Today’s Life in Denver series takes us to 16th Street Mall in historic Downtown Denver neighborhood.  On nearly any given day and season, you’ll see hundreds of people moving through this promenade.

Why?

It’s the arterial link through Downtown. Plus, it’s got plenty of reasons to draw interest on its own. 

1. It’s the way through when you don’t want to drive!  From Union Station to Broadway, free shuttles stop on every block, every few minutes. These are the most convenient way to travel that offer the least amount of effort. However, it’s also extremely walkable. And there are lots of rental scooters (Lyft, Bird, Lime, etc) on nearly every block if you’re up for a faster-but-more-video-game-like gauntlet. Parking can be a bit of a hassle and kinda pricey, but the Pavilions is a great, central place to start. And if you make time for a movie, they’ll cover up to four hours of parking!

2. You’ll find all of the usual shopping suspects here: Denver Pavilions offers the typical theater/shops/dining, with several retail chains like UNIQLO, Banana Republic and H&M. But you’ll also get local places like Simply Colorado, Long Tail Sally and I Heart Denver. 

3. With nearly 120 cafes and restaurants, there is, truly, something for everyone to eat morning, lunch, dinner, and late night. In addition to core draws, such as the Rialto Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe, Mellow Mushroom and Maggiano’s, there are lots of local spots to dig. Our favorite is Otra Vez Cantina. Looking for a sports restaurant/bar? Walk just about any block and keep your eyes peeled to windows, you’re bound to see TVs showing whatever games mean the most to you, surrounded by fans having a great time. 

4. With lots of boutique and international hotels within a block of the Mall, there are lots of options for staying close.

Need your urban fix? Come to Denver’s famous 16th Street Mall to experience everything you expect of a major downtown urban neighborhood with the singularly historic feel of the Old West. 

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