The Best Neighborhoods to Visit in Denver

We're immersing you in the subcultures of the Mile High City, from its historical "Harlem of the West" to the best nightlife in town to where to shop your heart out. There's a lot of information out there, so we've pulled together everything you need to know about Denver's best neighborhoods from the travel mavens we all know and trust. Just remember to stay hydrated, that altitude is no joke!

A mural that reads "Love this City DENVER" in black and yellow paint is painted on top of a turquoise, blue, pink, and purple geometric background. Taken in Denver, Colorado.

RiNo

RiNo is a hipster area with a local art, food, shopping, and nightlife scene.

"Upbeat and always buzzing, the River North Art District, or RiNo, is the city’s trendiest neighborhood...Night owls will love RiNo’s energetic spirit...RiNo’s concentration of funky restaurants, craft breweries and street art means there’s something for everyone." -

Washington Post

"RiNo is an arts district, which means checking out said art should be high on your list...Mission Ballroom is not only one of the best music venues in the city but also is rolling out more frequent outdoor concerts and music fests...Coors Field is also nearby: Look for day-of-the-game Rockpile tickets (read: cheap) during baseball season." -

Thrillist

"...rewind the clock to the early 20th century, when the area was the city’s hub of African American culture—the “Harlem of the West.” A self-guided walking tour stretches five blocks along...former jazz halls and the only drugstore soda fountain that allowed Black and White patrons to integrate before the advent of the Civil Rights Movement." -

Bloomberg

Central Business District

This area is home to many businesses, and close to other hip neighborhoods.

"This is a neighborhood that's mostly business, though it's also home to the 16th Street Mall, an outdoor promenade lined with shops, restaurants, and art. You'll also find the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, and a sculpture known as the Big Blue Bear here." -

Travel + Leisure

Highlands

Highlands is an upscale area, great for foodies.

"Highlands is a laid-back Denver neighborhood with a great selection of restaurants and bars. The neighborhood sits on a hillside overlooking the city and is sometimes called North Denver." -

Travel + Leisure

"LoHi (aka Lower Highlands) is a historic neighborhood once entirely made up of immigrants, first from Europe and later from the Americas. Today, it’s an affluent neighborhood of renovated Victorians and sleek condominiums known as a hotspot for foodies. For the newest, often best, restaurant in town, this is typically the place." -

Lonely Planet

LoDo

The hip LoDo is one of Denver's primary gayborhoods and home to city landmarks, nightlife, and businesses.

"Lower Downtown, or LoDo, was Denver’s first settlement in the 19th century and is the city’s oldest neighborhood. Historic Larimer Square and Beaux-Arts-style Union Station are this area’s main attractions, but a fun array of watering holes and spots like Coors Field...and Elitch Gardens...make LoDo a convenient home base from which to explore the city." -

Washington Post

"LoDo is where downtown Denver parties. This part of the city is known for its nightlife, though it's also home to offices and apartment buildings. LoDo is where you'll find Union Station and Larimer Square — the block where the modern-day city of Denver got its start." -

Travel + Leisure

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a hip residential gayborhood home to great nightlife and food.

"This is Colorado's most densely populated neighborhood, and it includes the Colorado State Capitol building. Capitol Hill is home to the Molly Brown House Museum and situated just west of the Denver Botanic Gardens. It's an area that's brimming with bars, restaurants, and interesting locals." -

Travel + Leisure

"Capitol Hill is a buzzing urban neighborhood known for its edgy and live-and-let-live vibe. Named after the nearby gold-domed Colorado State Capitol, it’s dotted with 19th-century mansions and modern apartment buildings, boho cafes and dive bars." -

Lonely Planet

An image taken from the rooftop of the rooftop pool and lounge area at The Jacquard, Autograph Collection hotel in Cherry Creek, Denver.

Wash Park/Cherry Creek

The Washington Park and neighboring Cherry Creek areas are hip, upscale and residential, home to great shopping and local community.

"Southeast of Downtown sits the posh shopping district of Cherry Creek and suburban paradise Washington Park...You'll find everything from picturesque parks to mom-and-pop ice cream shops to locally loved haunts and all the day-to-day resources (like grocery stores, shopping malls, and fitness studios) you could need." -

Thrillist

"...one of Denver’s fanciest enclaves: Cherry Creek, known for its tree-lined streets and luxury shopping...cycle along Cherry Creek Trail, past locals picnicking under spruce trees and the occasional horseback rider trotting by. Denver has 300 days of sunshine a year, so you’re almost guaranteed a beautiful 15-minute ride on your way to Four Mile Historic Park..." -

Conde Nast Traveler

Baker/Golden Triangle

The bustling Baker and Golden Triangle areas in Downtown Denver are home to city landmarks and great food.

"These two neighborhoods span from Civic Center Park right in the middle of Downtown to Mississippi Avenue in the south, but they are joined by one of Denver’s busiest (and most fun) thoroughfares: Broadway. A stay here means you’ll get to experience an eclectic slice of the city that’s got both cultural destinations and a punk edge." -

Thrillist

"Golden Triangle is a compact neighborhood bursting with museums and a popular place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Denver Art Museum is the megastar with a massive collection ranging from Old Master painters to the greats of modern contemporary art. If you need a break, there’s a café and upscale restaurant." -

Lonely Planet