The Art Hotel in downtown Denver review

When I learned of Hilton’s The Art, a Hotel (also known as The Art Hotel Denver) — an art-themed property in the heart of Denver’s cultural scene — I was intrigued. What exactly does an art-themed hotel look like? And will it turn out fun and inspiring for guests, or stuffy and pretentious?

I’m not exactly an art expert, but I’ve been exploring more and more artistic attractions on my travels lately, from Paris’ classical museums to the immersive Tokyo teamLab Planets and Denver’s own fantastically bizarre Meow Wolf Convergence Station. Armed with those experiences, this art-curious writer set out to review The Art Hotel.

Related: Families will flip for these themed hotel suites

What is The Art Hotel Denver?

The Art, a member of Hilton’s Curio collection, is an upscale (but surprisingly affordable) property that aims to immerse its guests in, well, art! Not only does it boast its own private postmodern art collection — from sculptures in the lobby to prints in the rooms to videos in the elevators — it’s also nestled in Denver’s hip Golden Triangle neighborhood, where you can easily walk to a variety of art museums, studios and galleries.

Even if you don’t consider yourself an art junkie, the location is convenient to many other attractions and activities — and the hotel provides free transport within a 2-mile radius. This could be a great stay for creatives seeking an inspiring retreat, a group of friends hungry for the city’s dining and nightlife, or families looking for kid-friendly fun. Plus, the hotel’s ample workspace and reasonable pet policy make it a great option if you need to bring a furry family member or work remotely during your stay.

Related: The best Denver hotels to experience when staying in the Mile High City

How to book The Art Hotel Denver

As a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection, The Art is bookable with Hilton Honors points, but it’s not usually a great value. With basic rooms ranging from $200 to $300 per night and standard room rewards costing 60,000 points, you’ll only get around 0.5 cents per point (compared to TPG’s October 2024 valuation of 0.6 cents each for Hilton points). However, prices can spike to $500 per night in the summer and on holidays, so you could get more than 0.8 cents per point if you’re traveling on peak dates. Otherwise, you may want to pay with cash and earn points on your stay — especially if you can take advantage of a current Hilton promotion.

For instance, I booked my stay during a double-points promo (offer no longer available) and also had a targeted offer for 4,000 bonus points on my next stay. Even though I’m a basic Hilton Honors member and only earn 10 points per dollar, these promotions helped me nab more than 15,000 points for my two-night stay.

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When booking The Art Hotel, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hilton stays, or possibly one that offers automatic Hilton Honors elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Silver elite status (with an upgrade to Gold through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year).
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Diamond elite status.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Art is also available via Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, so travelers with select Amex cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, could book it with their Membership Rewards points at a flat rate of 1 cent per point and get access to elitelike perks such as room upgrades when available, free breakfast and late checkout.

You can also find The Art on both Chase Travel℠ and Capital One Travel, providing more options to book with points if you hold select Chase or Capital One cards. If you choose to pay cash for your stay and Hilton points aren’t useful to you, booking through these portals would allow you to earn Chase points or Capital One miles instead. Just be sure to compare rates on the travel portal to those on Hilton’s site to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Keep in mind that when you book through a travel portal, you generally won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits or be able to use any elite status benefits. So if you hold status with Hilton (or are trying to earn it), you’ll probably want to book directly with the hotel.

Related: Everything you need to know about direct vs. third-party travel bookings

The location is hip and walkable

If you’re interested in Denver’s cultural scene, this is a great place to position yourself during a trip to the Mile High City. You’ll be steps away from the Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum and Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. You’ll also be within walking distance of the History Colorado Center, Civic Center Park, the Colorado State Capitol, the Molly Brown House Museum and the Denver Mint. And you’ll be less than a mile from the shopping and dining hub of the 16th Street Mall.

As a result, this hotel could appeal to anyone looking to explore Denver on foot (or via the hotel’s free 2-mile transportation — more on that later).

Unfortunately, as with most prime city locations, parking around here isn’t cheap. Valet parking (the only parking the hotel offers) will set you back $54 per night with in-out privileges. For some reason, this fee shows up as $62.50 if you add it at the time of booking, and it can be even higher if you choose the “Park & Stay” rate. So, if you want to go the valet route, wait until you check in to add it to your stay.

The Cultural Center Complex Garage, next door to The Art Hotel, charges only $35 per night and is extremely convenient. You can find more affordable options if you’re willing to park farther away, but be aware that almost no parking in Denver is free and factor this into your trip budget. To minimize your stress and the time spent driving around in search of a spot, consider checking an app like SpotHero before you go.

Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car

The rooms are spacious and (somewhat) artsy

Rooms at The Art Hotel are minimalist in style but not in space. The bedroom has a big sitting area with plenty of room to do yoga, lay out suitcases or, in my case, arrange dog beds. I also found plenty of storage space: deep drawers under the TV, a roomy closet, shelves and drawers in the coffee station, and a bench with built-in shoe storage. The only elements that lacked storage were the mod-looking nightstands on each side of the bed. A second desk with wheels allows you to extend your workspace or create a family game table.

Despite the attractive neighborhood around The Art Hotel, the view from my fifth-floor room left something to be desired — but at least my dogs enjoyed it. The window was fitted with both sheer and blackout curtains, making it easy for late sleepers to block out the light.

Style-wise, the rooms seemed somewhat basic for a hotel that prides itself on its art. Mine had a single art print on one wall. The chairs, side table and light fixtures were in unusual shapes, and the abstract blue-and-white tile in the bathroom added a splash of color.

The bathroom was just as spacious as the rest of the room, with two sinks, a large walk-in shower and a mini vanity complete with its own stool. This would be a great place to treat yourself to a spa night. There were even robes in the entryway closet. The knob on the rain-style shower was so mod that using it wasn’t particularly intuitive — but there was a handy instruction sheet on the wall next to it.

Related: Hotel views you’ll want to see for yourself

It might be time for a few updates

My room contained two small trash cans, but I was dismayed to find no recycling bin. (This is 2024, after all.) The closest one was in the hallway by the elevators. The nightstand power outlets each contained two standard plugs and two USB-A ports, which seemed convenient at first glance — until I realized that the USB ports had been removed, turning these into useless holes in the wall.

The TV did offer streaming services, though most of them weren’t ones that I use very often. The most useful were Live TV (cable), Netflix and Tubi. There were also YouTube, RedBullTV and two radio apps: SiriusXM and iHeartRadio.

As with the bedroom, there were a few details in the bathroom that could use a little TLC. The shower bar seemed halfway to falling off, and the water never got more than lukewarm no matter how far I turned the knob. There was also a floor-to-ceiling glass strip in the shared wall between the bathroom and sleeping area, which looked cool but could be distracting if your traveling companion turned the bathroom light on while you were sleeping.

Housekeeping comes daily

Unlike many hotels in the COVID-19 era, The Art still has a daily housekeeping service, no request needed.

If you want privacy or are trying to travel a bit more sustainably, you can always put the “do not disturb” sign (which, like the key cards, features art) on your door handle.

Unsurprisingly, there is plenty of art to enjoy

Although the rooms don’t seem particularly artsy, the hotel’s common spaces are filled with art, from a 6-foot-tall horse sculpture made of driftwood in the lobby to the framed collection of vintage souvenir beaded belts in the fitness center. There are even artistic videos to entertain you in the two elevators, and the communal restrooms near the restaurant feature art and other funky touches.

Each art display includes a small card on the wall nearby with information about it: the title and year it was created, the medium, the artist, and where the artist was born and where they live. I hadn’t heard of most of the artists, which was part of the fun — I enjoyed Googling them and learning more about postmodern art.

For guests who want to immerse themselves even more in the art world, The Art offers rotating art-themed room packages. When I booked my stay, the current offering was a Meow Wolf package that included two “Wolf Trance”-themed cocktails at the hotel bar, an in-room surprise amenity and transportation to Meow Wolf Denver. (Surprisingly, it did not include actual tickets to Meow Wolf.) I didn’t visit Meow Wolf this time, but I went earlier this year and can say it’s a must-do on any trip to Denver.

Through Feb. 17, The Art will be offering a Where the Wild Things Are package, including tickets to the Denver Art Museum’s “Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak” exhibit, a hardcover copy of the book, in-room “Wild Things” art, welcome amenity truffles and a note from the character Max.

You get a lot for the resort fee

Like many hotels in popular destinations, the Art Hotel Denver charges a resort fee of $20 per day. For this, you receive the following:

• Two bottles of water per day
• Two cans of Pepsi, two cans of Diet Pepsi and two snack bags (mine were caramel popcorn and Spuntino savory snack mix) per stay
• Complimentary transportation within a 2-mile radius between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for the duration of your stay (visit or call the front desk and the staff will arrange a Lyft for you)
• $20 daily credit at the hotel’s Fire restaurant and lounge (charge your meal to your room, and this will be automatically deducted from your bill)

When I arrived, there was a note in my room that explained these benefits. But it was quite small, and I may not have noticed it if I hadn’t been reviewing the hotel. Plus, it didn’t explain how to use the complimentary transportation services or daily Fire credit — and the servers at the restaurant don’t volunteer this information. I had to ask the front desk staff to learn how to take advantage of these benefits.

It’s frustrating that the hotel didn’t advertise these more clearly, but they’re useful perks. The $20 daily restaurant credit could cover breakfast each day for one person, and the free 2-mile transportation could get you to, for example, Denver’s Museum of Illusions, Comedy Works or the Convention Center. Anytime you book a hotel with this type of fee, I’d recommend checking with the front desk to understand what perks you’re entitled to.

Related: How to avoid paying hotel resort fees

The restaurant is ‘fire’

The Art has one on-site restaurant, Fire, on the fourth floor. It offers an indoor seating area, complete with a hanging art installation over the bar, but its real draw is the rooftop terrace, where you can sip craft cocktails in the shade of an umbrella while looking out over the nearby museums and cafes. The centerpiece is a sculpture in the center of a large fire pit, which comes to life after dark.

Fire’s cuisine is upscale American, with pub classics like wings and burgers as well as steak, seafood and pasta. Since there was nothing vegan on the menu other than salad (and when you go vegan, you get tired of salad really quickly), I asked my server about other options. I ended up with a vegan variation on the Ancho Seared Norwegian Salmon ($36) minus the fish: a lemon-pepper quinoa with vegetables and romesco sauce ($22). My nonvegan partner ordered the Odell Lagerado Fish N Chips ($36). We also tried the Crispy Brussels appetizer ($15, with $2 off during happy hour) and two cocktails: the Colorado Mule ($15) and Girl With Red Balloon ($16), named after the iconic Banksy artwork.

I typically go into hotel restaurants with low expectations. The food is often more expensive than it is tasty, and the vegan options tend to be especially bland. But at Fire, we were impressed by everything we ate. And although the prices were on the high side (even by Denver standards), the portions were surprisingly large. We were stuffed by the time we headed back to our room.

Our brunch experience was equally satisfying. The menu featured a good variety, from breakfast classics like pancakes and omelets to lighter fare such as avocado toast, as well as a few more lunch-appropriate items like burgers and wings. I ordered the Blue Sunrise Smoothie ($10), Steelcut Oatmeal ($12) and a side of Hashbrown Casserole ($7). My partner got the Farm Fresh Eggs ($17) over easy with wheat bread and pork sausage.

Overall, dining at Fire was a highlight of my stay — and as a vegan, I don’t say that very often. I appreciated that both my servers were knowledgeable enough to tell me what my options were, though I wish the menu included labels for vegetarian/vegan items and common allergens like nuts and gluten. And while the restaurant always seemed to be humming with energy and conversation, it was never packed or overly loud and we never had to wait in line for a table.

While it’s worth visiting the Fire restaurant at least once per day to take advantage of the $20 credit, you probably won’t want to eat every meal here. You’re in the middle of Denver, after all, and there are plenty of interesting restaurants, bars and cafes nearby. A visit to the Mile High City wouldn’t be complete without checking out the local dining scene.

Related: Which card should I pay with when dining at a hotel?

The amenities are limited

The Art does not have a pool, hot tub or spa. On the ground floor, just inside the main entrance, there’s a spacious sitting area with plenty of seating — and plenty of art to spark conversation. There’s also a well-equipped fitness center.

From there, you’ll have to take one of the two elevators up to the fourth floor, where the lobby, restaurant and conference rooms are located. There’s also the Studio Shop, tucked beside the front desk, with a selection of snacks, drinks and small toiletries for sale alongside some postcards and cans of oxygen (for guests struggling with altitude sickness).

The Art doesn’t have a business center, per se, but there is a hip little work area connected to the restaurant and lobby. It’s not clear if this space is intended for enjoying cocktails or working remotely — perhaps a little of both — but it has plenty of seats, table space and power outlets for getting work done while taking in the surrounding art. There’s no printer, but you can access this and other business center services through the front desk. They provide a tray of coffee supplies in the morning, as well as several color-coordinated jars of candy all day — and you don’t have to be working to avail yourself of their contents.

The pet policy

The Art, a Hotel bills itself as pet-friendly, but there are some nuances to its pet policy that aren’t clearly stated on the website. For one thing, it’s only dog-friendly; you can’t bring cats. You can bring up to two canine companions, but there’s a weight limit of 50 pounds per dog. This rather restrictive policy will rule out travelers with cats, large dogs or more than two dogs.

If you do bring a dog (or two), you’ll pay a flat rate of $50 per stay — not bad compared to many hotels that charge per night and/or per pet. If you select “Traveling with Pet” at the time of booking, the fee is $57.90, so you’re better off waiting until you arrive to add it to your stay. Just be sure to register your dog at the front desk when you check in, otherwise you may be stuck with a $250 fee.

Related: These hotels go all-out with luxury pet amenities

Accessibility

The Art Hotel Denver is equipped with basic accessibility features, but depending on your specific needs, it may not be the best lodging option in the area.

For instance, I noticed Braille signs outside all room doors but not on anything else in the hall (like the elevator, evacuation map or directions to rooms). There are also no Braille signs on any of the information plaques that accompany the art pieces. For hearing-impaired guests, The Art offers audio-visual doorbells.

For guests who use a wheelchair, the halls and elevators are spacious enough to maneuver. You can also book rooms and suites with larger showers and railings — but the beds and toilets aren’t lower in these rooms, so they may not be as comfortable as in other hotels.

Related: How to make sure you get an accessible hotel room if you need one

Reasons The Art Hotel might not be for you

The Art, a Hotel could be a great option if you want to explore Denver’s Golden Triangle or the downtown area (which is within the 2-mile free transportation radius). But it may not be the best fit for you if:

• You’re visually impaired. The art is what makes this hotel stand out, and the vast majority of it is visual (except for one video with rolling balls in an elevator, which has sound).
• You use a wheelchair. The Art, a Hotel will accommodate wheelchair users to an extent, but other hotels may be more comfortable and offer more.
• You’re looking for a luxurious spa getaway. The Art has a fitness center but no pool, hot tub or spa.
• You want to explore other areas of the city. If you want to focus your trip on the Cherry Creek or RiNo neighborhoods, for example, this won’t be a convenient location.

Alternatives to The Art Hotel

If you’re a Marriott loyalist, you may want to check out the Sheraton Denver Downtown. Or, for something with even more boutique charm, try the Crawford Hotel in an old train station. And don’t forget to check out our list of the best hotels in Denver.

Checking out

I’m always a fan of points properties that break the chain hotel mold, and as a creative person, I enjoyed being surrounded by thought-provoking art. Instead of feeling pretentious or stuffy, this art-themed hotel provided a fun, relaxed experience that fit right in with the surrounding Golden Triangle area.

My business analyst partner, on the other hand, didn’t appreciate the art quite as much — but even he couldn’t argue with the delicious food and lovely atmosphere on the rooftop patio. Since I work remotely, I also really appreciated the extra workspace in the room (and the extra floor space for my pups).

For an upscale hotel in the middle of Denver, rates at The Art are quite reasonable, and the many ways to earn and redeem points here will appeal to a variety of points and miles collectors.

Overall, I’d happily return to The Art Hotel for a solo creative retreat or with my partner or friends for a weekend of exploring the city.

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