The Oxford Hotel
LoDo, Denver
Hotel in Denver, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
The Oxford Hotel is a well-located, atmosphere-forward option in Denver's Lower Downtown; easier to book than The Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, a better fit for business travelers who want character over corporate polish. The 1891 building gives it more personality than most Denver hotel alternatives at a comparable price tier.
About The Oxford Hotel
The Oxford Hotel: Worth Booking in Denver?
The common assumption about The Oxford Hotel is that it's primarily a heritage curiosity; a place you visit for its 1891 architecture and leave feeling like you've traded convenience for charm. That's not quite right. The Oxford functions as a genuinely capable business hotel in Denver's Lower Downtown, close enough to the financial and convention corridors to make it a practical base, with the kind of atmosphere that makes a client dinner or end-of-trip drink feel less transactional than it would at a generic chain property.
The ambient feel here runs quieter and more composed than you'd expect from a hotel sitting on 17th Street. The energy in the public spaces reads as settled rather than hushed; old-school lobby hotel confidence, not boutique-hotel performance. For a business traveler who needs to decompress after meetings without relocating across the city, that tone matters. It's a different register from the high-polish corporate environments you get at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver or Four Seasons Denver, and for many work travelers that's a point in its favor, not a concession.
LoDo location places you within reasonable proximity to Coors Field, Union Station, the 16th Street Mall corridor, useful if your itinerary mixes meetings with client entertainment. The Crawford Hotel at Union Station is the closer option if transit access is your primary need, but The Oxford offers more traditional hotel infrastructure. For pure celebration or special-occasion stays where atmosphere is the deciding factor, The Oxford's historic bones give it more character than most of Denver's newer builds.
Booking is direct, this is not a property that requires weeks of lead time or insider access. For the full picture of what Denver's hotel market offers across price points and styles, see our full Denver hotels guide. If you're pairing your stay with dining, our full Denver restaurants guide covers the neighborhood well. Travelers who prioritize atmosphere and central positioning over brand-hotel service polish will find The Oxford a solid, easy-to-book option in a competitive downtown market.
Quick reference: 1600 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, easy to book, LoDo location, business and special-occasion suitable.
Inside The Oxford Hotel
restaurantUrban FarmerA hotel restaurant on Denver's Wazee Street that earns its place on the Opinionated About Dining Casual North America list for consecutive years, Urban Farmer serves American and Pacific Northwestern cuisine across a full day of service, from early breakfast through dinner. A wine program with 1,225 bottles on inventory and Oregon and California strengths, overseen by Wine Director Hannah Raddant, gives the room a seriousness that most hotel dining rooms do not attempt.
barCruise RoomFew bars in Denver carry the physical weight of history that the Cruise Room does. Occupying the Oxford Hotel's ground floor at 1600 17th Street since Prohibition's repeal in 1933, this Art Deco lounge is among the oldest cocktail bars in the city, where the room itself sets the terms of the visit before a drink arrives.
Planning details
- Location
- 1600 17th St, Denver, CO 80202
- Website
- theoxfordhotel.com
- Phone
- +1 303 628 5400
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Oxford presents itself as a Victorian address that leans on architectural continuity rather than contemporary trendiness. Opened in 1891 and housed in its original Romanesque Revival building, it feels like an American historic inn rooted in LoDo’s brick-warehouse streetscape. Guests encounter a character-driven property that trades on neighbourhood texture — proximity to Union Station, original rail infrastructure and independent restaurants — giving the hotel a quietly charming, old-city personality. The narrative emphasizes history and place: this is a hotel that foregrounds architectural lineage and a sense of continuity in a city that otherwise keeps reinventing itself.
Best For
The Oxford suits travelers who prize historic character and a walkable urban base over the anonymity of convention-center hotels. Its location on the edge of LoDo makes it a convenient pick for visitors who want quick access to Union Station and the district’s independent restaurants and bars. Business travelers who prefer boutique character to glass-and-steel chains, couples seeking a weekend escape centered on neighborhood exploration, and guests drawn to preserved historic fabric find it especially appealing. The hotel’s small, upper-market independent profile also attracts those looking for a more intimate, place-driven stay in Denver.
Stay Tips
Book early and prioritize the Oxford’s location when planning your stay: its proximity to Union Station and LoDo’s restaurant scene is a primary draw. Because the property is an upper-market independent operating in its original 1891 building, inventory is more limited than large convention hotels, so secure reservations ahead of busy weekends and events. If architectural character matters to you, mention an interest in rooms that reflect the building’s historic fabric when you call — the description focuses on Romanesque Revival lineage and neighbourhood continuity, so front-desk staff can point you toward the rooms best suited to that experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Lighter and brighter post-renovation lobby and rooms with fresh white and gray tones accented by vibrant blue and emerald green, blending historic Victorian and Art Deco elements with modern comforts.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
Accessibility
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 80
- Check-in
- 16:00
- Check-out
- 12:00
- Property Style
- Historic Victorian with Modern Updates in the Heart of Lodo
- Design Style
- Art Deco and Victorian Antiques Blended with Lighter Contemporary Tones
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Ritz-Carlton, Denver; Notable alternative
- Clayton Hotel & Members Club; Notable alternative
- Four Seasons Denver; Notable alternative
- The Crawford Hotel; Notable alternative
- Populus; Notable alternative
Hotel context
How The Oxford Hotel Compares in Denver
If maximum service depth is your priority, The Ritz-Carlton, Denver and Four Seasons Denver sit above The Oxford on concierge polish and room-finish quality. Both carry higher price points and suit travelers for whom brand-level consistency is non-negotiable; think international clients or C-suite visits where the hotel itself sends a signal. The Oxford won't match either on those metrics, but it doesn't try to.
For business travelers who want something more interesting than a standard convention-tier property, Clayton Hotel & Members Club is the most direct competitor; newer design, a members-club layer, strong food and beverage programming. Populus is the choice if sustainability credentials and contemporary architecture matter to your brand or client audience. The Oxford offers neither the modern design edge of Populus nor the social programming of Clayton, but its historic identity is consistent and the booking experience is low-friction.
The Crawford Hotel at Union Station is the better call if your meetings are transit-dependent or you want Denver's most characterful public atrium as your lobby. For most business stays where location, atmosphere, straightforward booking are the priorities, The Oxford sits in a practical middle ground; more personality than an AC or Marriott, less overhead than a Four Seasons, available without the advance planning that higher-demand properties require. See our full Denver hotels guide to map the full competitive set.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Oxford Hotel guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Oxford Hotel
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Oxford Hotel | Easy | No published awards |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Denver | Unknown | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Collection2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 AAA 5 Diamond Hotel2025 Forbes 4-Star |
| Clayton Hotel & Members Club | Unknown | 2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key |
| Four Seasons Denver | Unknown | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2025 AAA 5 Diamond Hotel2024 Michelin 1 Key |
| The Crawford Hotel | Unknown | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key |
| Populus | Unknown | 2025 AFAR Best New Hotels2025 Esquire Best New Hotels2025 Architectural Digest Great Design Hotel Award WinnersNational Geographic Hotel Awards 20252025 Michelin 1 Key |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Oxford Hotel family-friendly?
It works for families traveling with older children, particularly those who appreciate the 1891 building and the LoDo neighbourhood's walkability. The intimate scale and historic atmosphere of a property at 1600 17th St isn't designed around kids' programming the way a resort property would be; if traveling with young children who need pools and activity amenities front and centre, Four Seasons Denver is a more practical call.
Do loyalty programs work at The Oxford Hotel?
The Oxford Hotel is an independent property, so major chain loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors don't apply here. Check whether it participates in independent hotel consortia like Preferred Hotels or similar networks before booking, as those can unlock rate benefits. If loyalty point accumulation is a priority for your stay, The Crawford Hotel or The Ritz-Carlton, Denver offer chain-affiliated options.
How is the location of The Oxford Hotel?
The address at 1600 17th St puts you in LoDo, one of Denver's most walkable neighbourhoods, with Union Station, Coors Field, the 16th Street Mall all within easy reach on foot. For conference travellers or anyone commuting by train, the proximity to Union Station is a genuine practical advantage over properties further south like Four Seasons Denver. The trade-off is that LoDo can run loud on weekend nights.
How is the pool and spa at The Oxford Hotel?
The Oxford Hotel houses the Spa at the Oxford, which is the relevant draw here for wellness-focused guests. This is a spa-forward property rather than a pool-centric one; if an outdoor pool or extensive aquatic facilities are a deciding factor, Populus or Four Seasons Denver will serve you better on that front. For guests primarily interested in spa treatments in a historic setting, The Oxford is the stronger choice over most Denver competitors at its tier.
