The ART Hotel, Denver

All you need to know

Located right in Denver’s trendy Golden Triangle Creative District, The ART Hotel Denver (part of Hilton’s Curio Collection) basically doubles as a high-end contemporary art museum. Designed by Davis Partnership Architects, the building’s jagged, striking glass-and-limestone facade actually honors its famous architectural neighbors, with one dramatic corner jutting skyward as a direct salute to the Rocky Mountains.

The artistic experience kicks off the exact second you pull into the driveway. Overhead, a massive, custom-commissioned light installation by famed artist Leo Villareal features 22,000 LED bulbs pulsing in ever-changing, abstract patterns meant to mirror the city’s heartbeat.

Inside, the curation is incredibly legit, originally put together by Dianne Vanderlip, the former curator of modern art at the nearby Denver Art Museum. Instead of generic lobby decorations, you walk past pieces by world-renowned artists like Sol LeWitt, Tracey Emin, and a signature wooden horse sculpture by Deborah Butterfield that peers out the windows. Even the guest room floors have their own specific artist themes.

Up on the fourth floor, you’ll find FIRE Restaurant and Lounge, which serves up great New American food right alongside commanding views of the city. Guests can hang out on the open-air terrace around a kinetic fire sculpture, or join the hotel’s quirky Friday morning “art run”—a guided jog through the neighborhood that weaves past 13 of Denver’s coolest public art pieces.

Location-wise, you couldn’t be closer to the cultural action if you tried. The spectacular Denver Art Museum is virtually next door, and you can easily stroll over to the Clyfford Still Museum, the History Colorado Center, or the Colorado State Capitol—where you can stand on the exact step that sits precisely one mile above sea level.