It's a Bonnie Thing

Welcome to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Denver, Colorado. This boutique hotel provides a fun, casual stay close to restaurants, The Paramount theater, and the 16th Street Mall. Its location on 17th Street means you are one block from 16th Mall with the free mall ride shuttle so anywhere you wish to go in the Downtown area is easily accessible.

The Hotel Monaco Denver is part of the Kimpton Hotel and IHG hotel chain. Don’t forget to sign up for the IHG loyalty program before your stay. As the Kimpton Karma program merges with IHG, check the Accelerate Bonus offers prior to your arrival. IHG Accelerate is offering 10,000 bonus points if you book a Kimpton Hotel prior to April 30, 2018. It is a good way to try out the Kimpton Boutique Hotels if you have never stayed in one before.

IHG & Kimpton Rewards Program

The Living Room

When you enter the hotel you will notice the Living Room and its fun ceiling motif. It feels like Morocco meets Denver. This is where the fun happens at the Hotel Monaco. Doesn’t this ceiling inspire a smile?

The Ceiling Motif, Morocco meets Denver

The decor has a subtle Western theme of cowboys, bulls, and horses with a whimsical fun feeling in the design. The living room is the place to meet your friends, relax with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. Every day the Hotel Monaco offers an “Altitude Adjustment” which is a complimentary wine hour from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. It is the Mile High City after all and when you visit from lower elevations you may need to drink more bottled water with your wine or you may be trying to ride the chairs with the stir-ups after a few glasses.

Did Bonnie really mention chairs with stir-ups?

Yup, she did. Even the furniture is fun and western inspired. The details are subtle but it is fun to walk around the hotel and look for them.

Building History

The cool thing about staying at the Denver Hotel Monaco besides the location, fun decor, and wine hour is you are getting a little slice of Denver history too. The original building was built-in 1876 and housed the Railway Exchange. In 1909 they added a new building to the existing one. (see picture below notice how the two buildings look completely different) In 1937, the first Railway exchange building was torn down. It only had three floors and now it has seven. It was rebuilt during the Modern Movement and was called The Title Building. The Rocky Mountain News called it the “first fully modernistic building in Denver.” Bonnie thinks it has an Art Deco vibe to the hotel. This style was popular in the mid-1920’s to mid 1930’s. The style was short-lived but it is to be appreciated as a Denver landmark representing the Modern Movement in architecture.

The last standing Art Modern Building in Denver

The Kimpton hotel chain took it over in 1998 and that is when the Hotel Denver Monaco was established. It’s been the Hotel Monaco ever since. If you like history, visit the basement level and look at the historic photographs of Denver in the hallway. Denver has changed through the years and it is still changing. The skyline has many cranes as new residential apartments and hotels are being built.

A Night’s Stay

The rooms at the hotel are currently being renovated and the anticipated completion date is the end of March. Bonnie was able to stay in a newly remodeled room. So far, the first two floors have been completed. The new color scheme is white and blue going away from the orange and animal print. She misses the animal print robes and blankets that were part of the hotel’s spirit. Animal prints are so fun, right?

The Monte Carlo Suite

The Monte Carlo Suite

The newly remodeled Monte Carlo suite is more spacious with a separate lounge seating area.

Deluxe Guestroom

Deluxe Guestroom

Do you like the new look? The Deluxe guestroom is spacious with a desk, chair, closet, and bathroom. A large tufted leather headboard accent the room as a focal point. A comfy mattress with soft pillows made for a restful nights sleep. While Bonnie loved the older style of the rooms. The remodel is a pleasant change to keep up with the newer hotels by Union Station and it’s brand new sister property The Kimpton Born Hotel. Of course, some things never change with the Kimpton brand like style, yoga mats and robes to enjoy during your stay.

Robes and Yoga Mats

Although the bathrooms are small they are decorated nicely with white subway tiles and glamorous wallpaper.

Stylish Modern Bathrooms

There is a mini bar and if you are a loyalty member you will receive a $10 bar credit.

See the Stuffed Buffalo? It’s a dog toy in the mini bar available for purchase. The Kimpton Hotels are uber pet-friendly. Pet beds and dog bowls are available upon request.

Bonnie’s dogs have enjoyed staying at the Hotel Monaco too! This is one of her favorite hotel chains when traveling with pets.

Hotel Amenities

Veda Salon & Spa

Fitness Center it is under construction currently. The hotel offers a pass to the Colorado Athletic Club for $10.

Valet parking $46 a night, this may seem expensive but most four and five-star hotels charge $40-$50 a night in Denver.

Morning Coffee & Tea and Wine Hour from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm in the Living Room

Bonnie having a little Altitude Adjustment during wine hour

Restaurant & Bar Panzano

Panzano- known for their Fine Italian Food.

Try the Brussels Sprouts! They are fried, with slices of apple, pistachios, rosemary salt and apple cider reduction.

Panzano is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a happy hour from 2:30 – 6:00 pm daily in the bar. Room service menu items are provided by this restaurant too so you know you are getting a high-quality, delicious meal. Bonnie loves those Brussel Sprouts and craves them when she is in Denver.

Meeting Space – Yes you can even throw a party at the Hotel Monaco too!

Toscano is a private room in the Panzano restaurant. It is perfect for intimate parties for up to 18 people and has windows overlooking Champa Street.

Toscano- Panzanos private event space

The Wine Cellar is perfect for a larger group and will hold up to 80 people reception style.

The Wine Cellar Private Room

Larger ballroom rooms are available for large groups, events, and business meetings. Toscano & the Wine Cellar have the most character of the event rooms but are for a smaller group size.

Fun Photos of the Hotel Monaco

The Symmetry of furniture and art make this a place you want to relax. Notice the cowboy paintings! You are in Colorado, after all!

Think the bulls are eavesdropping in the conversational area of the living room? Bonnie loves the vibrant orange settee with the green club chairs. It is a great place to meet your friends for wine hour and chat about the day.

The Colorado western theme comes alive if you look for it.

And finally the mascot of the Hotel Monaco Denver!

This hotel inspires fun throughout its design and decor. Friendly people work at the hotel and that always makes a place more enjoyable. When you want something different from a typical hotel, that is when you want to stay at the Hotel Monaco. Pets are treated like celebrities and can lounge in the living room with you. The Hotel Monaco in Denver reminds us that life isn’t supposed to be taken so seriously. Have a little fun, smile, laugh, enjoy wine with friends, and grab the bull by the horns.

Cheers, Bonnie