Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest block, a beautifully restored stretch of Victorian buildings on Larimer Street between 14th and 15th streets, where string lights, flags, chef-driven restaurants, boutiques and comedy make it one of downtown’s liveliest places to spend an evening.

Denver got its start right here in the late 1800s. Named for city founder General William Larimer, who laid out the block in 1858 during the Pikes Peak gold rush, Larimer Square was the city’s first block and first commercial district and was home to its first residence and first city hall. Most of its buildings went up between the 1870s and 1890s. By the mid-twentieth century the area had fallen into decline and faced demolition, until preservationist Dana Crawford began buying and restoring the buildings in the 1960s. Her work helped make Larimer Square Denver’s first officially designated historic district in 1971 and an early model of saving old buildings by giving them new uses.

Today the block is a walkable, pedestrian-friendly stretch strung with lights and colorful banners, with outdoor patios and plenty of seating. Its directory includes Rioja, Osteria Marco, Tamayo, The Capital Grille, Ocean Prime and the omakase counters Sushi by Scratch and UKIYO, plus Comedy Works, Huckleberry Roasters, Van Leeuwen ice cream, Little Blue Pigeon Bookstore, Cotopaxi and John Fluevog. The Larimer Square parking garage at 1422 Market Street is open 24/7, with weekday daytime rates of $2 per 10 minutes ($24 max), a $10 flat rate on Saturday daytime and all day Sunday, and evening flat rates that run higher on Friday and Saturday nights. The square hosts seasonal events throughout the year, so check its calendar before you go.

See upcoming events and the full business directory on the Larimer Square website for Denver, CO.