Disclosure: This is a blog reviewing my stay at The Armstrong Hotel and my experience there. As such, this post contains links to The Armstrong. These links are not affiliate links and are simply for informative purposes. The following review is a fair and honest assessment of my stay and experience. A huge thank you to The Armstrong for hosting! For more sponsored stays, visit this tag.
They Call it “Choice City” for a Reason
When my husband saw that his favorite band was playing in Fort Collins, it was a no-brainer that that meant we were headed to Fort Collins as well. I had been following The Armstrong Hotel on Instagram for some time, fawning over their beautiful decor and modern, yet vintage-inspired design. Plus, I had only visited Fort Collins one time prior (for a corgi costume parade!) so I was really excited to check out what the area had to offer.
I didn’t know why Fort Collins was nicknamed Choice City until we began to pull up onto College Avenue where we were greeted by a bustling strip of shops, food, bars and more. It was honestly a surprise and as we explored more of Fort Collins for our brief stay, it was pretty obvious where the nickname comes from– there are so many choices here! The Armstrong sits in the heart of it all, surrounded by fun eateries and breweries to explore. We were especially thrilled because the venue we were headed to that evening was right across the street. So convenient– I didn’t even wear my coat walking over.
A Destination Full of Surprises– The Armstrong Hotel Will Inspire You to Stop and Smell The Roses
When we checked in, I was mesmerized by all the art in their thoughtfully curated lobby. After a super pleasant check-in experience, my eyes wandered the walls adorned with decor and portraits– including a portrait of Napoleon Dynamite which I just could not stop staring at. Haha! I am a big Napoleon fan and it was a nostalgic nod within a gorgeous setting that somehow all married together beautifully. It’s things like this that are sprinkled in throughout the hotel and if you truly stop to take it all in, you’ll be more delighted than you’d ever expect.
After fawning over the lobby, we headed up to our room on the 3rd floor. Another unexpected surprise, the corner rooms at The Armstrong Hotel are set up like suites– giving me a whole room to retreat to if my snoring got too bad for Drew. The living room has a pullout sofa bed and two big windows that allowed light to pour in. A small dining table and lots of interior lighting, I really enjoyed the living space. A sliding door separates the living room from the bedroom, which had a king size bed and dresser with another surprise– a Nespresso machine! And Nespresso pods! What a way to bring home away from home, to be honest.
Not only did our room have everything we needed (including a tub!) but it was all super functional, too. My biggest complaint with most higher-end hotels is that they have beautiful amenities and layouts, but lack any functionality. The Armstrong Hotel delivers on all fronts!
Fort Collins’ Best Kept Secret
If the check-in experience and room wasn’t enough to make you want to visit The Armstrong Hotel, the hidden speakeasy in the basement of the hotel surely will. Ace Gillett’s may not be visible from College Ave, but that’s what makes this restaurant and bar’s intimate, mysterious vibe all the more exclusive. Make your way down the stairs from the lobby of the hotel and you’ll be greeted with a speakeasy style lounge, bar and dining room with live music and incredible drinks: Ace Gillet’s Lounge.
We had great drinks, believe me. But the food is what had us wide-eyed and wondering if we really had to go to the concert of if we should just stay put and eat more. We started off with the lobster fra diavolo which was next-level. I don’t do spicy, but this was seasoned absolutely perfectly with buttery lumps of lobster in a bed of risotto. Drew got the steak + tots, which I expected to be nothing special but was nothing but special. I went for one of their flatbreads which had mushrooms, asparagus and goat cheese on it – I am drooling just thinking about it. The best part is, everything was so inexpensive. We really couldn’t have asked for a better date night!
In the Heart of it All
If you’ve made it this far, it’s pretty easy to see that The Armstrong Hotel makes for a perfect destination and launchpad for a romantic getaway or a magical date night. With so much to love about the hotel and what it has to offer, Drew and I felt this was the perfect way to celebrate 4 years since getting engaged as well as Valentine’s Day. There’s so much to do in the area, from the Curiosities shop to Walrus Ice Cream– you can do as little or as much as you want, just pick your own adventure!
Thank you again to The Armstrong Hotel staff for hosting us. If you’d like to learn more about the hotel or book a stay, head here. If you’d like to discover more amazing stays in Colorado, head here.
