are met. Its business center provides comprehensive services, while the rooms and suites are equipped to handle modern-day corporate travelers.

With more than 13,000 square feet of meeting space, the Brown Palace is also well suited to accommodate groups. It maintains a conference planner on staff to provide meeting planners with assistance, while the elegant spaces are inspiring and inviting.

(+) Fantastic facilities for the individual business traveler, as well as groups