The Curtis Denver review: A ‘Hyper Themed’ Hilton DoubleTree

In a city full of sleek, upscale points hotels, one Hilton Honors property is doing something a little differently.

The Curtis Denver — a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel doesn’t take itself too seriously — except when it comes to its “Stay Happy” motto and the signature themes on each of its 13 guest floors. This unique property recently got a multimillion-dollar refresh with brand-new themes and a full makeover of every floor, guest room and suite, as well as the meeting and event spaces.

I got an exclusive first look at the refreshed Curtis Denver during a recent two-night stay. Here’s what I experienced during a weekend at what I think is the most fun DoubleTree in the world.

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First impressions

When you walk through the front door, you instantly get the sense that this isn’t your typical DoubleTree. There are bright lights and colors, there’s AstroTurf on the walls, you’ll spot retro neon signs, and there is even an old-school camper van replica built around the front door.

Entering the lobby, I felt like I had arrived at a grown-up version of summer camp (complete with DoubleTree’s signature chocolate chip cookies).

The themes

Let’s start with the hotel’s claim to fame: its signature themed floors and rooms.

The Curtis’ “Stay Happy” mentality extends well beyond the funky lobby. On each floor, the elevator doors open onto a vibrant landing that sets the stage for that floor’s theme. Head down the hall toward the rooms, and you’ll find on-theme decor adorning the walls.

Before the renovation, the themes were more rooted in pop culture, with selections like horror, Britpop, chick flicks and science fiction. The new themes seem to be designed to appeal to a wider audience — including kids. For example, the Fur Babies floor is animal-themed, Camp Curtis is summer camp-themed and On the Blacktop will take you back to grade-school recess. However, some of the floors feel more grown-up, like Level Up (retro arcade games) and Let’s Get Quizzical (game shows).

In standard rooms, guests can expect curated artwork and decor that reflect the floor’s theme.

Each floor also has at least one “Hyper Themed” suite that takes the theme to the next level with more thoughtful touches and interactive features. Examples include the Glam Squad suite on the fashion-themed You Better Werk floor and the Balancing Act suite on the circus-themed What a Circus floor.

According to one staff member I spoke to, the hotel sees a good number of both couples and families — often dictated by which plays are showing at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts across the street.

I mostly saw couples, adult friend groups and families with older children. Everyone seemed to enjoy the hotel’s playful spirit, and I caught several groups riding the elevators up and down to check out the theme of each floor. (How do I know? Because I was doing the same thing.)

Speaking of the elevators, they are just as quirky as the hotel itself. The elevator system was quite slow during my stay, with three separate lifts running on their own individual call buttons. Thankfully, a more modern elevator system is in the works and expected to be complete in the coming months.

The rooms

The Curtis offers 336 rooms and suites, including at least one Hyper Themed suite on each floor. I stayed in the Get a Clue Hyper Themed suite on the superstition-themed 13th floor.

My suite embodied the nostalgia of the cozy mystery genre with 70s jewel tones, retro-patterned carpet, vintage Clue decor, well-loved paperback mysteries, bloody fingerprint artwork and more. And don’t think I missed the old-school popcorn ceilings.

As an Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes fangirl, I was obsessed.

The Hyper Themed rooms also have interactive touches to encourage play and connection. Each has at least one board game, but there are more games available at the front desk for all guests to borrow.

While my Get a Clue suite was perfect for me, Barbie fans would go pink over the Barbie Dreamhouse suite on the imagination-themed Up in the Clouds floor, while local sports fans would love the Denver Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies touches on the Go for Gold floor — just to name a few.

As much as I loved my room, there were a couple of small touches that could have used a little more thought. One was the dim lighting, which certainly added to the cozy ambience but made it difficult to read on the couch, work at the desk or play board games after the sun went down. And although the mini billiards table was a fun addition, there was nowhere to comfortably use it.

Despite a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out, like some design features and kinks with the hot water, I think the Hyper Themed rooms are well worth the added cost. And they’re still reasonably priced for downtown Denver: Rates start at $222 or 94,000 Hilton points per night.

Dining at The Curtis Denver

The Curtis is home to The Corner Office, a restaurant and martini bar attached to the hotel lobby.

The restaurant incorporates The Curtis’ playful spirit through bright colors, retro furniture and a neon “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” sign. Plus, the menus are designed to mimic file folders with cheeky labels like “HR violations” and office-themed offerings like The Intern (a rotating seasonal beer), Buy Ins (apps) and Stacked Portfolios (sandwiches).

Still, The Corner Office feels a little more grown-up than the rest of the hotel, and it seems to draw a big crowd outside of hotel guests. It’s a relaxed place to grab breakfast, lunch or a weeknight drink, but on Friday and Saturday evenings it gets absolutely packed with the theater crowd. Thankfully, it’s easy to order takeout from one of the friendly hosts if you can’t snag a table.

The menu offers modern takes on global comfort foods, with dishes like burrata, gochujang-spiced crispy cauliflower, poke bowls and pimento macaroni and cheese. The selection wasn’t great for my vegan sensibilities, but I sampled a few things, to mixed results. I loved my TCO burger with a black bean patty ($21), the hummus appetizer ($15) and the “office browns” ($6), which aren’t actually hash browns but rather delightful little roasted fingerling potatoes. The avocado toast ($18) and Best Practice martini ($16), on the other hand, were just so-so.

Overall, The Corner Office is a nice option to have if you get the munchies while staying at the hotel, or if you’re heading to a play at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts — just be sure to call ahead.

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Amenities

When it comes to amenities at this property, you’ll find reliable basics, plus a few fun touches designed to boost connection:

• Grab-and-go market in the lobby.
• Business center with two computers and a printer.
• 24/7 fitness center: The dim lighting and tucked-away location near the hotel’s meeting spaces don’t feel particularly inviting, but this could be a boon for guests looking to work out in peace and quiet.
• Pet-friendly: Guests can bring up to two pets for a $25 fee per pet, per night, up to a $100 per-stay maximum.
• Fun activities: The hotel plays movies in the lobby and offers board games for guests to borrow from the front desk.
• Connecting rooms.

There’s no spa, pool or hot tub, but this is reflected in the hotel’s attainable rates.

Location and logistics

The Curtis is in downtown Denver, about two blocks from the main drag of 16th Street and across the street from the bustling lineup of theater shows and other events at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The drive from Denver International Airport (DEN) takes around 45 minutes; an Uber will set you back around $50, depending on the time of day. It costs $45 per night to park your own car in the hotel’s on-site garage.

Alternatively, you could get a $10 RTD airport fare from DEN to Union Station, then take the 16th Street FreeRide to Curtis Street and walk the remaining two blocks.

How to book The Curtis Denver

For standard rooms, rates start at around $140 in the offseason and $200 in the summer; standard room rewards typically cost 45,000 Hilton points per night. Hyper Themed suites, on the other hand, start at $222 or 94,000 points per night. Either way, that comes out to a value below our March 2026 estimate of 0.5 cents per point for Hilton Honors points.

You’re not going to get outsize value from your points here, but the cash rates are pretty affordable. And it’s nice to have a non-cookie-cutter hotel that you can book with points, especially if you end up visiting during peak dates or when a popular play is in town, when cash rates may spike.

Your best bet is to book through Hilton channels to earn points and elite night credits. If you want a specific themed floor or Hyper Themed room, call the reservations department at 303-571-0300.

The Curtis is also bookable through Rove Miles, where you can stack Hilton rewards with Rove earnings.

When booking The Curtis Denver, you’ll want to use a credit card that earns bonus points for Hilton stays and/or offers automatic Hilton Honors elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Silver elite status (with an upgrade to Gold through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year).
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Diamond elite status.

Related: The best cards for Hilton purchases

Accessibility

The Curtis offers Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant guest rooms, including queen, king and two-queen-bed options. The hotel also has rooms with accessibility features like roll-in showers and hearing impairment kits.

As always, TPG recommends contacting the hotel directly to ensure that it can meet your accessibility needs.

Bottom line

With reasonable rates for its central downtown location, The Curtis Denver provides a nice budget option for exploring the Mile High City while ensuring your stay feels anything but cookie-cutter.

The Curtis’ renovated themed floors have something for both children and the young at heart. If one of the themes aligns with your or your family’s interests, a stay in one of the Hyper Themed suites can make for a fun solo retreat or a thoughtful gift for a loved one.

However, if you’re picturing a more luxurious stay with elevated dining concepts and grown-up flair, you may prefer a property like Hilton Honors’ The Art, a Hotel or World of Hyatt’s Thompson Denver.