Find the Best Things to Do in Lodo (Lower Downtown)
By Becca Blond
Travel Expert
About Lodo (Lower Downtown)
The historic 23-square block of Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) boasts the largest concentration of Victorian and early 20th-century buildings in the United States. Anchored by Union Station and Coors Field, this is one of Denver's top nightlife and eating neighborhoods filled with hip restaurants, sports bars, rooftop cafes and brew pubs.
See & Do
Fans have been cheering on the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the classic 50,000-seat ballpark, since the franchise began in 1995. The 76-acre Major League stadium is located at 20th and Blake, steps away from the hub of sports bars, nightclubs, and restaurants in Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo)/Ballpark Neighborhood. The other main attraction is just renovated neoclassical Union Station, a working railway station that also houses chic boutiques, restaurants and a hotel.
Eat
LoDo is packed with restaurants, many of which can be found on Larimer and Blake Streets, and around Larimer Square, which are worth browsing for the undecided. Union Station also hosts some of LoDo's top eats. Here you'll find Mercantile Dining & Provision, which does wonderful gourmet global fare. Right on Larimer Square, Rioja is another of Denver's best restaurants and does amazing Spanish and Mediterranean fare. Finally don't skip Coohill's for locally sourced French fare.
Party
LoDo is a major nightlife area, and on weekends the clubs and bars are packed until closing. Choices are varied and include dance clubs, wine bars and brewery's like Wynkoop Brewing Company, which became Colorado’s first brewpub in 1988. Pouring award-winning small-batch beers and serving a menu featuring Colorado produced meats and vegetables, Wynkoop carved its place in the Denver brewpub market from the beginning.
Stay
The elegant Crawford is the newest hotel on the LoDo scene and located inside Union Station. Another upmarket LoDo property is the historic Oxford Hotel, which has a beautiful old world lobby and richly appointed antique European styled guestrooms. The Four Seasons Hotel Denver is also in this neighborhood, and offers all the signature style that comes with that brand plus a great restaurant and fun summer pool parties.
Shop
LoDo is known for its independent speciality boutiques selling everything from jewelry to women's fashion to Denver's famed Tattered Cover Bookstore, which is well worth a browse. Also in the neighborhood is the three generation business Rockmount Ranch Wear, which opened in 1946 and is one of the original Western shirt companies in the country. The Rockmount shirt has been worn by celebrities over the years from Elvis to Toby Keith.