The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection

Reminiscent of the old brick corner-shaped hotels in San
Francisco from the outside, once inside, it's clear that The Brown Palace is
aptly named. The lobby is a huge open atrium with nine floors of guest rooms ringing the walls above and opulent crystal chandeliers dangling in between. The main floor is occupied by a grand piano where
a musician performs several times a week during afternoon tea and in the
evenings. Antique chairs, red velvet love seats, and lantern light fixtures are
everywhere, and a wide carpeted staircase ascends between the first
two floors; higher floors are reached by elevator. There are antique wooden
shelves throughout the hotel that contain items that are up to 100 years old. There are several dining and drinking destinations on site, including The Ship Tavern, a cozy and cave-like space with flags and memorabilia adorning
the walls, as well as Ellyngton’s and Palace Arms, which are more formal and have dome-like light fixtures and elegant chandeliers over many tables. There is an
opulent, Old World feel in every corner of the hotel, including the spa, with its shiny marble walls
and ornately detailed woodwork. There's even a cigar bar -- one of the few places in Denver where smoking is allowed indoors. The hotel is popular with business travelers, couples, and families with older children. Tourists who aren't staying at the hotel often take the free tour and locals dine in the restaurants. Supposedly, every single president of the United States has spent the night here and the hotel has not closed a single day in it's over 100-year history. 

Situated right downtown, on the corner of Broadway and
Tremont Place, The Brown Palace is within easy walking distance of many bars
and restaurants. The Colorado Convention Center is a half-mile away, about a
10-minute walk from the hotel. The popular 16th Street Mall, with its many shops,
restaurants, chain stores, as well as the Denver Athletic Club, are both about a five-minute
walk away. The Colorado State Capitol building can be reached in 12 minutes on foot. Denver
International Airport is about a 35-minute drive from the hotel and guests with cars should expect to pay nightly for valet parking at the hotel.

There are a total of 224 rooms and 17 suites at The Brown
Palace and it’s safe to say that no two are exactly alike. The Classic and
Signature Rooms can be rather small, but feature a blend of modern and classic accents, including heavy, high
quality wooden headboards, antique paintings, and armoires over vibrantly patterned carpets. The decor may not be everyone's cup of tea, though, and floral patterned drapes and sometimes frilly bed linens can be a bit fussy depending on the guest's taste. All guest rooms include a Keurig coffeemaker, flat-screen TV, and iPod/iPhone docking station. Microwaves and mini-fridges are available upon request. Surprisingly
spacious bathrooms have large glass showers and surfaces range from granite to marble to black-and-white tilework. Every bathroom is equipped with plush spa robes and slippers, plus high-end Pharmacopia toiletries. The suites are considerably larger, with separate, elegantly furnished seating areas with granite and marble accents, some are separated by French doors. Bathrooms in these units have large
soaking tubs. The Eisenhower and Roosevelt Suites are especially elaborate, and have multiple rooms.
There is a framed part of the mantel in the Eisenhower Suite where the former
president dented the wood with a golf ball.It's worth noting that some guests have mentioned interior and exterior noise being an issue in rooms, possibly due to the historic nature of the hotel's architecture and fixtures.

Not much is included in the standard room price of this
classy hotel. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby and restaurants, but is subjected to a
daily fee when accessed in rooms. Parking is valet-only and also subject to a
nightly fee. Breakfast is not included, but an elaborate Champagne buffet is
served in Ellyngton’s and there are five other restaurants on-site, including
the fine-dining favorite, Palace Arms, a coffee bar, a cigar bar, and the Tavern
serving pub fare. A popular afternoon tea is served in the atrium along with
live piano or harp music. Room service is available. The elaborate spa offers a large array of
professional massages, beauty, and body treatments. There is also a steam room and fitness center, though steam room access is subject to a fee as well. The hotel has a flower shop on
the premises. The front desk is open 24 hours, served by a professional
concierge and staff. Pets are allowed for an extra fee. The hotel also runs free tours that cover its unique history. These are open to the general public, as is the afternoon tea service.