Where LoHi skews young and nightlife-oriented, the Highlands has a slightly more settled, residential character. Families mix with young professionals and long-time residents, and the pace of life is noticeably quieter than the neighborhoods directly south.
The dining scene here favors the farm-to-table and neighborhood-bistro format over the trend-chasing of RiNo. Linger, Lola Coastal Mexican, and Vita continue to draw food lovers from across the city, and Highlands Square — the commercial strip centered at 32nd and Lowell — has some of the best independent restaurants in Denver.
Sloan’s Lake Park, at the neighborhood’s western edge, is Denver’s second largest park and one of its best. The 2.6-mile loop around the lake is a beloved running and cycling route, and the park’s events calendar — including the annual Sloan’s Lake Film Festival — draws the entire city.
The neighborhood has a strong independent retail identity. Highlands Square has maintained a cluster of locally-owned boutiques, gift shops, and specialty food stores that have resisted the encroachment of chains — a genuinely rare thing in Denver.
The Highlands is well-served by the B-Cycle bike share system and walkable from LoHi and the Highland Bridge. It’s a good base for exploring northwestern Denver, with easy access to Berkeley, Tennyson Street, and the mountains via I-70.