Brown Palace
This grande dame of Colorado lodging has hosted public figures from President Eisenhower to the Beatles since it first opened its doors in 1892, and the details are exquisite: a dramatic nine-story lobby is topped with a glorious stained-glass ceiling, and the Victorian rooms have sophisticated wainscoting and art deco fixtures. The hotel pays equal attention to some modern necessities, such as high-speed Wi-Fi. The formal Palace Arms ($$$$) is the in-house restaurant; the Churchill cigar bar sells rare cigars and single-malt scotches. The addition of a coffee-and-tea shop added a much-needed casual option for a quick snack or light breakfast. A full-service spa has Swiss showers and a natural-rock waterfall that draws from the hotel's artesian well.
