Apartments@Convention Center-16th Street Mall

The IKE digital wayfinding screens are really useful for finding nearby shops and restaurants, and there’s even an interactive photo booth where you can snap a picture and post it to social media in seconds. After the major renovations, the new 16th Street feels modern, safer, and more inviting for a day out. Food choices are plentiful, from higher-end restaurants to little affordable snack booths. We tried some delicious, budget-friendly authentic street food. There are also lots of family-friendly places. We parked in one of the nearby garages, then used the 16th Street FreeRide, which is back on its regular route and comes often. It’s free, and handy when the kids get tired of walking. Whether you live here or are visiting, the street is well worth a stop in Denver, with a mix of Colorado’s outdoor feel and modern city life.

We’d had a long day and walked over from Union Station. The weather was perfect, and there were lots of shops and other places to duck into. We hadn’t realized from the word “mall” that 16th Street is actually an outdoor street, but it’s a pretty concept.

We walked the full route from Civic Park to Union Station, then took the free shuttle back. It took about 2-3 hours, and by late afternoon or early evening the street felt even more deserted. There was police and security around, so we didn’t feel unsafe, but we didn’t enjoy the visit either. On a sunny, pleasant afternoon, there were very few people about, and about half of those seemed suspicious or unpleasant to see. There were also many homeless people. In Europe, even small towns have busy pedestrian streets with lots of shopping, dining, drinking, and entertainment. They can be crowded, touristy, and expensive, with tables outside nearly impossible to find. Denver’s 16th Street Mall seems to be trying for something similar, but here there were only a few outdoor tables, and even those were empty.

There’s plenty to do along the mall.ride, and the free shuttle is handy when you’re tired and want to get back to your hotel or car. It can be dirty and crowded with homeless people, though. I’d suggest walking the mall and seeing it for yourself.