Denver is home to a diverse collection of unique neighborhoods, each with its own intriguing vibe, alluring destinations, and loyal community members. In honor of our lovely city, we have created a neighborhood guide to take you through the streets of Denver. Join us as we visit charming Five Points, historic Capitol Hill, eclectic RiNo, classic Cherry Creek, trendy Highlands and everything in between.
Whether you’re a young professional looking for happy hour, a new family looking for quiet streets and a nearby park, or a retiree looking for delicious food and refined shopping, Denver has it all! Sit back, relax, and let us prove it to you!
Denver Neighborhood Guide
Art District on Santa Fe
Known for its infamous First Friday Art Walks each summer, this culturally-rich stretch of several blocks just southwest of Downtown is home to local breweries, small music venues, progressive shops and ethnic restaurants. Santa Fe is a creative’s dream neighborhood with more than 30 art galleries and studios. Scattered among the local businesses are ornate architecture and vibrant murals. From the Museo de las Americas to the Buckhorn Exchange (Denver’s oldest dining establishment), this area is great for anyone on the hunt for color, history, and culture.
Capitol Hill, Golden Triangle & Cheeseman Park
The best of Denver’s history lies nestled among the pedestrian clad streets of Capitol Hill. Not only is it where the Colorado State Capitol Building is located (with its “Mile High” marker on the 13th step), but it also houses many other government buildings, some of Denver’s oldest homes, the Denver Art Museum, Civic Center Park, and more than 50 galleries, shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, and museums. At the heart of Denver is truly Denver’s beating heart.
Cherry Creek
This affluent, well-groomed neighborhood is home to couture retailers, fine dining, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, and Cherry Creek North – 2 square miles of upscale outdoor shopping and dining. Cherry Creek exemplifies some of Denver’s grandest and most luxurious homes. It also boasts more new high-rise condos, luxury hotels, and salons than any other part of the city. In these few blocks just southeast of Downtown keep walking and keep exploring. You won’t be sorry!
Downtown Denver
This hip and thriving neighborhood is one of the “coolest” in Denver. Downtown Denver grew from the Gold Rush as an influx of people moved west to strike it rich. It’s home to sports stadiums, 16th Street outdoor shopping mall, skyscrapers and corporate towers, Platte River, co-working spaces, collective marketplaces, the newly renovated Denver Union Station, and so much more. In Lower Downtown (LoDo), Victorian buildings have been converted and renovated to house restaurants, galleries, shops, bars, breweries and cafes. Here you will find bustling days and sleepless nights. The whole neighborhood works hard and plays even harder.
East Colfax
Colfax Avenue is the longest commercial street in the country and it is jam packed with entertainment. Colfax began in 1868 as a dirt road and then became a bustling trolley route through The Mile High City in the 1890s. Home to various music venues, both large and small, Colfax takes pride in its vibrant music culture and bar scene. Historic homes dapple the surrounding streets, while City Park borders to the North. This neighborhood’s most recent addition is a brand-new community recreation center complete with a fitness center, lazy river, and outdoor climbing wall.
Five Points
Historically the jazz capital of the west, Five Points has soul. This neighborhood was once the place to see famous musicians such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. They played clubs like the Rossonian and the Rainbow Room. The neighborhood still hums with an exciting bar and music scene. It also hosts Denver’s annual Jazz Festival. The original homes here are typically beautiful Victorians painted bright pastels and converted to multi-unit dwellings. In recent years, as development has spread from Downtown and into RiNo, Five Points has received much of the run off. While this used to be one of Denver’s most affordable neighborhoods, it and surrounding smaller neighborhoods such as Whittier, Cole, and Curtis Park are becoming some of Denver’s most sought-after places to live.
Highlands
Just across I-25 from Downtown and rich with Hispanic heritage, the Highlands (and trendy LoHi) is an extremely popular place to live with incredible views of the city. It sits on higher ground than the rest of Denver and has some of the best views of both the city and the mountains. With four diverse districts, Highland Square, LoHi, Tennyson/Berkley, and Sunnyside, this area has so much to offer the single home buyer or renter, young families, large families, and everything in between. There are many lush parks, local shops, popular bars, and award-winning restaurants. The housing opportunities come in a diverse selection of single-family homes, condos, studios, and apartments.
RiNo (River North)
A living, breathing canvas, RiNo (or River North) is a happening neighborhood with industrial buildings that have been converted into residences, uncommon art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. This thriving neighborhood has been distinctly infiltrated by creative, innovative residents. Incredible art murals adorn the neighborhood’s buildings, sometimes ten stories high. In addition to the immediately popular Denver Central Market, RiNo has many breweries, distilleries, cideries, and artisan coffee shops. If you’re looking for a funky studio, new condo, or an old home to renovate, you can find it here.
South Broadway
Known for its diverse offering of over 100 antique shops, thrift stores, and avant garde storefronts, South Broadway has come a long way since its early days as a shipping corridor. Now lined with funky shops, great restaurants, and quirky bars, this beloved neighborhood still maintains a quaint, vintage vibe and is a popular place to call home.
Uptown Denver
Between Downtown and City Park lies Uptown Denver: a perfect place for families wanting to stay close to the city while still having lots of room to run, play, grow, and explore. This neighborhood centers around Restaurant Row on 17th Street, the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Washington Park
Washington Park (Wash Park) is home to the oldest shopping district in Denver, Historic South Gaylord Street. This is the most family friendly atmosphere you can find in Metro Denver, with a huge park, two lakes, and a community pavilion. Gorgeous homes border the park. Families send their children to esteemed schools and attend neighborhood events. Also, nearby is South Pearl Street with its many offerings for entertainment, shopping, food, and drinks.
Olde Town Arvada
Only a light rail ride away, this popular suburb sits wholly apart from the bustling city streets of Denver. Olde Town Arvada’s downtown area is home to shops and restaurants with a wholesome “main street” feel. Historically, trolley lines ran through this area as the gold rush boomed and people sought a bit of an escape. Arvada is spread out so many homes sit on some sort of acreage. The neighborhood has approximately 90 parks and is a wonderful city within which to raise children.
Lakewood
Just south of Denver, this neighborhood is known for its recently renovated downtown. Belmar Shopping & Dining District outlines a central plaza and extends 22 square city blocks of bars, restaurants, fine dining, events, and summer concerts. Lakewood is closer to the Foothills and closer to outdoor destinations such as Bear Creek Lake Park. Near Denver but far more affordable than it’s immediately surrounding neighborhoods, Lakewood is an incredible option for the house hunter on a tighter budget who wants to be close to Denver.
Golden
Golden was Colorado’s territorial capitol until 1867. This gorgeous town has incredible views as well as a beautiful river with white water rafting, tubing, and fishing in the summer. The small town also has lots of shops, restaurants, and bars. The world-renowned Red Rock Amphitheater is just a short drive away. In addition, there are tons of scenic hiking and biking trails into and out of the Golden, including a trail you can take all the way to the center of Denver.
Littleton
Littleton is a quaint suburb of Denver frozen in time with its charming main street. Quiet streets lined with turn of the century buildings feel like home almost immediately. It was recently rated the No. 2 Best Small City in America by Wallethub.com and one of the Five Best Cities for Families in Colorado by Livability.com. Nestled near the foothills of Colorado’s Front Range, Littleton appeals to residents through its flawless combination of a mountain and city lifestyle.
