You’ve stayed in a Hilton before. You walk in, grab a warm cookie, see some beige walls, and head to a room that looks exactly like the one you had in Des Moines or Dallas. It’s reliable. It’s fine. But honestly, the Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is kind of a weirdo in the best way possible. It takes that corporate DoubleTree DNA and basically douses it in pop-culture neon and nostalgia.
If you’re heading to the Mile High City, you’re probably looking at the Downtown area. This place is right in the Theater District, literally across from the Denver Performing Arts Complex. But the location isn't why people talk about it. It’s the fact that you might find yourself sleeping on a floor dedicated entirely to "Chick Flicks" or "Video Games."
The Weird Reality of Hyper-Themed Rooms
Most hotels "theme" a room by putting a different painting on the wall. The Curtis goes a bit harder. They have these things called Hyper-Themed Rooms, and they’re scattered across 13 floors.
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Each floor has a specific vibe. You get off the elevator and the music changes. The art changes. Even the "Stay Happy" floor mats change. For example:
- The 13th Floor: Usually, hotels skip 13. Not here. It’s the "Dun, Dun, Dunnnnn" floor. Think horror movies and Jack Nicholson’s face from The Shining greeting you near the elevator.
- The Video Game Suite: It’s basically a shrine to Donkey Kong and Mario.
- The Barbie Suite: It is aggressively pink. If you’re a fan of the "Big Hair" era, this is your spot.
- The Star Trek (Final Frontier) Suite: You can hang out with Kirk and Spock. It’s sci-fi heavy and definitely not for someone looking for a "minimalist" aesthetic.
I’ve seen people walk into the lobby and just stare at the "Wall of Jacks"—a collection of famous people named Jack (Nicholson, Black, Sparrow). It’s a lot to take in. If you want a quiet, Zen-like experience where nothing challenges your eyeballs, this might actually stress you out. But if you’re tired of the "Grey Scale" hotel trend, it’s a breath of fresh air.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
The address is 1405 Curtis Street. People see "Downtown Denver" and assume they’re going to be fighting 16th Street Mall traffic every time they step outside.
Honestly? You’re in a sweet spot. You are two blocks from the Convention Center—which is great if you're there for a massive event—but you're also just far enough from the loudest parts of the 16th Street Mall to avoid the 2 a.m. shouting matches. You can walk to Union Station in about 14 minutes. If you’re catching a show at the Buell Theatre or Ellie Caulkins Opera House, you literally just walk across the street.
The Parking Situation (The Part Everyone Hates)
Let’s be real: parking at the Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is expensive. It’s currently around $45 a day for self-parking. There is no valet.
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If you aren't careful, you’ll spend a fortune just letting your car sit in a dark garage. Pro tip: look for the "Park & Play" packages on their website. Sometimes they bundle the parking fee into the room rate, which can save you $20 or $30. Also, there are public garages nearby like the one at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, but checking the rates for overnight stays is a must because they vary wildly during event nights.
Dining at The Corner Office
The on-site restaurant is called The Corner Office Restaurant + Martini Bar. It looks like something out of Mad Men if Don Draper had a passion for global fusion.
They do a "global comfort food" thing. One minute you’re eating pimiento cheese and the next you’re looking at Asian-inspired small plates. It’s a weird mix, but it works. The martini menu is the real draw, though. It’s a local favorite for a pre-theater drink because the service is usually fast enough to get you to your 7:30 p.m. curtain on time.
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If you’re a morning person, there is a Starbucks right there on the 14th Street side. It’s a standard Starbucks, nothing "hyper-themed" about it, which is actually kind of a relief when you just need a caffeine fix without a cardboard cutout of Godzilla watching you.
Is It Actually Comfortable?
Strip away the disco balls and the comic book art, and you’re still in a DoubleTree. That means you get the Sweet Dreams beds.
They are genuinely comfortable. The standard rooms (which they call "standard" but still have funky art) have 42-inch TVs, mini-fridges, and decent workspaces. The WiFi is usually snappy enough for a Zoom call—around 25+ Mbps in most areas.
However, there’s a recurring complaint you should know about: the elevators. Because each floor is an "experience," the elevators can be slow. They sometimes stop on floors where nobody is waiting, or they just take their sweet time. If you’re in a rush to catch a flight, give yourself an extra five minutes. It sounds minor until you’re standing there for the third time in a day.
How to Get the Best Stay
Don't just book the cheapest room on a third-party site. If you do that, you’ll probably end up in a standard room on a floor with a theme you didn't pick.
- Pick your floor: If you have a preference (like the "Sci-Fi" floor vs the "One Hit Wonders" floor), call the hotel directly after booking. They can't always guarantee it, but they’re usually pretty cool about trying to accommodate.
- Check for the "Cookie": It’s a DoubleTree staple. If they don’t give you the warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in, ask for it. It’s the law. (Okay, it’s not the law, but it’s the best part of the brand).
- Use the "Playground": The lobby has board games like Candy Land and Monopoly. It sounds cheesy, but after a long day of meetings or hiking in the Rockies, sitting in the lobby with a drink and a game is actually a great way to wind down.
The Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is a vibe. It’s not for everyone. If you’re a serious business traveler who wants absolute silence and zero "whimsy," you might prefer the Hyatt Regency or the Four Seasons down the street. But if you want a story to tell when you get home—like how you slept in a room inspired by Ghostbusters—this is the place.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the DCPA Schedule: Before you book, see what's playing at the Denver Performing Arts Complex across the street. If a major Broadway tour is in town, the hotel will be packed and the bar will be loud.
- Compare "Park & Play" Rates: If you're driving, always compare the package price against the "Room Only + $45 Parking" math.
- Join Hilton Honors: Even if you don't stay at Hiltons often, the digital key feature at the Curtis is actually reliable and lets you skip the front desk line.