Downtown Denver is the pivot around which the rest of the city rotates. It is the tenth largest downtown area in the nation, providing such a variety of activities, shopping and entertainment that it is seldom necessary to leave the metro area. And the view? One-and-twenty visible miles of the Rocky Mountains bolster the city's reputation as one of the most beautiful in the country.
The buzzing metropolis offers an array of restaurants (over 100), clubs, shops, art galleries, boutiques, and lofts. It is skirted by the Denver Art Museum, the Colorado History Museum, Six Flags Elitch Gardens, the State Capitol building and the Denver Performing Arts Complex. If Downtown is the pivot point, the 16th Street Mall is the anchor. Designed by I.M. Pei, the architect responsible for the Pyramide du Louvre in Paris and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the Mall has much to boast about.
The 16-block-long promenade is flanked by outdoor cafes, fine-dining restaurants, small eateries, locally-owned retail shops and nationwide clothing stores. Of Downtown's 5,300 hotels, most are located within two blocks of the Mall. While there, go to a movie at the Denver Pavilions or shop at the Tabor Center, which stretches along the Mall for two blocks. Tired? Take the free shuttle that busses passengers from Civic Center Plaza down the 16th Street Mall to LoDo every 90 seconds.
Downtown boasts two distinct regions: the contemporary, window-paneled skyscrapers to the east, and the city's beloved historic district, Lower Downtown (LoDo), to the west. Nestled between Coors Field and the Pepsi Center, LoDo is Denver's prime destination for after-parties following Avalanche, Nuggets or Rockies games, or for just hanging out any night of the week. There is always an opportunity to have fun—and usually stay out too late—at one of the area's 90 bars and pubs.
Near LoDo is one of Downtown Denver's best-kept secrets: the hot dog stand at 16th & Arapahoe. Mall walkers can find unique "hot dogs" per se, including various unusual meats such as elk, venison & buffalo.
LoDo's red-brick buildings, many of which were constructed after an 1863 fire, are preserved in the historic state that characterizes the neighborhood. In the 1920s, LoDo was known for the Market Street red light district, and in the 1970s as a warehouse center. Now, LoDo is reputed as the ideal hub for urban living in the region.
