# 20

2024 rank: 30

Most Denverites think of Speer as the Cherry Creek–adjacent thoroughfare that carries them into and out of downtown. Named for the city’s 26th mayor, the neighborhood that has grown up to the boulevard’s north and south is an up-and-comer.

Speer took a break from our top 25 list for two years, but it’s back, thanks to a three percent hike in home prices, a burgeoning food-and-beverage scene, and strong performances by both of the schools within its borders.

Though Speer is populated mostly with renters, you’ll also spot historical houses with plenty of character. Easy access to the Cherry Creek Trail is an obvious perk, but the Alamo Placita and Hungarian Freedom parks are both welcome respites. One of Trader Joe’s two Mile High City locations can be found here, as well as an eclectic collection of food offerings, which are clustered primarily along Broadway (on the ’hood’s western edge) and West Sixth Avenue to the north.

Population 12,867
2024 Average Sale Price $655,743

Neighborhood Rankings

Real Estate Rank 32
Schools Score 4
Safety Rank 42
X Factor Score 7.5

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

Speer is becoming a dining destination, thanks to venues like Uncle, the second location of chef Tommy Lee’s always-crowded ramen joint (the original is in Highland); brunch fave Lucile’s Creole Cafe; Latin cocktails and tacos at Mister Oso; old-school Odyssey Italian Restaurant (don’t miss out on $12 pasta Mondays); the Mexican family recipes at La Loteria; and French-food-focused La Forêt, one of our 2024 25 Best Restaurants. Swing by Sweet Action Ice Cream’s flagship location on South Broadway for dessert. 

Digital nomads will enjoy the sunlit Rosebud Cafe or back-room couches at the Bardo Coffee House. Happy hour is best enjoyed over a glass of vino at Carboy Winery or at long-standing dive bar Don’s Club Tavern. Traditional breweries include Banded Oak Brewing Co. and Baere Brewing Co., but now you can sip local pours from Breckenridge Distillery, Storm Peak Brewing Company, and Broken Compass Brewing all under one roof at the new Après at Govnr’s Park. Give it a taste test during its soft opening phase and return in June for the grand unveiling. (Oh, and bring your pups: It has a 10,000-square-foot dog-friendly patio.)

Be Creative

Stretch the right side of your brain at 38-year-old Art Students League of Denver. It offers classes in a range of mediums for professional artists and those who simply dabble. Sign up your kids starting at age six.

If You Do One Thing…

Catch a flick at the historic Mayan Theatre. The 95-year-old, three-screen cinema’s ornate design was restored in 1986. It’s one of only a few Art Deco Mayan Revival–style theaters remaining in the country, and the venue is a favorite for independent and foreign-language films. And did we mention the in-house bar?

Spots to Eat

Mister Oso

Odyssey Italian Restaurant

Carboy Winery

La Loteria

View All Restaurants in Speer

About This Neighborhood