Highland (Denver) Travel Guide - Free

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Highland
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Highland Denver blends Victorian homes, 32nd Avenue cafés, independent restaurants, mountain views, lively LoHi evenings and easy access to downtown culture.

Historic Character and Setting

Highland occupies the rise immediately northwest of central Denver, where older residential streets climb gently away from the South Platte River and the downtown skyline appears between blocks of mature trees. The name refers to the historic Highlands area rather than one sharply defined administrative district; local usage commonly includes the Victorian streets around Highland Square, the restaurant-led Lower Highland area, or LoHi, and parts of Potter Highlands. The neighbourhood's built character comes from Denver's late nineteenth-century expansion: brick cottages, Italianate houses, Queen Anne details, narrow lots and corner commercial buildings sit alongside newer apartments and carefully adapted warehouses.
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Streets, Food and Everyday Life

West 32nd Avenue is Highland's principal social corridor, linking independent shops, cafés, restaurants and bars around Highland Square. Farther south, LoHi has a more contemporary feel, with destination dining, rooftop venues and converted industrial buildings on streets such as Navajo Street, Tejon Street and West 30th Avenue. The contrast is part of Highland's appeal: a morning walk can move from front gardens and local schools to skyline views, design-led restaurants and lively evening terraces within a few blocks. Historic churches, small parks and residential lanes provide a counterpoint to the commercial strips.

Views and Connections

Highland's elevated position gives selected streets and restaurant terraces views towards downtown and the Front Range, while its proximity to the river corridor creates useful walking and cycling connections. The Millennium Bridge and Union Station are nearby rather than in most of Highland itself, and downtown is accessible on foot, by bicycle or by bus. Visitors should treat the area as a collection of overlapping local districts rather than a single uniform zone: Highland Square, Potter Highlands and LoHi each have their own pace, architecture and evening atmosphere.

Best attractions in Highland

Highland's attractions are found as much in its streetscape as in formal institutions. Highland Square, centred on West 32nd Avenue, provides a natural starting point for browsing cafés, independent businesses and the surrounding blocks of Victorian and early twentieth-century houses. The walk downhill towards LoHi introduces a more contemporary landscape of converted buildings, public art, rooftop terraces and restaurant architecture, with Little Man Ice Cream on 16th Street among the area's recognisable stops. The Highland Bridge offers a striking approach towards downtown and the river corridor, while nearby paths connect with wider walks along the South Platte. Visitors interested in architecture can trace surviving churches, brick commercial buildings, narrow residential lots and ornate house fronts around Potter Highlands, taking care not to treat private homes as attractions. The district's changing skyline views are particularly noticeable from its higher streets and terraces.

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Best landmarks in Highland

Highland's landmarks reveal the transition from independent nineteenth-century town to inner-city Denver neighbourhood. The Highland Bridge is both a practical crossing and a strong visual link between the elevated streets, downtown and the South Platte corridor. Around West 32nd Avenue and Potter Highlands, Victorian and Italianate houses, brick corner buildings and historic churches preserve the scale of the former Town of Highlands, even where individual buildings have been adapted for newer uses. Highland Square is significant less as a single monument than as the neighbourhood's long-standing commercial and social centre. In LoHi, converted industrial structures and newer apartment and restaurant buildings mark the district's recent redevelopment, while the long views from higher streets explain why the area was historically attractive for settlement. The nearby Millennium Bridge is an important city connection, but it lies outside Highland itself.

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Explore Highland on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Highland, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Highland

Highland has one of Denver's most concentrated dining landscapes, although its character changes from north to south. Around Highland Square and West 32nd Avenue, independent restaurants, cafés, bakeries and neighbourhood bars occupy older shopfronts, while LoHi and the streets around West 30th Avenue, Tejon and Navajo offer more destination-focused dining. Established names such as Root Down, Linger, Z Cuisine, Gaetano's and El Five reflect the area's broad range, from contemporary small plates and international influences to long-running Italian-American cooking and rooftop dining. Little Man Ice Cream adds a well-known dessert stop on 16th Street. The setting matters: meals often unfold in restored houses, former commercial buildings or terraces with views towards downtown. Demand can be strong at popular venues, so visitors should check current arrangements rather than relying on walk-in availability, and should remember that restaurant clusters thin out quickly on the quieter residential blocks.

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Best bars in Highland

Highland's nightlife is centred on bars, restaurants and cocktail-led evening venues rather than a large nightclub strip. Around Highland Square, neighbourhood pubs and bars provide a relatively local atmosphere, while LoHi becomes more animated around Tejon Street, Navajo Street and West 30th Avenue, where rooftops, lounges and late dining draw visitors from across Denver. Williams & Graham is associated with the area's craft-cocktail culture, while Avanti Food & Beverage combines communal dining with an evening social setting. Highland Tavern offers a more straightforward bar experience near the northern part of the district. Nightlife density varies from block to block, and residential streets remain quiet; visitors should leave venues considerately and use a well-lit route or arranged transport when returning after dark. Current hours, entry policies and event schedules should be checked directly.

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Best nightclubs in Highland

Highland's nightlife is centred on bars, restaurants and cocktail-led evening venues rather than a large nightclub strip. Around Highland Square, neighbourhood pubs and bars provide a relatively local atmosphere, while LoHi becomes more animated around Tejon Street, Navajo Street and West 30th Avenue, where rooftops, lounges and late dining draw visitors from across Denver. Williams & Graham is associated with the area's craft-cocktail culture, while Avanti Food & Beverage combines communal dining with an evening social setting. Highland Tavern offers a more straightforward bar experience near the northern part of the district. Nightlife density varies from block to block, and residential streets remain quiet; visitors should leave venues considerately and use a well-lit route or arranged transport when returning after dark. Current hours, entry policies and event schedules should be checked directly.

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Best shops in Highland

Shopping in Highland is concentrated rather than extensive, with the strongest local selection along West 32nd Avenue and around Highland Square. Independent clothing and gift shops, salons, cafés, speciality food businesses and small lifestyle retailers occupy a mixture of historic storefronts and newer premises, making the corridor suited to browsing rather than department-store shopping. LoHi adds design-oriented businesses and convenience retail around Tejon, Navajo and West 30th Avenue, while the district's restaurants and dessert shops contribute to its visitor appeal. The experience is shaped by the neighbourhood's walkable commercial pockets: a few blocks of shops give way quickly to residential streets, so Highland should not be approached as a continuous retail district. Stock, ownership and opening arrangements change, and visitors seeking particular goods should check businesses directly before making a dedicated trip.

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Highland essentials

Getting There
Highland is easiest to reach from downtown by bus, bicycle or on foot, with West 32nd Avenue, Federal Boulevard, Speer Boulevard and the Highland Bridge serving as important approaches. The A Line station at 38th and Blake is nearby but outside the neighbourhood, while Union Station is also outside Highland to the southeast and connects with regional rail, airport rail, buses and local transit. Visitors arriving from downtown should check the current RTD network for routes serving West 32nd Avenue, Federal Boulevard and the surrounding streets, as services and stop patterns can change.
Getting Around
Highland is rewarding to explore on foot, but its streets are not uniformly flat: the neighbourhood rises west from the South Platte and some blocks include noticeable slopes. West 32nd Avenue forms the clearest east-west orientation line, while Tejon, Navajo and Federal help connect the northern and southern parts of the area. Cycling is practical on many local streets and along nearby river routes, though traffic, construction and major crossings require care. The Millennium Bridge and Union Station provide useful nearby connections, but they sit outside the neighbourhood's core.
Safety
Use ordinary city precautions while exploring Highland, especially around busy restaurant corridors, transit stops and evening venues. Keep phones and bags secure in crowded places, avoid leaving luggage or valuables visible in cars, and take care when crossing Federal Boulevard or other heavily trafficked roads. After dark, choose well-lit streets and an active route rather than cutting through unfamiliar residential blocks, particularly when walking back from LoHi. Weather can change quickly at Denver's elevation, and winter ice or summer heat may make the sloping pavements more demanding.
Emergency Situations
In the United States, call 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance and state whether you need an ambulance, firefighters or police. Give the dispatcher the nearest street address, business name or clearly marked intersection; Highland's multiple overlapping district names make a precise location especially useful. For non-urgent medical care, consult a current map or an official local health provider rather than assuming that a nearby clinic offers emergency treatment. Visitors should carry identification, note any essential medication information and remember that emergency medical care may involve significant charges without appropriate insurance.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect the distinction between Highland's lively commercial streets and its residential blocks: keep voices low outside late at night, do not block driveways, and avoid photographing private homes or residents without permission. Queue patiently at cafés and food counters, follow venue rules, and ask before photographing people, performers or street-facing artwork. When visiting a church or another community institution, dress and behave appropriately for its purpose rather than treating it solely as a photo stop. Use marked crossings on the wider roads and keep bicycles and scooters clear of narrow pavements.
Local Tips
West 32nd Avenue is the most useful starting point for understanding Highland, while the streets around Tejon, Navajo and West 30th Avenue show the area's newer LoHi identity. For a broader walk, connect Highland Square with the lower streets and continue towards the South Platte, remembering that the riverfront and Union Station are nearby but outside much of the neighbourhood. Look above shopfronts for preserved cornices and residential details, and allow time for the changing views towards downtown and the Front Range. Local businesses often make the best orientation points because the district's boundaries are informal.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[haʊ-di]
GoodbyeSee ya[siː jə]
YesYup[jʌp]
NoNah[nɑː]
Please/You're welcomePlease/You're welcome[pliːz/jʊr ˈwɛlkəm]
Thank youThanks[θæŋks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon/Sorry[pɑːrdn/ˈsɔri]
How are you?Howdy[haʊ-di]
Fine. And you?Doing well. And you?[ˈduɪŋ wɛl. And jʌ]
Do you speak English?Ya speak English?[jə spiːk ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ]
I don't understandI don't get it[aɪ doʊnt ˌʌndərˈstænd]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseI'd like to see the menu, please[aɪd ˈlaɪk tʊ siː ðə ˈmɛnjuː pliːz]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[aɪ doʊnt iːt mit]
Cheers!Cheers![ʧɪrz]
I would like to pay, pleaseI would like to pay, please[aɪ wʊd ˈlaɪk tʊ peɪ pliːz]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![hɛlp]
Go away!Go away![ɡoʊ əˈweɪ]
Call the Police!Call the Police![kɔl ðə pəˈlis]
Call a doctor!Call a doctor![kɔl ə ˈdɑktər]
I'm lostI'm lost[aɪm lɔst]
I'm illI'm ill[aɪm ɪl]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I'd like to buy...[aɪd ˈlaɪk tʊ baɪ]
I'm just lookingI'm just looking[aɪm ˈdʒʌst ˈlʊkɪŋ]
How much is it?How much is it?[haʊ mʌʧ ɪz ɪt]
That's too expensiveThat's too expensive[ðæts tuː ɪkˈspɛnsɪv]
Can you lower the price?Can you lower the price?[kæn jʊ ˈloʊər ðə praɪs]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[wʌt taɪm ɪz ɪt]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[ɪts wʌn əˈklɑːk]
Half past (10)Half past (10)[hæf pæst (10)]
MorningMorning[ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
AfternoonAfternoon[ˌæftərˈnun]
EveningEvening[ˈivnɪŋ]
YesterdayYesterday[ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ]
TodayToday[təˈdeɪ]
TomorrowTomorrow[təˈmɑroʊ]
11[wʌn]
22[tuː]
33[θriː]
44[fɔr]
55[faɪv]
66[sɪks]
77[sɛvən]
88[eɪt]
99[naɪn]
1010[tɛn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's a/the...?[wɛrz ə/ðə]
What's the address?What's the address?[wʌts ðə əˈdrɛs]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you show me (on the map)?[kæn jʊ ʃoʊ miː (ɒn ðə mæp)]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[wɛnz ðə nɛkst (bʌs)]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[ə ˈtɪkɪt (tu ....)]

History of Highland

The Town of Highlands

The area developed on higher ground west of the South Platte after Denver's early growth, attracting residents who valued its distance from the flood-prone river bottom and its views across the young city. In 1875, the settlement incorporated as the Town of Highlands, a separate municipality with its own civic ambitions. Its street pattern and surviving houses reflect that period of suburban expansion, when Denver's edges were being divided into residential lots and linked to the central city by roads and street railways. Expansion brought churches, schools, small businesses and substantial homes, establishing the social and architectural framework still visible around Highland Square and Potter Highlands.

Annexation and Streetcar Growth

Denver annexed the Town of Highlands in 1890, folding the independent community into the rapidly growing city while preserving much of its distinctive residential fabric. Streetcar connections made the western heights more practical for commuters and encouraged continued construction along and near commercial corridors such as West 32nd Avenue. Builders used locally familiar Victorian and Italianate forms, often combining houses with small corner shops and neighbourhood institutions. The result was a district that was neither an isolated suburb nor a downtown extension, but a closely settled urban neighbourhood whose daily life depended on short trips to shops, schools, churches and tram routes.

Industry, Infrastructure and Separation

During the twentieth century, Highland remained predominantly residential but was shaped by the industrial and transport landscape along the South Platte and by changing patterns of urban mobility. The construction and expansion of major roads, including the Valley Highway and later Interstate 25, altered connections between the neighbourhood, the river corridor and central Denver. Some older commercial and industrial buildings lost their original uses, while the rise of car travel weakened traditional street-based commerce. Nevertheless, the historic housing stock and long-established local institutions survived, giving the area a visible continuity when other inner-city districts were substantially rebuilt.

Reinvestment and a Changing Identity

From the late twentieth century onwards, reinvestment in older homes, commercial buildings and underused industrial structures brought new cafés, restaurants, creative businesses and apartments to Highland and LoHi. The change restored activity to streets close to downtown and prompted public improvements, but it also raised familiar questions about rising property values, displacement and the balance between visitor-oriented development and established residential life. Today, Highland is best understood as a group of related historic and contemporary areas: the older houses and local businesses around Highland Square and Potter Highlands coexist with the denser, nightlife-oriented Lower Highland district, while the neighbourhood's earlier street pattern remains a defining feature.

Highland in Photos

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