I’ve long been skeptical of the claim that a short-term vacation rental offers a more “authentic” travel experience than a hotel. My counter is that a well-situated boutique hotel can embody the neighborhood that surrounds it, and that when this is done well, there isn’t a better way to capture a location’s vibe. Denver’s Magnolia Hotel is a prime example. Located just off the 16th Street Mall and offering a spruce lobby lounge, the aesthetic is quintessentially urban. Staff are well-trimmed and approachable. Lobby access is easy right from the street. Yet, in true Denver fashion, the atmosphere is definitely “Colorado casual.” I was born and raised in this city and properties like the Magnolia represent its ongoing evolution from high plains cowtown to world-class destination. The hotel made an ideal stay when returning home on a recent work trip.
This Denver Hotel Is Ahead of the Curve for Business Travel
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Why the Magnolia Hotel is a good option in downtown Denver
A downtown Denver landmark. Photo: Magnolia Hotel Denver
Originally built around 1910 as a bank, the Magnolia Hotel occupies the northwest corner of 17th and Stout, directly on Denver’s downtown light rail lines and a block from the renovated 16th Street Mall pedestrian thoroughfare. This stretch of 17th was, at the time of the building’s construction, known as the “Wall Street of the West,” serving as a financial hub for the great plains and Rocky Mountain regions. The hotel opened in 1995 and is about a 10-minute walk from Union Station, where I arrived after taking the A-Line train from Denver International Airport.
Valet parking is available, but the best option is to not worry about having a car. Driving downtown is terrible, and the hotel’s central location makes getting around on foot or bike more convenient anyhow. Coors Field is three blocks away. Concert venues, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and the entirety of downtown are all within walking distance. I was in town to attend a work function at the Poka Lola Social Club and the adjacent Denver Milk Market, and enjoyed a casual stroll down 16th Street on my way to the event.
Many guests in the hotel during my stay were attending a conference at the nearby Colorado Convention Center. The hotel also offers its own meeting space on its lower level and certainly is an appealing base for professional travel, regardless of the reason. Within a few blocks are dozens of restaurants and a good sampling of Denver’s top-tier craft beer culture. With rooms starting at about $160, the Magnolia is a more approachable option than many of hte other 4- and 5-star hotels in downtown Denver, with the bonus that you can use and earn Marriott Bonvoy points as its a part of the brand’s Tribute Portfolio.
For those working while staying, the hotel has dual monitor kits available for rent. This struck me as not just a nice touch something that should be available in any 4-star property given the rise of remote work. Props to Magnolia Hotels for being on top of that. I wouldn’t have known if there hadn’t been a business card in my room advertising the amenity.
Staying at the Magnolia Hotel Denver
I stayed in a king-bed suite that overlooked Stout Street and the historic Equitable Building. The bed was plush and spacious, and the bedroom offered a walk-in closet fit for apartment living. The living space included a four-seat table, a couch facing the television, and a wet bar with a microwave and mini-fridge. I watched a World Cup match while wrapping up some laptop work at the table, ordering room service from the hotel’s Harry’s restaurant.
The salmon burnt ends I ordered were crispy and flavorful, nearly breaching the texture of something deep fried but lacking the grease. This was accented by smoked habanero honey that brought out the rich, buttery flavor of the salmon. The dish sits on the appetizer menu but with the included caramelized puffed rice I was satiated for the remainder of the afternoon. I paired this with an aperol spritz because, why not – it was 4:30, comfortably within the happy hour timeframe, after all.
Amenities at the Magnolia Hotel Denver
More than a decade of consistent work travel has left me rather jaded about hotel gyms (I’m not the only one, as it turns out). A good one is a nice bonus, even at a four-star hotel like the Magnolia. That’s what I found, however, at an 8 AM session the following morning. The Magnolia’s gym features several cardio machines and what it lacks in weight training machines, it makes up for in its large selection of free weights and the space to spread out and use them. There was even a basket of apples on the counter, which made for a nice post-workout touch.
Beyond the great night of sleep I had in the room, however, the standout experience of the stay was a post-workout breakfast at Harry’s. The menu’s description of the Avocado Toast – toasted Challah bread, boiled egg, pickled cauliflower – overrode any hesitation that ordering it would leave me hungry again by 11:30. It was the right decision. I left the meal confident I’d consumed a sizable portion of the day’s vegetable requirements. The walls of Harry’s are lined with photos of Denver landmarks past and present, from modern Sculpture Park back to the early days of Elitch Gardens.
Drip coffee is available in the lobby free to guests. I topped off my mug before checking out, confident I found the right stay for a downtown Denver work trip. 