Best Beds and Breakfasts in Denver

The Brown Palace has remained in operation every moment of every day since its doors first swung open in 1892, and it is as grand today as it was then. Opulent fabrics and 12,400 feet of onyx are enhanced by all the updates today's guests expect, including a luscious spa. The Brown nurtures a colony of bees on its rooftop, and honey produced there is used throughout the hotel, including in the in-room bath amenities, treatments at the spa and in a specialty craft beer served at Ship's Tavern. Not to be missed is the famed afternoon tea, where the rooftop honey is also served. Engaging ghost and history tours provide guests with intriguing insights and fun facts that make a stay special. Want to keep the kids (or adults) occupied while relaxing in the eight-story atrium? Look for the two upside-down panels in the ornate cast iron railings.

Located in the heart of the trendy Cherry Creek North shopping district, the boutique Inn and Cherry Creek isn't a traditional B&B but it makes this list because of its small size and cool hood location and the fact that it offers a great B&B package option for booking. With just 35 rooms on only a few levels, it also feels intimate but provides some of the luxuries more associated with hotels than guesthouses — expect flat screen TVs and bathrobes plus down comforters and work desks. There are also a few suite options with fireplaces and private balconies. The onsite restaurant, the Weber, is where you'll have breakfast and it also serves a great happy hour and a rotating American menu focused on seasonal and fresh ingredients.

A mountain retreat in Evergreen, Highland Haven Creekside Inn is an unforgettable upmarket romantic getaway. Situated on 400 feet of Bear Creek, and just a short walk from Main Street Evergreen, it offers a relaxed, yet rural feeling, setting that is convenient to boutique shopping and dining. You'll not find lace and elaborate Victorian era décor, as this classy Colorado inn embraces its mountain setting with hand-hewn log furnishings and Persian rugs, and private entrance accommodations in cottages, cabins and suites, up to 1500 square feet in size. Celebrations are the norm here at this high-end retreat, and champagne flows often. Your room rate includes an in-room homemade breakfast with recipes featured in the owner, Gail Riley's book, Colorado Cravings.

Located just outside of Denver in the nearby commuter town of Golden this is another unique B&B targeted at a specific type of guest — in this case, as the name implies, it is one with a love of sewing and embroidery. Although a love of these crafts are not required for staying, should you be interested the guesthouse all doubles as the Embroidery Design Studio where you can come relax and take elementary embroidery and sewing classes. Located a few blocks from downtown Golden, the Pincushion is inside a vintage historic Victorian home and features just three guest rooms and a carriage house suite. All four rooms include private baths, television, free Internet, air conditioners, and mountain views. The carriage house suite offers additional amenities with a full bathroom and full kitchen, and off street parking.

This restored 19th century Victorian mansion near downtown Denver has a Capitol Hill address in the historic Wyman District. The brownstone was built in 1896 for prominent Denver jeweler Henry Bohm and the elegant interior still remains with high ceilings, hardwood floors, intricate moldings, and private baths. Family heirlooms, framed prints, antiques, period wallpapers, and stained glass immerse guests in the Victorian era. Today guests can choose from 10 air-conditioned mini-suites, each equipped with a kitchen at this 3 Diamond, AAA-rated property that is also pet friendly — rare among B&Bs. The full breakfast is also excellent - don't skip the strawberry pancakes if you like sweet. You can also get the full range of traditional hot breakfast options.

Built between 1879 and 1887, the Tabor family was the Queen Anne's first occupants. This urban bed and breakfast has been serving the community for 25 years. Every room is unique, from the four local artist suites to the Tower room built into the Victorian turret with bay windows to the Rooftop accommodations with a private deck, 2-person heated jet spa, and view of the Rocky Mountains. A few years ago a New York organic chef Milan Doshi took over the inn, and you can thank Doshi for the breakfast TLC with locally sourced ingredients. The Queen Anne's daily Happy Hour (5:30pm-7pm) on the main floor allows guests to mingle while enjoying complimentary Colorado wines, cheeses, and other delicious snacks.

This swank, boutique eight bedroom B&B has been one of Denver's top of its type since it opened in 1994, catering to gays, couples and families with equal indulgence. Located on a quiet tree lined residential section of Capitol Hill (far enough away from the Colfax Ave hustle to hear, but close enough to walk to) it is located in a turreted, Romansque mansion. Inside you'll find original 1890s woodwork and 20th century antique furniture in the themed rooms that have 21st century accouterments like designer toiletries and gas fireplaces. If you're booking online check out the Snowlover Balcony suite, which boasts a 28-foot alpine forest mural on one of its walls and actual views of Denver's skyline and Rocky Mountain vistas from other windows. Don't miss the complimentary happy hour wine service with Colorado varietals. Breakfast here is also yummy.

The Adagio B&B is not your typical Denver B&B. After marijuana became legal, it became the city's first cannabis-friendly B&B. Located in the Wyman Historic District, a neighborhood first developed in 1880, it remains a distinctive slice of Denver history and architecture — just one where the included breakfast includes a wake and bake session, and there are of course 4:20 Happy Hour celebrations. There are six renovated suites in this Victorian home, and amenities include televisions, spacious closets, air-conditioning and WiFi and jetted tubs. Guests are allowed to smoke, vaporize or eat edibles to their hearts content on the premises. If you want to smoke pot in the city and you don't have a friend's house to partake in, this is the only hotel you can legally do it in.

With just five Jacuzzi-tub bedecked suites, each done up with a different theme, booking in advance is advised for a stay at this historic B&B in the happening Highlands neighborhood. The inn gets its name from John Mouat, an 1890 Scottish immigrant to Denver who earned a fortune in lumber. Mouat commissioned this 8,500 square foot home for his family with distinct lumber (cherry, oak, poplar, sycamore, maple and walnut) and added distinct carvings and ornate detail. Try for the Persian themed Valentine Suite with a traditional Indonesian wedding bed or the Anniversary Suite, done up in Greco-Roman meets Victorian English style with a circa 1865 carved wood bed-frame and towering marble columns in the entry. The inn is definately couple focused. Also try to book when a murder mystery dinner party is scheduled. Check online for packages including admission and a night at the late 19th century Victorian mansion.

As a nationally designated landmark, the Castle Marne was originally built in 1889 as the Raymond House, the first home in the neighborhoods shaping away from downtown. The Rhyolite stone building, a European style Stone Castle, was built by famous architect William Lang, who put Denver on the architectural map. Castle Marne is listed in the Dupont Registry of American Castles, and today the B&B utilizes many of the same amenities, including the original hot water radiator heat and one of the original bathrooms while incorporating modern day luxuries, such as in-room Jacuzzi tabs and the city's only outdoor hot tubs on private balconies. At the Castle Marne, you may relax over afternoon tea in the parlor, linger over a complete gourmet breakfast in the formal dining room, or enjoy the shaded English Garden. Compliment your stay with a romantic six course candlelight dinners or walk to nearby upscale restaurants.