You’re walking through Lower Downtown—LoDo, if you want to sound like a local—and the glass towers of 17th Street start to feel a bit samey. Then you see it. It’s red brick, unapologetically sturdy, and looks like it hasn't moved an inch since the silver boom. That’s the Oxford.
When people talk about the oldest hotel in Denver Colorado, they usually get into a heated debate at a bar somewhere. Half the crowd will swear it’s the Brown Palace. I mean, the Brown is iconic. It has that massive atrium and the afternoon tea that makes you feel like you should be wearing a top hat. But if we’re talking strictly about who cut the ribbon first, the Oxford Hotel takes the trophy. It opened in 1891. The Brown Palace followed a year later in 1892.
One year might not seem like much, but in the 1890s, Denver was changing at light speed. Being first meant everything.
The Oxford Hotel: Denver’s Original Power Player
The Oxford didn't just happen. It was the brainchild of Adolph Zang, a local brewing tycoon who realized that people coming off the trains at Union Station needed a place to sleep that didn't involve a dirt floor or a shared bunk with a gold miner. He hired Frank E. Edbrooke to design it. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Edbrooke also designed the Brown Palace. Basically, the guy owned the Denver skyline in the late 19th century.
When it opened, it was the height of tech. It had its own power plant. Imagine that—electricity and steam heat when most of the country was still fumbling with kerosene lamps. It even had "water closets" on every floor, which was the 1891 version of having a private jet.
Honestly, the place has survived things that should have leveled it. It lived through Prohibition, the Great Depression, and that weird period in the 70s when LoDo was, well, kind of a dump. While other buildings were being torn down for parking lots, the Oxford just sat there, waiting for someone to notice it again. In 1979, Charles Callaway spent $12 million to bring it back to life. That’s probably the reason you can still grab a drink there today.
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The Cruise Room and Prohibition Secrets
You can't talk about the oldest hotel in Denver Colorado without mentioning the Cruise Room. It's the hotel's bar, and it is arguably the coolest spot in the city. It opened the day after Prohibition ended in 1933.
The design is pure Art Deco, modeled after a lounge on the RMS Queen Mary. The lighting is this weird, moody pink that makes everyone look like they’re in a noir film. The walls have these hand-carved panels showing "toasts" from around the world. It feels illegal to order anything other than a classic martini here.
Local legend says the bar actually operated as a speakeasy before the law changed. There’s no official record of that, obviously, because speakeasies aren't big on paperwork. But considering it's tucked away in a corner of the building and has been there forever, it’s not hard to imagine.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Brown Palace
If the Oxford is the elder sibling, the Brown Palace is the flashy one who went to Ivy League. People constantly label it as the oldest because it’s so grand. It’s easy to see why. Henry C. Brown spent $1.6 million building it—an insane amount of money in 1892.
The Brown Palace is famous for its "no wood" construction. It’s all stone, iron, and steel because Henry was terrified of fire. It’s also famous for its guests. Every U.S. President since 1905 has visited, except for three. The Beatles stayed there. They actually had to be smuggled in through the employee entrance because 5,000 screaming fans were blocking the street.
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But despite the fame, it’s still the runner-up in the age department. It’s the "Grande Dame," sure, but the Oxford is the pioneer.
A Quick Reality Check on Dates
- The Oxford Hotel: Opened October 1891.
- The Brown Palace: Opened August 12, 1892.
- 11th Avenue Hostel: Opened 1903 (originally the 11th Avenue Hotel).
Living History vs. Museum Pieces
Staying at the oldest hotel in Denver Colorado isn't like staying in a museum. It’s actually functional. The Oxford underwent a massive refresh a few years ago. You’ve got the clawfoot tubs and the antique English oak furniture, but you also have Wi-Fi that actually works and 400-thread-count sheets.
The vibe is very different from the "glitz" of newer hotels like the Crawford (which is beautiful but much younger). At the Oxford, the floors creak in that satisfying way. The elevators are small. The art on the walls isn't some corporate print; it’s a curated collection of Western pieces that feel like they belong there.
There are even rumors of ghosts. Specifically, a lady in Room 320 who isn't a fan of men staying in her room. Whether you believe in that or not, it adds to the texture of the place. You aren't just renting a bed; you’re stepping into a timeline.
How to Experience Denver’s Oldest Hotels Right
If you actually want to see these places, don't just walk in, take a selfie, and leave. You have to do it properly.
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Start at Union Station and walk the two blocks to the Oxford. Go into the lobby and look at the original staircase railing with the "OH" logo. If you’re there between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, they usually have a bourbon tasting in the lobby. It’s a nod to the hotel’s rough-and-tumble roots.
After that, walk down 17th Street to the Brown Palace. It’s about a 15-minute stroll. Compare the two. The Oxford is intimate and brick-heavy; the Brown is soaring and made of red sandstone. They represent two different versions of 1890s optimism.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Book the Cruise Room Early: It’s tiny. If you show up on a Friday night at 8:00 PM, you’re going to be standing in the hallway. Go early or on a weeknight.
- Ask for a History Tour: Both hotels often have staff or historians who can point out things you’d miss, like the upside-down floor grilles in the Brown Palace or the hidden panels in the Oxford.
- Check the Room Types: At the Oxford, some rooms are Victorian-style, while others are Art Deco. If you have a preference, call the front desk instead of just clicking "standard" on a travel site.
- Visit the Spa: The Oxford Club and Spa is actually in the original annex. It’s one of the best in the city and uses the same footprint as the hotel’s 19th-century facilities.
The Oxford Hotel remains the oldest hotel in Denver Colorado because it refused to quit. It didn't try to be the biggest or the most expensive—it just focused on being there. In a city that is currently exploding with glass condos and tech hubs, that kind of permanence is rare. It’s worth a look, even if you’re just in town for a night.
To get the most out of your historic Denver trip, start by booking a table at Urban Farmer inside the Oxford for a meal that uses locally sourced Colorado beef, then head to the Cruise Room for a sidecar. If you really want to dive deep, grab a copy of The Brown Palace: Denver's Grande Dame from the hotel gift shop; it covers the rivalry between these two architectural titans in detail.