The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection

Character and identity

Denver's original grand hotel sits in the Financial District behind a Colorado red granite facade, its Italian Renaissance bones wrapped around an eight-story atrium ringed with ornate cast-iron railings. The 243 rooms were stripped back and rebuilt in a $10.5 million 2015 overhaul, so the interiors read cream and sandstone with sapphire accents rather than period pastiche. Afternoon tea under the atrium, with a harpist and Devonshire cream shipped from England, is the signature ritual. Dining runs from Ellyngton's for brunch to the Palace Arms for Colorado game and a serious wine list, with a six-room spa rounding things out.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is heritage with rooms that actually function: the 2015 refresh means the beds and bathrooms hold up, while the atrium tea, Palace Arms and spa give the stay its texture. Book a suite if you want the marble bathrooms and soaking tubs that justify the splurge; otherwise a standard king is plenty. Time a visit around the holidays for the atrium at its best.