Larimer Square

"It'sbeen said that Larimer Square is where Denver started—it'sdefinitely at the center of Denver's modern life, too. The area's Victorian buildingscontain shops, boutiques, andsome of Denver's most interestingrestaurants. The lively quarter hosts several gatherings and events, like June's popular Chalk Art Festival, that bring crowds downtown.In the evenings (especially during the holidays), the square's canopy of string lights adds a festive air.Extend your visit here with a foray intothe surrounding Lower Downtown (LoDo) district, where even more shops and galleries and cafés can keep you busy exploring."

"Picture the prettiest street in any city: wide sidewalks, red brick buildings, and restaurant patios full of well-dressed 30-somethings sipping wine. Boutique storefronts threaten your pocketbook, twinkle lights sparkle at night, and a pie shop hides a Prohibition-era “speakeasy” Green Russell , named for a Colorado gold miner. This is Larimer Square, the city’s first historic district. And even though you haven’t really been to the Mile High City unless you’ve Instagrammed the street’s signature twinkling lights—pro tip, they look especially amazing around the holidays—Larimer Square somehow manages to remain an authentic, non-touristy destination." - Nicholas DeRenzo, Megan Barber

"Call, the daytime cafe next to Beckon, has been recognized earlier this year on Bon Appétit’s 10 Best New Restaurants in America list. Chef Duncan Holmes at Call is known for his soulful, Scandinavian-leaning smoked fish, seeded hearty breads, salads, terrines, and addictive little aebleskiver doughnuts." - Josie Sexton