/ Neighborhood Guide2024 rank: 4
Urban gem Congress Park is a perennial favorite among homebuyers who seek out the well-appointed Denver Squares, Queen Annes, and bungalows that line its leafy streets. Bike lanes along East Seventh Avenue Parkway and 12th Avenue, plus numerous bus stops, make commuting easy (Congress Park sits about three miles west of downtown). While the compact, namesake green space—and its recently renovated public pool—is the main gathering place, Congress Park also has plenty of local businesses to support.
Neighborhood Rankings
How we got these numbers: We utilized the city’s official list of 78 neighborhoods (only 73 had enough data to be included), and ranked them using four variables: home prices, crime data, school rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things like access to open space, proximity to public transportation, and restaurant and shopping options. For more on our methodology, return to the main page.
Your Itinerary
Eat & Drink
The corner of 12th Avenue and Madison Street is an F&B hotbed, with breakfast sandwiches at Under the Umbrella, Detroit-style pies at Blue Pan Pizza, sashimi at newcomer Bamboo Sushi, and the endearing Sweet Cooie’s ice cream parlor. Other area spots worthy of your appetite: Sap Sua (one of our best restaurants of 2024), Wellness Sushi, Shells and Sauce, and Peter’s Chinese Cafe, a 40-year-old institution that’s now employee-owned.
Booze is plentiful here, too, from divey drinks at PS Lounge and creative cocktails at Bar Max to Cerebral Brewing’s scientific approach to ale (best enjoyed on the sprawling patio) and the cozy vibes of Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates. For a caffeine boost, try the French Press or Lula Rose General Store.
Plan a Date
There’s plenty of fun to be had in Congress Park thanks to its multitude of tennis courts; the outdoor Congress Park pool with a large shaded grass lawn; and baseball and softball fields. For more greenery, head just beyond the neighborhood boundaries to Cheesman Park, City Park, or Denver Botanic Gardens. When the sun sets, catch a band at Lost Lake Lounge or a flick at Sie FilmCenter, home of the nonprofit Denver Film Society and hub for the terrific Denver Film Festival (held every November).
Shop
It’s easy to lose track of time inside two Congress Park institutions: Twist and Shout, with its rows upon rows of vinyl and CDs (plus kitschy toys), and, next-door, Tattered Cover Book Store, which spreads its wares across two floors of a historic theater and hosts stellar literary events with local and national authors. Parents can find adorable clothes and toys at Broomtail, and antique aficionados can while away the afternoon perusing unique Western home goods at Ruby’s Vintage.
Spots to Eat
About This Neighborhood
- Berkeley
- Hilltop
- Country Club
- Wellshire
- Southmoor Park
- Congress Park
- University Park
- South Park Hill
- Belcaro
- West Highland
- North Park Hill
- Regis
- Cheesman Park
- Washington Park
- Capitol Hill
- Washington Park West
- Central Park
- University
- Rosedale
- Speer
- Sloan’s Lake
- Hampden South
- Platt Park
- Cory-Merrill
- Highland
