16th Street Mall

Denver’s 16th Street Mall is a 1.7-mile pedestrian corridor in downtown, offering shopping, dining, and entertainment. The free shuttle makes getting around easy, and nearby attractions include the Central Library and Paramount Theatre. Renovations have improved the area, though visitors should be mindful of occasional safety concerns.

This is a lovely place to spend a day. I enjoyed all the boutique shops, the restaurants, and even passed through a few places just to people watch for a while. Quite the gatherings here on weekends. But you can visit any day of the week and I guarantee you’ll have a good time. Check out the bowling alley for extra fun.

16th Street was ok. It’s a Friday and overcast so not much people out. But if you like to drink alcohol there’s plenty of places for that. Good place to take walk.

If you visit Denver, Colorado, visit the 16th Street Mall. There are different food options to choose from, and you can take a nice walk.

This was disappointing. I am a big supporter of pedestrianized streets and place making but this feels like it has failed to live up to it's potential. The center of the wide street is left open, possibly reserved for buses, though we never saw any. While some very nice and cute seating and other features have been created on the sidewalks the failure to utilize the majority of the street leaves it feeling a bit barren. Also the stores along the street are often chains like H&M & Target and not the mix of interesting smaller local shops you'll find on Boulder's Pearl Street or Linden St. in Ft. Collins. Still worth checking out after visiting the Capitol or the great History & Art Museums on the other side of the park as there seems to be some decent dining options, including outdoor dining, but it could be so much more.

A little history here before I begin my review. In the 1990s the 16th Street Mall was a hub for social interactions and shopping galore. Many who lived in the Downtown area would enjoy the peace and serenity of the 16th Street Mall at night. The 16th Street Mall has been rebuild and redesign twice now in Denver's history. With that said. Unfortunately, when Colorado legalized marijuana in the 2000s is when the 16th Street Mall became a liability to those that went there. Gangs, homeless drug addicts, and crime increased and many clean and sober hard working taxpayers didn't feel safe unless they were carrying a side arm for protection. One couldn't escape the smell of marijuana that enveloped the Mall from all the smoking done there. Many businesses closed up as a result of less foot traffic meaning customers were far and few. Even tourist dared not travel the Mall at night. From news reports in 2025 that I have read about the rebuild of the 16th Street Mall now just 16th Street. The Mall part was dropped under a $100k ad blitz. My wife and I had to move from Denver to Minnesota in 2019, but do remember the 16th Street Mall of old before marijuana legalization.

Went to the 16th street rival, it was a lot of fun. There is still sketchy people but there was a big police presence and security guards.

A beautiful pedestrian street in the heart of downtown, featuring shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural spots. Although it’s currently under construction, the completed sections show that the improvements are worth it.

It was a quick walk from the hotel I stayed at but there wasn't many stores or hard to get to because of all the construction going on. Plus, it seemed like everything closed early. I saw pictures online and was excited to check it out but disappointed because the construction changed the scene. Definitely a deterrent and I didn't want to explore. I rated it two because it is walking distance from the hotel (one star) and I saw a lot of places to eat (second star) but the places seemed to close early and the places that was open it was a longer wait time to get seated.

This strip mall is a mile long. Unfortunately it is under reconstruction therefore I couldn't see it in its true glory.

When I first visited this, I was like ok this is some big indoor mall, kinda like Mall of America. No. I was sadly mistaken. It's a huge strip Mall, almost 2 miles long of stores and eateries. However, there's major construction going on! If you have a car, you're out of luck! It's mostly pedestrian friendly. There's the 16th street Mall bus that you can hop on that's free, that runs up and down 16th street from Union Station to the Civic center. A lot of shops are closed because of the construction project. My pet peeve is that a lot of businesses, aledgely has bathrooms "out of order" The Target has no bathroom! Starbucks no bathroom SUBWAY no bathroom Walgreens no bathroom. My hunch is because of the homeless that linger all over. So will pander in front of stores. The project doesn't look like it will be finished in the foreseeable future. I got excited when I saw TJ Maxx on an awning, but no, there are oob, and their sign will tell you the nearest one, but it's far if you're car less. Can't wait til the project is complete.

ok so this isn't a venue until they finish. and who knw when that will be. the construction made it a nightmare so probably won't be returning until this project is COMPLETELY done.

We went during a high construction period. Lots of concrete ripped up. Several cute shops and in an effort to get some steps in we walked the strip.

There's construction going on along pretty much the entire mall. Can't walk on the mall. Even crossing it takes additional effort. It might be nice in a normal year--I can't tell. Best to avoid this area.

This day I had a visitor spend the weekend with me so we took a trip downtown. Unfortunately the roads are being worked on so we couldn't take their free bus but we definitely got our cardio in today.

I was looking for some Public Art in an alley which I never found, but I'm glad it led me here! This mall is basically an outdoor walking only mall. Metered Parking can be found on the outskirts. The road between the shops have been closed off to traffic. The mall runs from Wewatta Street (Union Station) to Broadway (Civic Center Station). There is a free MallRide Bus that goes up and down this split set of one-way streets. I never boarded the bus although I should have! TIP: Be attentive to the bus!!! I almost got the horn! :P The center divider is tree-lined and gives a tad bit of shade. Not that I could notice, but the pedestrian promenade's red, white and gray granite in a repeating pattern (that seen from above) resembles the skin of a diamondback rattlesnake was designed by I.M Pei! I walked up and back a few blocks. This mall is over one mile long! There are so many shops and restaurants to keep you busy exploring! If shopping is your bag, there are over 300 shops! I was surprised to see a Hard Rock Cafe here! If you want food, this mall has 42 places for you to choose from! I was happy to find Kilwins and got a scoop of ice cream to eat outside and a chocolate to eat later. There are a few areas to sit out in the mall. I chose a table in a small picnic area. There was no shade, so it was hot. I ate as quickly as I could and started heading back to my car. I found some other Public Art! I saw the "Welcome to The Mile High City" Mural and a blue painted Cow statue, so it was a successful outing!

I recently brought my father down here to shop for some Colorado gifts for his friends back east. While I remember the mall being a great place to walk and stroll. The mall is so different now. It's so messy and full of the homeless people. We didn't make it far and went to Hallmark for gifts.

Don't bother coming here until the construction is over. Then after that, they need to populate the empty stores with some decent stores . Lots of vacancies. Maybe it will be done in 3-5 years.. also, none of the stores have bathrooms which is reduculous..

My biggest gripe with 16th St Ave Mall is the type of material it is paved with! It is seriously super dangerous whenever there's any kind of precipitation. In warmer weather if it did happen to rain, you'll slip and slide all over. In winter, like New Year's 2021 going into 2022 we had a major snow storm. They decided to have this machine brush the snow off and it was better when the snow was there to have some traction! Once a big amount of snow was removed, leaving only the little layer that the machine doesn't get to, it was SLIP CITY! I don't understand how people are hurting themselves and suing them constantly, to be honest! They really need to treat the walkways with some sort of non-slip. The next worst thing is just probably the sketchy people that hang out around the mall. It's not a good look for Denver tourists. Usually, they are harmless so there's that. I am not sure what's all being done about it, I bet something is, I just don't know what. The upper levels of the mall, the escalator has been broken for the longest time. I don't mind taking the stairs, so doesn't really bother me regarding that particular, but it is yet another eye sore to look at which isn't putting the mall in the best light. There really aren't that many stores, I rarely ever shop at any of them. But tons of decent bars & restaurants on or near 16th. It's more of a city center than a mall, really. The mall ride is a nice to have, I just wish they'd hustle more. I don't know what happened after Covid, but now they often just sit at the stoplight at Civic Station, cyle after cyle -- it's just silly. They never used to do that. A lot of times if it's not right at rush hour, I don't even get the chance to take the mall ride because there isn't one to be found. We are stuck with the construction for the foreseeable future, I was told. One day I asked one of the construction workers what was going on, and he told me the entire strip needs to be redone underneath, the piping and all that is old. And they have to carefully review stuff that might be deemed "historic" which adds more time. So, they're doing sections (aka blocks) at a time. Ugh... get used to it all. Then you have to hop on 15th or 17th to catch the mall ride (both one-way streets, so it depends on which direction you're going to know which street to take). Confusing-sounding, I know. First-world problems.

I'm not a big shopper so this was my kind of mall-souvenir shops, target, cvs, specialty stores and lots of bars and restaurants. If you are looking for high end department stores this won't fit the bill. It is pedestrian only with a free bus on both sides of traffic. I felt pretty safe, the homeless presence was not bad to me, I've seen much worse in other big city tourist areas. The tourist in me loved strolling along on a pretty day, it was just enough city exploring just around the corner from my hotel.

The 16th Street Mall, though the name can be a little confusing, is a part of downtown Denver full of restaurants, bars, and shops. It's pedestrian-only and the promenade is shaped like a rattlesnake with the scales and all. It's a nice place to take a stroll and enjoy a bite to eat. It's also a place where you are likely to see street performers. Perhaps a singer. Or a magician. Or a dancer. Check it out.

Too bad everything was bring renovated. I didn't get to appreciate the nice buildings as much. Thus mall is an outdoor mall stretched over a mile or so. I had that old Town feel but the buildings were nice and looked like downtown. I couldn't tell when I went b from downtown to the mall actually. I didn't see very many interesting stores but just being able to walk outside and enjoy the cool air was great. The only store I bought something from was the Rocky mountain chocolate store. Hehe. Some of the food restaurants they had were clumped. You go through the entrance and there were pockets of 3 or 4 restaurants. Lots of cafes. All around, such a nice walk.

The 16th Street Mall seems tired and ready for a refresh. Coincidentally, it is also under some major repairs. The homeless line the streets and the vibrancy has been lost. It does not help that it is mostly chain restaurants and could be "anywhere"

It's funny but talking to someone who has lived in Denver for 25 plus years, we both noted how it was like Times Square before it got a makeover. Here you will find a strip with a concentration of big name stores like H&M and restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe. Not a traditional mall, more like a busy city hub. You can do your shopping but in the evenings it has nightlife with some music venues and numerous bars. I did not feel unsafe but you need to be aware of the less desirable elements of city life.

Things to consider when visiting 16th street mall. The parking is INSANELY EXPENSIVE. We parked at a public parking garage and apparently misread the sign. We were there for 4 hours and paid 65 bucks! Ouch!!! The mall itself is also currently under construction. I would strongly recommend only going for a restaurant and only if it REALLY MATTERS! The construction is anticipated to go on through at least the end of November 2023. Just know the "mall" is not what it was and will be a while until it is worth visiting. You are better off heading to Cherry Creek mall or going several blocks in any direction and enjoying the local stores. Just be super mindful of the parking details!!

Downtown Denver is very dead. 16th Street is under construction. Not much is open. People don't like to go out - there are more homeless here than people and normal people have 500 other beautiful places in Colorado to explore that are more beautiful, adventurous, foodie, shopping, anything. Everything changes when there's a game and drives of normal people show up and take over. Otherwise it's a sad state.

Bottom Line: Chain restaurants and stores, homeless people and construction. I'd pass. 16th Street Mall was promoted on various YouTube videos my husband and I watched about what to do and see in Denver. The concept sounded cool but I found it pretty disappointing. There was a lot of construction going on down the middle of the street where the shuttle bus would typically run. And even if I put the construction aside, there was a lot of homeless people and the restaurants and stores were not appealing. We visited two times during our stay in Denver and saw the entire Mall and decided it was a dump. To put my rating in context, I've only given 14 of 2,581 reviews a single star which is .0054 percent so that says a lot!

PROS: This street shopping center has everything. Ice cream, clothing stores, sports stores, eateries, you name it, they have it. CONS: besides the fact it was under major construction (which is temporary) there's nowhere to park OVERALL: I'll be coming back here but when I do I'll either bike or Uber

Yes, 16th street is shady. But the best times to visit are during Christmas time (December) because they have all the lights up and it's definitely more lively with art installations and music. It looks very pretty. And during summer time (June-Aug), there's normally events and markets going on and the sun is out longer so it doesn't feel as dangerous ha. And even though it is mostly chain restaurants, there are a few gems I really like: Otra Vez Cantina and Yardhouse (yes it's a chain but sooo many beer selections and they have big food menu that is not disgusting bar food).

So confused about this location. I have no idea if this "mall" even exists. We did a quick walkthrough bought some souvenirs and bounced!

Downtown Denver. Lots of businesses, historic buildings and restaurants. However the streets were all torn up and under massive construction so it did not feel that pleasant. I'm sure it will be nice in a few years when it's all done. Good to walk around anyway to check out the local sites. There are quite a number of homeless people here.

I was somewhat disappointed by this mall. There's not a lot of great shopping options. I was excited for the Sephora, but it seemed like the AC wasn't on and it was an extremely hot day. It seemed like there were several units that were vacant and for sale. I feel like this mall could be awesome, but it was lacking. I know they have a movie theater and bowling and that seems to be the main attraction. This mall is in downtown Denver, so be ready for a lot of interesting characters nearby. I don't want to be completely negative because I know covid has hit a lot of companies hard and I assume that is why there wasn't a lot going on here. I hope they get some more stores though. On a positive note...they have an epic H&M that is multiple levels!

The 16th street mall has been a Denver landmark and a staple in the tourist economy for many many years. I can't even count how many times I've been there taking the free mall ride to many different destinations both for work and play. The interconnectivity that this one sole street provides gives endless possibilities for it's reason of being. Fun fact of this place is that it was created by I M Pei, the same person that designed the now famous NCAR building in Boulder. The 16th Street mall is the hub of all things Denver.

16th street mall lit up with Christmas lights. Beautiful lights and so fun to walk up and down the streets admiring them all. Not a fan of all the dispensaries and the smell of weed but it's hard to avoid.

The 16th Street mall is unique and special. It's especially nice during the holidays in the early morning. Let's take care of this asset and keep it safe, clean and compassionate.

I was in town looking for hotels to host a meeting and all the hotels were in this area. I walked between them and through this area a lot. It is a shame how dirty it is and the number of homeless. At least the homeless don't have signs or approach you ... probably on too many drugs. The restaurants and shops were nothing spectacular. This area could be so much better. I visited a few times 10-15 yrs ago and thought it was great. Head toward the mountains or Ft Collins.

Found a dead body one morning while walking around 9-10AM. I turn to the guy walking behind me and ask "Was that guy dead? He smelled dead." I stopped as the guy quickly and plainly might I add said "probably" and just kept on going to work. What a callous lack of any empathy for one's fellow man. I'm not incredibly phased by dead bodies anymore, but Jesus Christ that man acting like it was normal was dystopian and unsettling. The city played pass along with my call (911 to Non-Ems to Harm Reduction Hotline to 911 again)but eventually someone said they'd pick it up. Idk though because I didn't stick around a corpse in a major part of downtown long because of all the obvious reasons. Mind you there were city workers all over for removing snow, and dude was not buried or unnoticeable. Be kind. Check on people. Wouldn't you rather get an angry response to F off then let someone die? Denver, we're better than this.

We went trying to kill a few hours on a week day, almost nothing is open and it's all under construction

Lots of awesome street art located along the length of this outdoor mall! However, I was disappointed that most of the stores here are either your regular mall stores like Sephora and Urban or cheesy souvenir places. It would be nice if the stores were more unique and independent and had more local flavor. It's fun to walk around and enjoy the street art but exercise some situational awareness because there are some homeless people around the area. There's a free shuttle too if you don't feel like walking.

16th Street used to be one of my favorite places to roam in Denver. You can park at a meter or in a parking garage and of course the meters are always free on Sundays. There is the free mall ride shuttle which you can hop on at several locations along the strip. There are so many great shops and food options, but now it just feels so unsafe. I used to be able to walk down the mall without a care in the world and now I have to watch out for those strung out on drugs and people approaching me for money. Not to mention, the hecklers and cat callers. Overall, 16th Street is not something that I am excited about anymore, but if you are a tourist I suppose it would be worth a visit just to check it out.

The 16th St Mall is entirely overrun with homeless. Everytime I left my hotel I was accosted by aggressive homeless people demanding money and shouting obscenities at me if I didn't oblige. The sidewalks smell of urine, and are covered in trash and human feces. My wife and I witnessed three fist fights between homeless during our four day stay. We were last here about five years ago and it was NOT this bad. We probably won't be back.

DO NOT RECOMMEND FOR OUT OF TOWN VISITORS! When I first started working downtown 21 years ago, the 16th Street Mall was a Denver destination that was really nice, clean, thriving with businesses and a place I'd tell visitors to go. Now, there is trash everywhere, it is filled with homeless and sketchy people, it reeks of urine and feels generally unsafe. In the past three years, just in the immediate vicinity to where I work, Woody Creek Bakery, Jason's Deli, Sally Beauty Supply, Famous Footwear, Chili's restaurant, Tokyo Joes, The Rialto, Subway, and many others have left and I can't say that I blame them. Also, the Skyline Park near my office is fenced off - probably due to the homeless and drug use and them using the fountain as a bath. If I need to go to Walgreens or TJMAXX, I try to avoid using 16th Street at all costs and take the side streets. It is a horrible portrayal and an embarrassment to Denver!

I was told by several different people that I needed to visit the 16th Street Mall. It's a mile long, pedestrian friendly shopping mall and dining area within walking distance from Union Station. Many of the stores and restaurants seemed to be closed because of Covid but there was still tons to see and do. There were several street performers that kept things interesting and a free shuttle bus. The free bus picks up and drops off all along the strip.

This is a complete outdoor mall with a bunch of restaurants, stores, and more. It's the entire street that's why it's called 16th St. mall.

Pretty! Empty! I guess my review won't be accurate since I've only been here during covid time and several times. It is just not that great. The idea is great: free tram/train ride. A ton of restaurants and bars on that one long street. All the hotels! All things to attract people here. But in covid, it is the same ish minus you don't want to see a huge crowd right now. And there are crowds. People without masks cause they are outside! That's a big no no in Seattle. And the hobos: homlessness is everywhere these days but seems in Denver, they are right down here on this street/mall. Drunk, high at 10 am, confrontational, cussing, yelling at the world. Doesn't really make you feel all that safe or at all! In covid, this is homeless mall. A lot of urine, syringes, vulgar homeless people! Not safe even in the brightest of days/mornings. But I was staying close by so I can run back to my hotel! Avoid!

Cool area to walk and shop at. Lots of food places. Some stores are closed due to covid. I saw lots of outdoor games along the 16th street like huge beer pong-like game with trash cans and those chairs that roll around. Those were very cool to sit and have a little fun. There are souvenir shops too. I believe it's 1 mile long of a walk through. It's safe. There are some homeless people along the streets. Parking was free on the holiday (memorial day) when we went. It was metered parking. Not sure what it is daily. There are lots of lyft, Uber, etc scooter/bikes but those stops if you're riding it on 16th street, but you can ride it outside the parameter.

The 16th Street Mall is a long stretch of a road without vehicle traffic. Only pedestrians allowed to walk around. A free bus service is also provided for the people to get around the place, going up and down on the 16th Street. It's very convenient, especially during the hot summer time! 16th Street Mall has lots of little tourist spots! Lots of restaurants with both indoors and outdoor seating. There are plenty of places where you can do shopping. Do to the pandemic, we noticed a lot of "Final Sale" or "Going out of business " signs everywhere! It was very depressing to see those banners hanging on the storefronts. On the street, there were musicians trying to entertain the few people who gave their attention to them. Sadly, due to Covid-19, lots of places were still closed, including The Money Museum, which I wanted to see. On the outside sign, it said, open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m - 4 p.m. and FREE admission, enter on Curtis, but the door was closed. Sign said CLOSED! Do to the pandemic, social distancing was enforced. Also mask must be worn in all public places, inside and outside too.

With our hotel only being a half block off of the 16th Street Mall, we used the free shuttle buses several times during our 3 nights in Denver. It was a great relief to be able to catch a bus and never wait more than a few minutes. It saved on tired legs and Uber fares. The mile plus pedestrian street is a tourist mecca and caters to that crowd. If The Hard Rock Cafe and tee-shirt shops are what you desire in a vacation or a night out then head on down and join the throngs of people. A great central transportation corridor, but the cool, unique and memorable restaurants, bars, shops and museums lie outside of 16th Street.

I'll let you use your imagination on this one. Look at photos. Since I have to add more details, you will find stores, restaurants, street musicians, beggars, and a lot of stoned people.

The only thing good about this place was the host and margarita at 3MARGARITAS. The mall st. Is completely torn up and smells of sewer line. At least half the stores have closed down. There's nothing, NOTHING, here. Larimer square is even sadder.

Great place to walk around and do shopping or find great restaurants. I got to explore a lot of the downtown area, but 16th street mall is clean and has a free bus that can take you up and down the strip! It was fun to explore!

No interesting stores. As a tourist I was fine with just walking around, but there wasn't really anything to see.

Liked this area of Denver, happened to be staying here for a couple of days. Pedestrian friendly and lots of restaurant choices. Parking appears to be a challenge but plenty of mass transit. Area also has a number of stores, shops, offices and hotels.

Nice shopping area similar to 3rd st. promenade in Santa Monica if you happen to be familiar with that area. Plenty of restaurants and shopping options with an actual outdoor mall complex (Denver Pavillion) in the middle. The entire shopping area is quite a few blocks long but the awesome thing is that they have these free electric trams that are constantly going up and down the street. Just hop on and off as you like. Parking is relatively horrible though. There are paid parking lots sprinkled all a long the street. I don't remember the exact price but it's like more than Indianapolis and less than NYC. Depending on the lot the spots could be super tight so that's a bit of a pain.

Are you a tourist visiting Denver? Are you looking for a pleasant outdoor shopping experience filled with unique stores? If you answered 'yes' to these questions then avoid the16th street mall. This place is a bummer. 'Why' you ask? The shops are not unique - they are chains and big box stores. There is no atmosphere to speak of, but quiet, echoey streets. It was an enormous disappointment for us. Instead of the 16th Street Mall, we suggest visiting the historic Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. That is where you will find unique stores, atmosphere, and delicious local dining.

This is a neat space. It's a long street in downtown Denver that's been converted to a pedestrian mall. The best part, there's a free bus that runs up and down the length of the mall, shopping at each intersection. Just get on or get off. Restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. This is amazing. There are still a few "home-challenged" folks here and Denver *is* a big city, so be aware of your surroundings as you would in any urban environment.

So many shops and chain stores to stroll through or hop a free shuttle up and down the mall from Broadway to the light rail station. All kinds of characters ride this and usually has a weed smell. I like to sample the various restaurants that line this area. One can visit the free money museum and even get samples.