If you are looking for things to do in RiNo Denver, this is one neighborhood where I would leave a little room in your schedule.
RiNo—short for the River North Art District—is packed with murals, restaurants, bars, galleries, boutiques, and random little places you will probably end up walking into even though they were nowhere on your itinerary.
We spent a lot of time in RiNo during our Denver trip, and it was one of my favorite parts of the city. It is very walkable, there is food everywhere, and the street art makes even walking from breakfast to lunch feel like you are actually doing something.
If I were planning one day in RiNo Denver, I would do breakfast at Stowaway Kitchen, spend the morning walking around the murals and shops, grab lunch nearby, add a couple of activities in the afternoon, and then stay in the neighborhood for dinner and drinks.
We actually had surprisingly good luck with parking.
The first morning, we found free street parking on Walnut Street right near Stowaway Kitchen. Another afternoon, we parked on Blake Street and were less than a five-minute walk from Denver Central Market.
RiNo is easy enough to explore on foot that once you find a parking spot, I would leave the car there as long as possible and walk between restaurants, murals, shops, and activities.
Stowaway Kitchen was my favorite breakfast in Denver.
What I really liked about it was that the menu felt different from the typical brunch menu. There were Japanese and other globally inspired flavors, seasonal ingredients, and combinations I would not normally think to put together, but everything felt really well thought out.
We walked in around 9:20 AM on a Thursday and snagged one of the last tables, so I would make a reservation if you are visiting on a weekend.
If you want to see everything we ordered before deciding, read my Stowaway Kitchen Denver Review: Is It Worth the Hype?
If you want something quicker, head to Denver Central Market for Izzio Bakery and Crema.
Izzio is known for its over-the-top pastries, especially the Colorado Queens and La Roulette. The Raspberry Cheesecake Colorado Queen would be my pick if I could only order one thing.
Crema is right there too if you need coffee. I ordered the house-made caramel latte and would happily do that again.
This is the part of the day where I would purposely leave yourself some unplanned time.
The RiNo Art District is known for its street art, and you will see murals constantly while walking between restaurants and shops. There is also an official RiNo mural map, which is useful if street art is one of your main reasons for visiting.
A few that stood out to me:
Some of my favorite murals were simply ones we stumbled across while walking around.
If you are carrying your phone for photos all day, a Phone and Wallet Crossbody Strap is useful here because RiNo involves a lot of stopping, walking, and pulling your phone back out five minutes later for another mural.
RiNo shopping has a good mix of recognizable brands and smaller shops, so it is easy to stop in a few while you are already walking around the neighborhood.
This was one of my favorite little shopping stops.
Three Arrows is basically a collection of small, women-owned Colorado brands and makers all under one roof. You will find everything from jewelry and clothing to candles, home goods, bath products, and gifts, so it is a good stop if you want something that feels more local than the bigger stores around RiNo.
It feels much more like something you accidentally discover while walking around RiNo rather than somewhere you specifically drive across Denver to visit—which is exactly why I liked it.
Topo Designs is a good stop if you like outdoorsy travel gear, bags, clothing, and that very Colorado combination of I hike, but I also own nice coffee equipment.
Even if you are not planning to buy a custom hat, Justin Great is fun to browse because it feels more like an experience than a standard retail store.
You will also find brands like Patagonia, Burton Snowboards, Marine Layer, and Pendleton scattered around the neighborhood.
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For lunch, I would choose entirely based on what kind of mood you are in.
Denver Central Market was one of my favorite places to eat in RiNo because you can order a little bit from several vendors instead of committing to one restaurant.
We tried Izzio Bakery, Crema, Lunchboxx, Temper, and Green Seed, and there was not anything I ate that I would not order again.
There is shared seating inside and outside, and even when we visited on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, it felt busy but manageable.
Give yourself around an hour if you want to try a few things.
I go into all of the vendors we tried and what I would order again in What to Eat at Denver Central Market.
Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs grew out of owner Bill Feid’s lifelong hot-dog obsession, and the menu basically reads like someone asked, How many different cities can we fit onto a hot dog?
We tried several.
The Buffalo Bratwurst was my favorite: a grilled brat with jalapeños and cheddar topped with grilled onions, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard. I loved the vinegar bite from the sauerkraut.
Brad preferred the Seattle Dog, which comes with cream cheese, grilled cabbage and onions, and chilled BBQ sauce.
We also tried the Tijuana Dog, with bacon, pico, avocado, grilled jalapeños, and sour cream.
Next time, I would probably add their Chicago Dog just because it feels wrong to go to a hot-dog place with Chicago roots and never order one.
Puttshack Denver takes mini golf and turns it into more of an interactive game. The balls automatically track your score, and the different holes include obstacles, challenges, and ways to earn bonus points.
No tiny pencil. No paper scorecard. No argument over whether someone “definitely got a three.”
It works especially well for a date, group trip, or anyone who wants an activity without committing half a day to it.
I would reserve ahead on weekends because it can get busy.
If you are looking for other Denver activities to add around your RiNo day, Viator is useful for comparing tours and attractions in the city.
F1 Arcade Denver has nearly 70 full-motion Formula 1 racing simulators. You can race individually or against other people, and you absolutely do not need to know anything about Formula 1.
I know this because I am terrible at video games. I left mine on Level 1 Easy, which gives you some assistance as you drive. It was necessary. There were walls. I hit many of them.
We chose the three-race option for about $30 (check current pricing). One warning from personal experience: some tracks made me a little motion sick because of the simulator movement and screen.
Brad found my inability to drive in a straight line extremely entertaining. Even with that, I thought it was really fun.
Kids seven and older can race, and guests under 21 are allowed until 9 PM.
You technically just ate lunch, but vacations require strategic snack scheduling. Stop at Cart-Driver and order the Daisy pizza with extra garlic.
It works especially well when you are not quite ready for dinner but also have no intention of waiting until dinner. I would split one and keep moving.
Corsica was one of my favorite meals in Denver. The menu is built around French and Italian-inspired small plates, which is exactly how I like to eat because I can sample half the menu without admitting that was always the goal.
Some of the dishes that seem to get the most love are the mushroom arancini, tuna carpaccio, Caesar salad, whipped ricotta toast, gigante beans, beef dishes, and almond cake. After eating there, I get it. We tried several of those, and there really was not a bad dish on our table.
The atmosphere also hits a really nice balance. It feels upscale enough for a date night or special dinner, but it is still warm and homey.
For a closer look at the food and exactly what we ordered, see my Corsica Denver Review: What to Order at This RiNo Restaurant.
If you still have some energy left, walk over to Death & Co inside The Ramble Hotel.
The original Death & Co opened in New York in 2006, and the Denver location keeps the serious cocktail program but puts it inside a much larger lounge and restaurant.
The atmosphere is polished without feeling stiff, and the bartenders are especially good at helping you figure out what to order.
What I appreciated most is that the zero-proof drinks are treated like actual cocktails, not fruit juice poured into a nice glass and handed to you for $14.
The menu changes seasonally, so I would not get too attached to one particular drink before visiting. Zero-proof options can include ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, watermelon, white balsamic, NA mezcal, coffee, smoked tea, and verjus.
Reservations are a good idea on busy nights, although they do accept walk-ins.
If mocktails are part of your Denver plans too, I have more options in Best Cocktail and Mocktail Bars in Denver Colorado.
It is an easy way to finish a full RiNo day without leaving the neighborhood.
I would give RiNo at least one full day if you want to experience more than just the murals or Denver Central Market.
You could technically see some street art, eat lunch, and walk around for a few hours, but what made RiNo fun for me was bouncing between completely different things—breakfast, murals, boutiques, hot dogs, racing simulators, pizza, dinner, and drinks—without spending half the day driving across Denver.
Very. Once we parked, we walked almost everywhere.
There is enough concentrated around Walnut, Larimer, Blake, and the surrounding streets that you can move between RiNo Denver restaurants, shops, murals, and activities without constantly getting back into the car.
Wear comfortable shoes because you will probably walk alot!
I also like carrying a Clutch Powerbank on days like this because between photos, maps, reservations, and looking up where you are walking next, your phone gets used constantly.
If I were doing the entire day again, this is exactly how I would plan it:
Have a real sit-down breakfast.
Walk around RiNo using the mural map
Stop at Three Arrows Market, Topo Designs, Justin Great, or whatever catches your attention.
Choose Denver Central Market if you want variety or Billy’s if you want a local favorite.
Play a round of interactive mini golf.
Race a few laps and, if you are me, spend a significant portion of them driving into walls.
Go to Corsica and order several small plates for sharing or go to Cart-Driver and get a daisy pizza with extra garlic.
Finish with a cocktail or zero-proof drink.
And then go back to your hotel happy knowing that you somehow managed to build an entire day around eating while technically also sightseeing.
For me, yes. RiNo ended up being one of my favorite areas of Denver because it combines a lot of the things I actually want to do when I am exploring a city: eat somewhere good, walk around, find interesting shops, stumble across something I did not plan, and have a few actual activities mixed in.
I especially liked that we could park once and spend hours moving between restaurants, murals, shops, and entertainment without constantly driving somewhere else.
If you have one day in RiNo Denver, I would give yourself a few anchor points and leave some space between them. The random stops were part of what made the neighborhood fun.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
For a broader look at the city, start with Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado.
If RiNo is just one part of your trip, A Weekend in Denver Colorado: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary can help you figure out what else to fit into a short visit.
You can compare flights to Denver through Skyscanner.
We stayed at The Maven, and you can read my The Maven Hotel Denver Review: What to Expect if you are considering staying near RiNo and the Dairy Block.
You can also compare Denver hotels through Booking.com.
If you are flying in, my Denver Airport Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Denver International Airport covers what we learned about baggage claim, rental cars, getting downtown, and navigating the airport.
If you plan to explore beyond central Denver, you can compare rental cars through Discover Cars.
YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
