Exploring Highlands: The Place You Want To Raise Your Family
A family-friendly Denver neighborhood with some of the city's best under-the-radar restaurants and bars.
It's not unusual to see a line out the door of this little restaurant.
Our reviewerA Family Neighborhood With Real Character
Highlands is primarily a family neighborhood, but that doesn't mean the fun stops there. A walk down 29th street to Hogshead Brewery delivers the same charm and friendliness found across Denver, without needing a car.
32nd Street is the heart of dinner options, almost too many to choose from, and a burger and beer at Salt & Grinder is a reliable way to start exploring it. For something smaller and more local, Taqueria La Familia packs some of the best tacos in Denver into a four-table restaurant that regularly draws a line out the door.
Kyle's Kitchen rounds things out as an old-school diner where locals keep their own coffee mugs, ideal for the morning after a bit too much fun. For drinks, Williams & Graham is arguably the best speakeasy in Denver; arrive early or expect a wait, since it's no secret.
A short walk beyond the neighborhood's edge, the Alamo Draft House dinner theater is worth the two-mile trip from the Highlands for $7 unlimited popcorn and a genuinely good bar.
Why We Love It
- Walkable access to Hogshead Brewery just off 29th Street
- 32nd Street offers a dense strip of strong dinner options
- Taqueria La Familia serves some of the best tacos in Denver
- Williams & Graham is a standout speakeasy for drinks
- Alamo Draft House dinner theater is a short walk away for movie nights
Where to Eat and Drink in the Highlands
32nd Street is the obvious starting point for dinner, with Salt & Grinder delivering a solid burger and beer among the neighborhood's many options.
For something more local, Taqueria La Familia's four tables and short menu produce some of the best tacos in the city, expect a line. Kyle's Kitchen, meanwhile, is one of the last holdouts from an older Highlands, right down to locals having their own coffee mugs.
Worth the Walk
The Alamo Draft House sits just outside the Highlands in Sloan Lake, but our reviewer found it a worthwhile two-mile walk from home: modern and classic movies, a $7 unlimited popcorn bowl, and a fun bar for meeting up before a show.
We Recommend This To Readers Who:
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Want a family-friendly Denver neighborhood
Highlands is primarily a family neighborhood with plenty of charm.
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Love exploring local, small-menu restaurants
Spots like Taqueria La Familia and Kyle's Kitchen are neighborhood institutions, not chains.
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Want walkable nightlife
Hogshead Brewery and Williams & Graham are both an easy walk from home.
A Closer Look
A Neighborhood Locals Almost Don't Want You to Know About
From a hidden taco spot to one of Denver's best speakeasies, the Highlands rewards anyone willing to explore it on foot.
