The Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton

"First impressions?Forget a tired valet pull through: at this boutique hotel in Denver’s thriving Cultural District, your first impression is a Leo Villareal-designed light installation. Keep walking and the art continues, including pieces by stars like Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith. Art isn’t just used as decor here, it’s the main objective of the hotel. If that's not enough, you're also steps away from the Denver Art Museum and the Clyfford Still Museum. What's the crowd like?Serious culture connoisseurs and business travelers looking for something different. And the rooms?The Art includes prints and lithographs in each of its 165 rooms, and the design is minimalist. Pops of primary colors add whimsy, but for the most part each room uses subtle grays, whites, and birch accents to let the art take center stage. Spacious bathrooms contrast dark wood trim with grays and silver, and everything feels airy, bright, and cheerful. Any fun amenities of note?Amenities in the rooms are standard, but the hotel's "Living Room"—hotel slang for lobby—features free cups of coffee, newspapers, infused water, and a rotating selection of old-fashioned candy. What about the food?Head to the on-site Fire restaurant and patio for a killer outdoor fire pit with fourth-floor city views. More casual breakfasts and lunches are supplemented by carefully constructed entrees at dinner, but for our money the best bet is the happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Try a well-priced glass of house wine or a barrel-aged Old Fashioned before tucking into small plates of delicious nibbles. And to up our Denver game?Grab a brochure from the front desk and take a self-guided tour of the hotel's impressive collection, or opt for a guided tour Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you can, ask for a mountain view room; the sunsets are epic. In a nutshell?Thought-provoking art takes center stage at a boutique hotel in the Cultural District." - Megan Barber