Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver

After several memorable stays at the Thompson Denver and one particularly enjoyable experience at the Kimpton Claret, I found myself craving something entirely different for my next visit to the city. The familiar luxury of those hotels had been wonderful, but I was ready for a change of scenery and atmosphere. So, I made the decision to revisit a hotel that held nostalgic significance for me: the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver in downtown Denver. It was a hotel I hadn’t set foot in since my college days years ago.

Check in

The check-in process was efficiently handled.  From the moment I approached the front desk, the staff demonstrated exceptional friendliness that felt genuine rather than scripted.

I found myself genuinely enjoying every interaction I had with the staff throughout the property. The lobby itself had clearly undergone a thoughtful refresh since my last visit, creating a lovely and inviting atmosphere that perfectly balanced contemporary elegance with the hotel’s distinctive character and charm.

Room and Stay

The room was perfectly adequate and pretty, with updated details and refreshed touches that clearly showed thoughtful attention to modernization. However, despite these visual improvements, there was an unmistakable energetic quality that revealed the building’s age. I felt it in the space itself.

This created a distinctly different atmosphere compared to my recent experiences at the Kimpton Claret, also located within Denver, which felt notably cleaner and fresher simply by virtue of being a newer property. While I could appreciate the difference, it didn’t diminish the experience, as there was something genuinely special about returning to a place that held such personal significance.

I enjoyed the nightly wine hour and aperitif hour.

The front desk also gave me a slew of recommendations for a lovely night out:

• Retrograde Denver (https://retrogradednvr.com/) – Speakeasy stye bar located behind Sweet Action Ice Cream.
• Ghost Saloon (https://www.ghostdenver.co/) – Underground speakeasy
• Front Porch Denver (https://frontporchdenver.com/) – On Wednesdays – order a drink; Flip a coin; Guess correctly and drink for free.
• Disco Pig (https://www.discopigdenver.com/) – Denver’s top tier disco bar

Plus, morning coffee was lovely. I greatly enjoyed grabbing a cold brew before I headed out on my adventures.

Parking

Parking is at the Renaissance Hotel parking lot next door, which is run by Metropolis. Meaning, you drive in, it records your license plate and you pay via the app. It’s easier that paying $60+ a night to valet park, which is what annoyed TF out of me with Thompson Denver.

Overall, I think I paid $60 TOTAL for two nights.

Overall

Overall, I appreciate my experience at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver. I do enjoy the overall looks and feel of the hotel However, while in my room, I could hear people’s conversations, kid’s screaming and my view – while of the street – also faced a rather empty office building. Also, the design of the room just felt – the feng shui was off. Again, the building was looked fine. But, the wifi was trash on the 6th floor and the building’s energy was profound.

The next time I might just get an Airbnb or stay at Le Méridien Denver Downtown. Or, I might go back to the Thompson Denver, after a very awesome conversation with a former staff member there told me exactly where to park for a cheaper price.

 

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