
Restaurant Olivia Opens with a New Look and Lots of Pasta
The owners of Café Marmotte have transformed their former French bistro into an Italian trattoria.
|2019 rank: 7
If you focus solely on the numbers, Washington Park West comes across as safe but otherwise fairly middle-of-the-road. Which is precisely where its appeal lies: By moving just a few blocks west of its namesake park, residents gain access to the area’s Cape Cods, bungalows, and Queen Anne Victorians at a major discount. This primarily residential neighborhood is actually one of just a handful where home prices have remained fairly flat. Other benefits: easy access to the vibrant Baker ’hood, cheery Platt Park, I-25, and, of course, the park itself; two grocery stores; plenty of boutique fitness studios; and a decent food and drink scene.
How we got these numbers: We utilized the city’s official list of 78 neighborhoods (only 74 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.
Eat & Drink
After a morning of recreating at the park, keep the healthy vibes going with fresh, seasonal fare at Vert Kitchen. Continue the theme with dinner at Bittersweet, where chef Olav Peterson’s ever-changing menu incorporates ingredients from the restaurant garden. On game night, everyone wins with Fire on the Mountain’s wings slathered in house-made sauces.
For drinks, two locals’ favorites—dive bars Candlelight Tavern and Kentucky Inn—are just five blocks apart. For someplace a little less broken in, Broadway Roxy serves shared plates and live music seven nights a week. Get your caffeine fix at Wash Perk, a popular neighborhood gathering spot with plenty of outdoor seating.
Break A Sweat
Weather not cooperating? There are plenty of other ways to burn some calories in Wash Park West. The Rebel Workout, Fierce45, Pearl Street Fitness, Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver, and Orangetheory Fitness all have studios here.