Hotel Jerome Rating: 4.5 Pearls

Downtown, Aspen, Colorado

Book now by phone with Hotels.com – Call 1-800-246-8357

Hotel Jerome is a historic brick icon, and it has done a great job of keeping its historic aspects and original decor alive and updated. Much of the furniture throughout the Jerome, especially the lobby, dates back to when the hotel first opened in 1889, and select pieces have undergone restoration, (others are set for renovation in late 2012). The floor in the entryway and lobby is original, as is the glass atrium (the original rose-tinted glass, however, has been replaced).

The overall decor in the Jerome is Victorian, with polished-wood details, half-carpeted staircases, colorful velvet chairs, and contrasting damask and floral print upholstery. The lobby is such a comfortable and inviting space with its glass ceiling atrium and abundance of generous seating that many guests opt not only to make it their daily meet-up spot, but also their home office -- even during off season guests hang around the lobby, drinking coffee, conducting business calls, and working on laptops.

Jerome is being renovated throughout 2012, but the hotel will keep its historic feel. All the guest rooms will see major decor changes, including bathroom and technology updates, with the lobby and dining areas also in on the facelift. Guests will also be able to enjoy the on-site spa set to open after the renovation, with three treatment rooms available. The hotel will be closed from August to December of 2012.

View on a Larger Map

Guests can walk to almost anywhere in Aspen from the hotel -- the ski lift, The Belly Up live music venue, and numerous restaurants and bars. The Maroon Bells Scenic Wilderness Area -- the most frequently photographed scene in Colorado -- is a 25-minute drive away.

• 10-minute drive to Aspen Airport
• 4-hour drive to Denver International Airport
• 2-minute walk to the closest microbrewery, Aspen Brewing Company
• 8-minute walk to City Market Grocery
• 9-minute walk to the closest ski lift in downtown Aspen
• 3-minute drive to The Aspen Club & Spa
• 18-minute drive to Snowmass Village
• 25-minute drive to Maroon Bells Scenic Wilderness Area

All of the 94 guest rooms, be it a standard Deluxe Room or a one-bedroom Suite, are more than 500 square feet, making them some of the largest in Aspen. No two rooms at Hotel Jerome are alike -- whether in architecture, layout, or style -- and one of the most noticeable features is the Victorian-style wallpaper in varying colors and prints (guests may find some nicer than others). Besides that, all rooms include flat-screen TVs, overstuffed sitting chairs, 300-thread count linens, and down comforters.

Bathrooms don't stray away from the historic Victorian theme, and are also lined in wallpaper. While the floors are standard black-and-white tile seen in many historic bathrooms, the countertops and deep soaking tubs are white and gray marble. Also featured: spacious walk-in showers, and shiny silver fixtures. A door separates the toilet and shower from the tub and sinks for added privacy.

Though the hotel plans to update all the rooms by the end of 2012, the rooms will maintain their historic elegance.

• Flat-screen TVs with DVD player
• Double vanities
• Plush bathrobes, hair dryers, and scales in bathrooms
• Twice-daily maid service and nightly turn-down service
• Wi-Fi in rooms covered by daily resort fee
• Pet-friendly, with a one-time fee, includes comfy dog beds and specialty food bowls
• Dated tape deck/CD player combos in some rooms (no iPod docks). iPod docs, along iPhone/iPad chargers, are coming to all the guest rooms in the 2012 renovation.

Perhaps the most impressive aspects of Hotel Jerome, especially in summer, are the outdoor courtyard area with plenty of seating, beautifully landscaped common area, and the dark-blue tiled outdoor pool and flanking Jacuzzis.

Offering the only above-ground ballroom in Aspen, the Jerome is a destination for weddings and business meetings alike. There's a small fitness center on-site, but use of The Aspen Club & Spa is a guest perk (for a daily fee) for those who need more from their workouts, or a spa treatment. On-site spa will open after 2012 renovations.

• 24-hour room service
• On-mountain ski lockers
• Small fitness center has basic, no-frills equipment
• Daily resort fee covers valet parking and Wi-Fi
• View Full List of Amenities

There aren't many hotels in Colorado that boast a pre-Prohibition-era bar with signature cocktails to match. The now-famous Aspen Crud is a drink that originated during Prohibition to look innocent enough -- a vanilla milkshake with a twist (three ounces of Bourbon), found only at the J-Bar. This famous Aspen institution also offers light dining options, like sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers.

The Garden Terrace serves farm-fresh, locally sourced French cuisine with a Colorado twist. Breakfast is served year-round, and lunch and dinner are served seasonally.

The Library and Cafe Jerome are one and the same, in that they occupy the same space. A breakfast joint by morning -- offering fresh pastries, specialty espresso drinks, and a comfortable space to enjoy the morning paper -- the venue converts into a cocktail lounge by night with signature pre-Prohibition style cocktails.