Review: The Acoma House

Why book? Every artist-designed room is totally unique in this converted historic building, which sits within strolling distance of some of the Mountain West’s greatest cultural institutions.

Set the scene: The first thing you notice about this artsy hotel is its purple-painted brick facade, which sits somewhere between a grape popsicle and Grimace. Younger visitors can often be seen perfecting their Instagram shots in front of the colorful bricks or the murals that line the left side of the building. This area is not wanting for hotel rooms, but many in the immediate vicinity tend to be uninspired chains; visitors who choose the Acoma House tend to be in-the-know art lovers who would sacrifice a few amenities (a front desk, an elevator) for a splash of offbeat quirkiness.

The backstory: Owners Christina and Mike Eisenstein, who had spent years renovating Denver area rental properties, wanted to open a hotel of their own, and they bought this former boarding house, which was majorly dilapidated and in need of some love. (The basement, they’ve said, is haunted—but the ghost is friendly.) They chose this spot because of its location on a tree-lined street and proximity to the Denver Art Museum and then connected with muralists and other creatives to brighten up the space with custom artworks before opening last year.

The rooms: The Acoma House feels a bit like entering an eccentric family’s mansion, in which each of the creative kids has been tasked with decorating their own bedrooms. Thirty artists—both Colorado locals and others from farther afield—have each taken over the 24 guest rooms, which they’ve done up in their own unique styles. Artist Robyn Frances (aka Grow Love) painted their room (suite 103) with oversized Colorado wildflowers, while Patrick Maxcy filled his (104) with bold, cartoonish sea creatures, including a nautilus drinking a cappuccino, and Lakota artist Danielle SeeWalker (211) pairs her Native-inspired murals with funky tilework. Beyond the art, amenities and furnishings differ to suit the vibe: One room might have mid-century-inspired seating or colorful velvet couches, others might offer fully stocked kitchens, simpler kitchenettes, or clawfoot tubs. It’s worth spending time on the website studying which amenities best fit your personal travel needs.

Food and drink: The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant or bar onsite, but some of the rooms are equipped with full kitchens or kitchenettes.

The neighborhood/area: The surrounding Golden Triangle Creative District is home to the city’s highest concentration of cultural institutions. If you plan to museum-hop, there are few better options than the Acoma: From the front door, you’re a five-minute walk to the Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum, the Kirkland Institute of Fine & Decorative Art, the Center for Colorado Women’s History, and the History Colorado Center.

The service: The hotel’s service is effectively invisible—check-in/check-out is contactless—so the vibe can feel more like a vacation rental within a boutique hotel setting.

For families: Because of the historic building’s layout, each room can only fit one bed, which makes it less than ideal for traveling with a family—but you can request floor futons or portable cribs if you’re traveling with a little one.

Accessibility: Note that the building doesn’t have an elevator, so if you’re unable to climb stairs, be sure to request rooms 101 to 112.