Plush desert-inspired rooms and the area's first hotel spa will greet guests who stay at downtown Phoenix's newest adults-only hotel.
Denu Hotel & Spa, scheduled to open Sept. 16, is described as an upscale
urban hotel focused on renewal and well-being. That aim is reflected across its amenities, which include a Turkish hammam-inspired spa, a fitness center that includes a yoga studio and a relaxation-focused rooftop pool.
Denu Hotel, first known as The Edith, features a desert-inspired aesthetic with "wellness-rooted" experiences. The new hotel aims to attract both leisure and business travelers with a slate of amenities that includes the spa, four restaurants and 22,500 square feet of meeting and event space.
Here's what we saw during a sneak preview of the hotel.
Entrance and surrounding area will refresh downtown corridor
Part of Adams Street at Central Avenue is covered and fenced off for construction. When the fence goes down, guests will see a front entrance with architecture that draws inspiration from Arizona's Sonoran Desert landscape, said Deliah Rose, Denu Hotel's director of brand marketing.
"The arrival is intended to immediately introduce guests to the warm, contemporary and naturally inspired design they’ll experience throughout the hotel," she said. "It creates a welcoming sense of place while also establishing Denu as a distinctive new presence in the heart of downtown Phoenix."
Trees will line the walkways leading to the hotel as part of a refresh of Adams Street, which Rose said "would complement our neighbor next door," the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown.
They also will see the outdoor patio for the flagship restaurant Sartén Kitchen and a walk-up window for coffee and pastries from Blend Café.
What's in the rooms at the Denu?
Denu Hotel has a mix of one-king and two-queen rooms. Similar hotels typically offer two double or full beds, but Denu offers two queen beds to offer rooms that can be shareable without sacrificing space, Rose said, adding that they are ideal for occasions such as girls' weekends.
Standard rooms are about 330 square feet and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, lounge seating, Serta pillow-top hypoallergenic mattresses, 55-inch Samsung Smart TVs, Nespresso machines and mini refrigerators. Bed frames have built-in charging ports for guests to connect their electronic devices.
Corner suites are about 650 square feet with skyline views and separate living areas, while the penthouse suite is about 970 square feet with a separate living area and city views. The difference between a skyline view and a city view is based on how much of the sky is visible within the line of sight and how much of the view involves other buildings, Rose said.
Each standard room's bathroom has a rain shower, while suites have larger, spacious bathrooms equipped with a large bathtub as well as a rain shower.
Step inside a holistic hammam-inspired spa
Upon its opening, Denu Hotel's Solstone Holistic Spa will become the first and only full-service hotel spa in downtown Phoenix, Rose said.
While a surprising first in a state home to spa magnets such as Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Sedona, the addition reflects growing nationwide demand for wellness travel experiences. Arizona is regarded as a pioneer in this sector for destinations like the historic Castle Hot Springs.
Solstone's hammam treatments are inspired by ancient Turkish purification traditions and use a warming, steam-based environment for detoxification and preparing the body for massages and other body therapies, Rose said.
The Traditional Hammam Journey includes a foot-cleansing ceremony, traditional black soap body cleanse, mineral-rich salt exfoliation, a restorative bath and an argan oil massage. The spa also offers other treatments that use full-body exfoliation, foam massage, body brushing and hydrating wraps, so the hammam experience can vary based on the guest's treatment preferences.
Guests and non-guests can book spa treatments and wellness experiences. Solstone will also offer memberships for guests "who want to make Solstone part of their regular wellness routine," Rose said.
Reservations for the spa will open Sept. 1. Guests can make reservations and view the spa's full menu on the hotel's website.
What's on the menu at the restaurants at Denu Hotel?
Denu Hotel will feature four food and beverage options on-site: Sartén Kitchen, Lobby Bar, Nidos Rooftop Bar and Blend Café.
Sartén Kitchen, the hotel's flagship restaurant, will feature an all-day menu focused on contemporary cuisine with seasonal ingredients and balanced flavors.
Specialties on the menu include a fire-seared double Wagyu burger topped with roasted poblano peppers, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions and ancho aioli and a Sonoran short rib with an ancho-red wine reduction served with roasted poblano whipped potatoes. House cocktails include Sartén No. 1 The Reserve, which includes Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon and four-year rye with piloncillo syrup, mole bitters and burnt orange.
Lobby Bar, located adjacent to Sartén, will serve tableside martinis, barrel-aged spirits, infused cocktails and upscale bar food.
Nidos Rooftop Bar will serve a menu of Latin-Mediterranean fusion dishes with regional ingredients, paired with artisan cocktails. Menu items include ceviche, lamb birria quesadilla, nachos and Wagyu sliders, with cocktails including Nidos Nest (mezcal, prickly pear, lime and agave) and the 17th Floor Margarita (Blanco tequila, macerated strawberries, dry curaçao, lime and agave).
Blend Café will serve espresso, specialty teas, artisanal pastries and "wellness-minded" grab-and-go selections. The café will include a walk-up window for quick service.
How much does it cost to stay at Denu Hotel in Phoenix?
Room rates at Denu Hotel start at $349 per night.
The rate includes a $39 per night resort fee, which gets guests a complimentary welcome bottle of wine or an alcohol-free substitution upon request, two bottles of water in the room upon arrival, unlimited high-speed internet and local calls, an in-room Nespresso machine with coffee and tea, and access to the fitness center, yoga studio and rooftop pool.
An adults-only, relaxation-focused oasis
Common area amenities at Denu Hotel, from its rooftop pool to its spa and fitness center, aim to inspire guests to relax and recharge in the calm, desert-inspired surroundings.
Touches designed to inspire such moments of zen include murals in common areas, such as one resembling the red rock buttes of Sedona and another with a desert landscape focused on the soft texture of the sand (Rose said the latter mural wasn't designed to look like a specific location).
The adults-only Denu Hotel is "not really a kid-forward hotel" because of its relaxation focus.
But while guests are encouraged to leave their babies with the babysitter, fur babies are welcome — the hotel is pet-friendly.
Details: 1 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 888-211-2282, denuhotel.com.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Swanky spa hotel opening in downtown Phoenix. Here's an exclusive peek
