Where Young Professionals Want to Live in Denver: Highlands Edition

Spend a little time walking the streets of the Highlands and it’s easy to understand why so many people fall for this neighborhood. With its unbeatable walkability, quick access to downtown, and a personality that blends historical charm with modern energy, The Highlands offers a lifestyle that’s hard to match. Whether you’re sipping coffee on a Victorian-era porch, brunching your way through Highlands Square, or heading to a rooftop bar in LoHi, this neighborhood makes it easy to feel like you belong.

Let’s take a closer look at why so many professionals are choosing to call the Highlands home—and what makes each corner of this neighborhood unique.

🏙️ A Lifestyle-First Neighborhood

The Highlands strikes a rare balance: it’s hyper-local and deeply rooted in Denver history, but also dynamic and forward-thinking. It’s not a “starter neighborhood”—it’s a place where people intentionally choose to live because they’re ready for more community, character, and quality of life.

Victorian architecture, walkable streets, lush parks, and a strong independent business scene make the neighborhood feel personal. And because it sits just across I-25 from Downtown Denver, you can work in the city and still come home to something that feels residential, warm, and distinctly Denver.

🛍️ 3 Distinct Districts, Endless Personality

The Highlands isn’t just one place—it’s three interconnected cultural hubs, each with its own flavor, architecture, and local favorites.

Highlands Square

Located around West 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard, this is where you’ll find charming boutiques, indie wine shops, cozy bookstores, and brunch spots that turn into cocktail hangouts at night. The Square has a slightly slower pace and is full of locals who appreciate its neighborhood feel.

Local Favorite:
🍕 Blue Pan Pizza
For the best Detroit-style pizza in Denver, Blue Pan is the gold standard. Their award-winning Brooklyn Bridge pizza—with crispy cheese crust, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, garlic, and cloud-like ricotta—is the stuff of legend. Come early for their killer $10 lunch special, or grab a pie to go and enjoy it in one of the nearby Denver parks.

Popular Home Styles:

🏡 Craftsman charm meets classic brickwork
Highlands Square is known for its historic Craftsman bungalows, Denver Squares, and early 20th-century brick homes. You’ll also find the occasional Victorian tucked between more modest mid-century builds. Buyers here love the wide front porches, original hardwoods, and neighborhood pride that often comes with a fully restored property.

LoHi (Lower Highlands)

Trendy, architectural, and always buzzing, LoHi blends historic brick buildings with ultra-modern townhomes and condos. You’ll find some of Denver’s most innovative restaurants, rooftop bars with skyline views, and art galleries tucked into unexpected corners. It’s also one of the most photogenic parts of the city—if you’re into design, this is your spot.

Local Favorite:
🥩 The Buckhorn Exchange
Denver’s oldest restaurant and a genuine piece of Wild West history, The Buckhorn Exchange has been serving up steaks and game since 1893. The walls are lined with stories (and taxidermy), and it’s not just a dining experience—it’s a rite of passage for newcomers.

Popular Home Styles:

🏙️ Bold and modern with skyline views
LoHi is a mix of old and new. Think contemporary townhomes, sleek duplexes, and rooftop-patio condos, all sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with early 1900s brick Victorians and converted warehouses. It’s one of the few areas in Denver where you’ll find floor-to-ceiling glass townhomes next to 120-year-old bungalows—and it works.

Tennyson Street (Berkeley)

Just west of the Highlands, the Tennyson Street Cultural District pulses with creativity and community spirit. Think live music, vintage shops, international eats, and a hyper-local arts scene. Monthly First Friday Art Walks and a growing gallery network make this a gathering place for creatives, families, and longtime locals alike.

Local Favorite:
🌳 Berkeley Lake Park
One of Denver’s most beloved green spaces, Berkeley Lake Park is where the neighborhood slows down. Take a walk around the lake, hit the playgrounds, or picnic under the trees after an afternoon browsing galleries or grabbing tacos on Tennyson. This park anchors the Berkeley lifestyle—laid-back, local, and always within reach of something interesting.

Popular Home Styles:

🏠 Artful variety with a modern edge
The Tennyson/Berkeley area is known for its blend of renovated historic homes, modern new builds, and creatively designed townhomes. You’ll find early 20th-century brick bungalows with updated interiors, contemporary infill homes with rooftop decks, and townhouses with bold design details. There’s even room for artistic surprises—like the occasional public art installation or mural that turns a street into a canvas.

🔑 Final Thought

For many of today’s buyers, finding the right home means more than just square footage. It’s about living in a place that fits your energy, your routine, and your long-term goals. The Highlands delivers on all of that—and then some.

Whether you’re drawn to the historic charm of Highlands Square, the energy and architecture of LoHi, or the creative pulse of Tennyson Street, you’ll find a neighborhood that fits you—not just where you are now, but where you’re headed next.

Stay tuned for the next feature in this series: Capitol Hill—a neighborhood where character, culture, and community live on every corner.

—
Randy Burgess
Luxury Realtor® | Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
📍 Denver | Palm Springs
🔗 www.livingat5280.com | @livingat5280