Denver Neighborhoods.
Which one is in your dreams?
Denver’s downtown offers everything most city-dwellers are looking for: high rise apartments, great public transportation (no car needed to get to work!), and lots to do within walking distance. Union Station, a transportation hub opened in the 1800s continues to operate as a train and bus station, but also houses restaurants, shops, and bars, too. Take in a Rockies game at Coors Field, located in the heart of LoDo, and, of course, drink some beers at Wynkoop Brewery, Colorado’s first brewpub. Or give Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery a try. Or perhaps Great Divide Brewery. You get the point; this is a city of breweries and LoDo/Downtown has a high concentration of them. Larimer Square is a great place to spend a day–the indie shops and restaurants are a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Cap Hill, as it’s known to locals, is a long-time favorite for first-timers Coloradans and locals alike. It’s Colorado’s most densely populated neighborhood, so there are plenty of people around and a lot of bars and restaurants to enjoy. It has an eclectic mix of people to keep the days and nights interesting.
Cap Hill stretches north to south from around East Colfax (15th) to 6th Avenue, and west to east from the Capitol Building to Cheeseman Park.
The Highlands is a sweet spot to live. The neighborhood has a more residential/suburb feel to it, but still includes vibrant sections of nightlife and dining spread throughout. Some of the most popular clusters of bars are Highland Square at 32nd Avenue, and Tennyson Street starting at 38th going north to 46th Ave. The region is named so because it’s raised up on a hillside overlooking the city.
The Highlands
Baker is defined by its hub of Broadway street, which runs one-way south from downtown. The neighborhood begins to the north at 6th Avenue (not quite reaching downtown), bordering Lincoln Ave to the east and I-25 to the west.
Several blocks of North Broadway exist in Baker before transitioning into South Broadway. Both of which are lined with a colorful set of shops and restaurants.
Baker
Follow its namesake Cherry Creek southeast from Downtown on Speer Boulevard and you’ll quickly reach the ritzy neighborhood of Cherry Creek. This upscale place to live and visit shares a lot in common with Cap Hill with its living advantages, as it more or less borders it in the southeast corner. There are a mix of apartments and homes to rent, with some of the city’s most luxurious residences tucked away on its streets.
Cherry Creek
Sloans Lake is a nice choice for anyone looking to get just out of the city, showcasing Denver’s biggest lake as its centerpiece. Its northern edge blends with the Highlands around 26th Ave, and borders Sheridan Boulevard to the west. The eastern end is I-25 and southern tip is West Colfax.
You can’t quite walk to downtown from this neighborhood like you could Uptown or Cap hill, which is reflected in its sleepy, suburban nature. It’s even quieter and more residential than the Highlands. There are a few cool places to eat and drink in the area, but most people head up to Highland Square at 32nd Ave for nearby entertainment, or over to Edgewater to soak up the lakeside city views.
Sloans Lake
Five Points is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood bordering Lower Downtown on its west side around North Broadway/Park Avenue. Throughout much of the 20th century, it was the center of Denver’s cool jazz scene. Each year, they honor this heritage at the Five Points Jazz Fest. We are including the neighborhoods of RiNo, Ballpark, and Curtis Park with Five Points because that is where they historically resided. RiNo is a case of gentrification and a pretty new name being placed on an old neighborhood, which had a reputation as rough. RiNo stands for River North Art District.
Five Points
Wash Park, as it’s known for short, is one of Denver’s longtime best places to live. It runs north to south from around Speer Boulevard to I-25. We’ll call Lincoln Avenue its western border and Colorado Boulevard its eastern edge. The houses in this old neighborhood are some of the most expensive in the city. If you want sunny suburb life in the heart of the city, this is it.
The highlight of the neighborhood is its namesake, Washington Park. With its lush grass, multiple lakes and surrounding track, it’s easily the best, if not one of the best, city parks in Denver. Its expansive lawn sprawls on and on, littered with nature-loving locals all year, enjoying the outdoor life Denver is so well known for.
Washington Park
The Golden Triangle neighborhood is in-between Lincoln Park and Capitol Hill. It bumps up against Civic Center Park at Colfax Ave by the Central Business District on its north end. Speer Boulevard represents one of its boundaries leading to its triangular point, at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lincoln.
The Denver Art Museum, Library and various government buildings define the urban community. There are many new tall apartments being built in the Golden Triangle. The hub of restaurants and highlights can be found on Broadway. Follow Broadway after 6th Avenue and you’ll end up in the aforementioned Baker neighborhood.
Golden Triangle
Lincoln Park boasts some of the most efficient living in the Mile High City, with fast proximity to Highway 6, I-25 and Downtown Denver. It’s most often called the Santa Fe Art District. Although this ‘hood is far from lively and nearly a ghost town every night of the month except one, that’s part of its charm. But for that First Friday of each month, Santa Fe Avenue from 6th to 13th awakens with free art, crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment. It’s one of the best free things to do in the city.
Lincoln Park
Bordering City Park to the east, this vast residential community spreads north to south from I-70 to East Colfax. Park Hill’s Eastern residences lead into Central Park, which is another solid choice if you can’t find a home here. There are numerous little blocks with hidden restaurants and bars. The hub of the neighborhood is East Colfax.
Park Hill
Formerly Stapleton, Central Park is probably best known for its hub, The Shops at Northfield. This outdoor mall features movie theatre, apartments, dining, nightlife, etc., all rolled into a modern shopping area. Central Park lies on the south side of I-70, while Northfield is north of that. This neighborhood puts you within easy distance of Denver and its attractions.
