16th Street Mall

The 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, Colorado, is a prominent pedestrian and transit thoroughfare that has been a central feature of the city since its opening in 1982. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the mall spans 1.25 miles (approximately 2 kilometers) along 16th Street, stretching from Wewatta Street near Union Station to 16th Avenue and Broadway at Civic Center Station. The intricate granite stone sidewalks and streets are crafted to resemble the scale pattern of a western diamondback rattlesnake, reflecting Pei’s attention to detail and design innovation.  Home to over 300 stores and 50 restaurants, the 16th Street Mall serves as a vibrant hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Denver Pavilions shopping center, located along the mall, offers a variety of retail and dining options, contributing to the area’s dynamic atmosphere. The mall also features more than 40 sidewalk cafes, enhancing its appeal as a social and recreational destination.  A notable feature of the mall is the free shuttle service, known as the Free MallRide, which provides convenient transportation along the length of the mall. This service facilitates easy access to the various establishments and attractions lining the street, making it a favored destination for both locals and tourists.  In April 2022, a significant renovation project commenced to revitalize the aging infrastructure of the 16th Street Mall. With an investment of $149 million, the multi-year project aims to enhance safety, mobility, and the overall visitor experience. Originally projected to conclude in late 2024, recent reports indicate that the construction is now expected to be completed by summer 2025.  The 16th Street Mall stands as a testament to Denver’s commitment to creating engaging urban spaces that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal. Its combination of retail, dining, and entertainment options, along with thoughtful design and accessible transportation, continues to make it a central and cherished part of downtown Denver’s landscape.

They have the pavers started on block 2 , so it's progress. There's lots of construction on the blocks for the 16th st mall project, but you can still access all the shops, and parking was never easy anyways but theres a couple parking garages that are reasonable one on stout and one on champa. The free ride drives along 15th and 17th instead of 16th while under construction. 15th to go west or north and 17th to go south or east. There's bus stops along the roads. Sam's is great to eat at but my favorite is the Blessed BBQ on welton it's fantastic, he's got the best brisket Ive ever ate. Ikes sandwich shop is awesome too on Curtis. Just be careful of traffic and construction going on. It's gonna get better down there, one block at a time. But support the shops that decided to tough it out thru the construction. They are troopers.

16th St., Mall is awesome and a Denver staple if you’re visiting or you live here it’s a great place to go!

There's easy access to both food and shopping, along with some street performers! Really awesome during holidays and seasonal events, and there's a bus ride to get around quickly, or if you're just tired. Overall atmosphere is pretty calming!

Beautiful pedestrian boulevard with shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural amenities right downtown. It is under construction, but the blocks that are fully open illustrate why the construction is justified. The final product just keeps getting better.

The whole place is under construction. Still able to access the restaurants and stores off the street but the sheer amount of fencing and dirt kinda takes the funbuzz out of the feel of what was a festival lively hopping place. It’ll be great when it’s done, for sure, but what’s that timeline? Months? Year? More? Bummer.

I used to live in the Denver metro area when I 25 & I 70 were called the “Mouse Trap”. I moved away 6 years ago. The 16th street mall is a repulsive mess. I come back to the area a couple of times a year and would not set foot in that cesspool. Really too bad. It used to be a great spot to visit. I feel sorry for the business owners who invested in the mall and the people who spent large amounts of hard earned money to live downtown. The mayor and city government are pathetically inept.

The 16th Street Mall area in downtown Denver is still not back to where it's was at 3 years after Covid. This area was really great and still can be, but there are a bunch of empty storefronts and lots of homeless wandering around the neighborhood. Something needs to change......