DENVER COLORADO | BROWN PALACE | DONNE TEMPO

The Mile-High Palace

By Christian Toto and Julie Becker

If The Brown Palace is good enough for The Beatles, Oprah Winfrey and Snoop Dogg, then it's a safe bet for any Denver traveler looking for a respite from day-to-day drudgery.

The legendary hotel boasts big-city amenities, and it's certainly not a spot for the casual guest.

But if you're visiting the Mile High City and have either an expense account or expensive tastes, it's hard to imagine a better home away from home.

First, a bit of history.

The Brown Palace opened its doors on Aug. 12, 1892. Named after Henry C. Brown, the man who owned the triangular-shaped property, the hotel boasts 241 guest rooms and suites, 33 executive staterooms and three presidential suites.

The building sits 720 feet atop a natural Artesian well that provides the hotel’s drinking water and spa needs.

Step inside the hotel and your eyes will quickly gaze upward. The eight-story atrium lobby demands a visit even if you have no plans to stay the night. It's breathtaking, a gorgeously crafted marriage of metal and glass that deserves to be seen from every floor.

The hotel retains its Art Deco and Victorian influences, the two design periods wed seamlessly as you stroll through its corridors. The hallways are spare and underwhelming, but the Art Deco lettering which announces your room hints at the grandeur to come.

The suite we stayed at featured an all-gold motif, as tasteful and elegant as the metal itself. The spacious living area featured a comfortable desk, a king-size bed and even a workout cycle in case you want to peddle away the calories while watching the room's flat-screen television.

The bathroom offers a deep tub, a glass-enclosed shower and a telephone next to the toilet. We can't imagine anyone actually using the phone when a cell phone can do just fine, but it's in the line with the other outsize amenities here.

Couples fortunate enough to stay in a suite this size can get ready for a night out on the town in style - and with plenty of elbow room. The bathroom is nearly as big as a small motel room.

The hand-delivered fruit bowl and chocolates caps the experience.

Should your room not provide enough luxury, you can try the hotel's two-floor spa. Upon arrival you will be issued a thick terry cloth robe and ushered into the airy lounge.

Guests checking in early can enjoy the steam room or spend a few minutes relaxing with a cup of tea before their treatment. The lounge also hosts some tasty items to nibble such as fresh berries, nuts, dried fruits and chocolates. Male guests can watch sports on a flat-screen television and peruse up-to-date periodicals.

For a refreshing facial, you're led into a clean and comfortable, albeit small, room set up with a comfy massage table covered in warm sheets. After a brief rundown of what to expect, the esthetician turned up the relaxing instrumental and began the pampering facial. The treatment included an invigorating steam phase, several freshly scented high end products being massaged gently onto the face and neck, and extraction of any pore blockers. Throughout the process your face, head, and neck and shoulders are gently rubbed.

next page >>