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Hotel check: Warwick Denver Hotel

Originally published on businesstravelerusa.com 16/11/2011 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Hotels » United States »

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BACKGROUND Warwick International Hotels was launched in the 1980’s beginning with the purchase of the Warwick in New York, followed closely by a string of acquisitions and affiliations in Europe and the US. Today the Warwick collection includes over 40 hotels and resorts worldwide. The Warwick Denver Hotel is among the earliest of the so-called ‘City Hotels’ – properties that are conveniently nestled in the heart of the urban scene. 

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Walking into the lobby of the Warwick Denver, I got the distinct impression that this hotel has a different vibe. For one thing, everybody from the front door to the front desk was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The check-in process was smooth and trouble free. The architecture, too, speaks to the uncommon feel of the place. Absent were the lofty brass and glass elements and vast reception desks of some hotels. Instead the Warwick’s prologue feels like a non-hotel – low ceilings and low key. 

WHERE IS IT? In fact, the Warwick Denver straddles the space between the bustling Central Business District and the Capitol Hill neighborhoods. It’s about here that all the streets of downtown Denver take a 45-degree turn, suddenly veering from running catty-cornered to true north-and-south. The Warwick is perfectly positioned across this man-made fault line, convenient to corporate offices, the Colorado Convention Center and Sports Authority Field. 

ROOM FACILITIES Sometimes lobbies tell a story about the hotel that the rooms just can’t deliver on. But at the Warwick, the promise of easy comfort made in the lobby was more than fulfilled in my expansive guestroom.

The deluxe room was large, with traditional understated appointments and a big, cushy bed adorned with 300-count satin striped sheets. The desk was ample, seating was comfortable – all in all, a really functional working space. Speedy WiFi connections are available for a $9.95 per day upcharge.

The bathroom was a treat, owing mainly to the size of the ‘vanity,’ with more than enough marble countertop to accommodate shaving kit, hand towel and all the accoutrements. One minor complaint, though, common to many hotels: downlighting above the mirror can make everyday tasks like shaving into a shadowy affair.

The west-facing rooms give out onto an impressive cityscape framed by the distant Rocky Mountains. Mine looked east, over the flatlands – less magnificent, to be sure, but sweeping nonetheless. And the room-darkening drapes were quite effective at blocking the early morning sun.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Randolph’s Restaurant offers contemporary American cuisine with a little twist. The food was consistently high-quality and enjoyable, from superb beef tenderloin and buffalo to generous breakfast entrees and the chef’s own hand-smoked salmon. The dining room has a spacious feel, enhanced by the floor-to-ceiling doors opening onto the seasonal patio dining area.

Adjacent to the restaurant, Randolph’s Bar is an intimate space for relaxed conversation. It offers some imaginative cocktail concoctions and a wine list that garnered a Wine Spectators Award of Excellence in 2010.

MEETING And LEISURE FACILITIES The Warwick’s 10,000 square feet of meeting space features several multi-use rooms on the second floor, and on the 15^th floor, the 1,925-square-foot Millennium Ballroom with two smaller rooms alongside. 

The 15^th floor also houses the Warwick’s Fitness Center, equipped with Vision Fitness treadmills, bikes and elliptical trainers plus Vectra System circuit training machines and free weights. The heated rooftop pool is open year-round and affords yet more spectacular 360-degree views of downtown and the mountains. 

VERDICT While there are pricier – and certainly more famous – hotels in downtown Denver, the Warwick Hotel Denver offers a combination of spacious comfort, amenities and value that makes it a top pick in the Mile High City.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 161 guestrooms and 58 suites

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Spacious, well-appointed rooms with luxurious bedding and imposing views of the Mile High City.

PRICE Rates from the web site for a weekday stay during  November range from $186 – $239 for standard rooms and up to $399 for one of the 650-square-foot Mile High Suites.  

CONTACT Warwick Denver Hotel, 1776 Grant St., Denver, CO 80203, Reservations 800-203-3232, warwickdenver.com

— Dan Booth

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