Hello Highland! The best of Denver’s hippest – and gay friendly – neighborhood

Highland – a trendy area that includes Lower Highland (LoHi) and West Highland (WeHi) – has become one of Denver s hot spots in recent years. The once-blighted area, which maintains its small neighborhood charm, has sprung forth with new life thanks to a surge of new development. And better yet, the area is super gay-friendly. Not only are there several gay-owned businesses (BOA, Gallop and The Corner Boutique Framing to name a few), but the up-and-coming eclectic neighborhood is also welcoming to all walks of life. As is often the case in real estate, the rise in activity has everything to do with location. Highland is located close to Downtown, and the new pedestrian bridge, which links LoHi to Lower Downtown (LoDo), has made the area even more accessible. As a result, a bevy of new restaurants, salons, cafés and other top-notch establishments have elevated this community to one of the most sought-after locales in Denver.

Incredible Eats

BOA
3464 W. 32nd Ave.
303-484-9628
http://boaw32nd.com
Located in West Highland and co-owned by partners Liz Christensen and Julie Villafana, found the area to be a perfect fit for their new Mexican/Asian-fusion restaurant. “The area is family- and gay-friendly, with a lot of young adults,” Christensen said. “It has a hip vibe, it’s eclectic, and it’s a little Mecca in itself.”

Linger
2030 W. 30th Ave.
303-993-3120
http://lingerdenver.com
A happening locale in LoHi, is the ideal spot for, well, lingering. Owner and chef Justin Cucci said that the real estate site, inside the
old Olinger Mortuaries building, chose him in a way. “Paul Tamburello and Stephanie Garcia called me to look at a building they were in the process of buying,” he said. “Once I set foot inside, and on the roof, it was a no-brainer.”

Pasquini’s
2400 W. 32nd Ave.
303-477-4900
http://pasquinis.com
Another favorite spot for locals, Pasquini’s – a pizza joint located smack dab in the middle of the action on 32nd and Zuni – stands as a reflection of the neighborhood. “The descriptors we use for Pasquini’s are the same for the Highland neighborhood: artsy, accessible, tolerant, diverse, welcoming, friendly, affordable, vibrant and full of character,” said founder Tony Pasquini.

Highland Tap & Burger
2219 W. 32nd Ave.
720-287-4493
http://highlandtapdenver.com
If you’re looking for craft beer and burgers, look no further than Highland Tap & Burger. This local hangout, which opened in September 2010, works hard to stay true to the neighborhood bar mentality. “We’re focused on holding events that bring our neighbors together,” said co-owner Katie O’Shea. “For example, we started The Crafty Ladies beer club where women meet once or twice a month to participate in craft beer tastings.”

Plus: 
Williams & Graham
3160 Tejon St.
303-997-8886
http://williamsandgraham.com
A new speakeasy from Sean Kenyon and Todd Colehour with a large wooden bar, cozy booths, elegant cocktails and a small menu of appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Cozy Cafés

Gallop Café
2401 W. 32nd Ave.
303-455-5650
http://gallopcafe.com
In addition to numerous restaurants, Highland also has plenty of cafés that dot the landscape. According to David Grafke, who opened
Gallop Café with his partner Glen Baker in 2004, LoHi was the ideal spot for an intimate, European-style café. “From the beginning, we felt it was a dynamic, diverse area that was well suited for our concept.”

The Laughing Latte
2001 W. 32nd Ave.
303-993-3115
http://thelaughinglatte.com
A newcomer to the area, The Laughing Latte, which opened in April, has become a gathering place for the LoHi community. Owner Dino Espejo wanted a place where he could “sell burritos to Latinos and coffee to yuppies.” He found just the spot on the northwest corner of West 32nd Avenue and Tejon Street. “We saw so much potential here, because the community is filled with hard-working people who needed a home-away-from-home.”

Living the Sweet Life
1535 Central St.
303-477-8088
http://livingthesweetlifedenver.com
This boutique bakery that opened in August 2009 on Central Street, offers everything from cookies and cupcakes to pies and French macarons. “This is my home, and I felt so supported by my neighbors from the beginning – many of whom also own small businesses,” said owner Erika Cunha.

Little Man Ice Cream
2620 16th St.
303-455-3811
http://littlemanicecream.com
With its gleaming silver milk jug and long line of patrons waiting for a scoop – opened in July 2008 on 16th Street next to Lola. “We chose this location because the area needed something to help breathe life back into the neighborhood,” said general manager Kristen Maldeis. “The owner, Paul Tamburello, saw the potential of the whole block and has now redeveloped it into a hot spot for Denver.”

Plus:
Wooden Spoon Café & Bakery
2418 W. 32nd Ave.
303-999-0327
http://woodenspoondenver.com
A traditional café using local ingredients to create delicious soups, sandwiches, salads and baked goods.

Stylish Salons

The FireHaus Salon
3600 Tejon St.
303-999-0880
http://thefirehaus.com
Besides the gastronomic pleasures of Highland, the area also features trendy salons to keep the young and hip looking the part. Brent Ward, owner of The FireHaus Salon, saw a unique opportunity to open an upscale salon in the old firehouse No. 7 building that he’s owned in LoHi since 2007. “We’re known for having stylists who are the top talent in Denver and who also provide an upscale but unpretentious atmosphere,” he said.

Clementine’s
2009 W. 33rd Ave.
720-328-3594
http://clementinesdenver.com
Another LoHi salon, Clementine’s, opened in April 2011 to be part of the up-and-coming neighborhood. “There are several other salons in the area, but they all have their separate cultures and vibes, and there wasn’t one like ours,” said owner Dani Nelson Everson. “We have extremely talented stylists and a relaxed atmosphere.”

Plus: 
Ergün Tercan European Salon
2500 W. 15th St.
303-433-5544
http://erguntercansalon.com
A European salon offering services rarely found elsewhere in the U.S, such as threading (a form of hair removal), razor cutting, European color techniques, Japanese straightening and European hair extensions.

Higdon’s Hair Studio
2523 16th St.
303-455-5208
http://higdonshairstudio.com
A down-to-earth salon where you can get styles ranging from classic to funky.

Shapes Salon & Studio
2525 15th St.
303-964-8077

This salon specializes in color and curly hair, and first-time clients can receive special deals.

And Everything Else

The Pig & Block Charcuterie
3326 Tejon St.
303-455-6328
http://thepigandblock.com
One of the best things about Highland is that the locals can find every type of business to meet their daily needs. For example, Jeff Bauman, who opened The Pig & Block Charcuterie with his brother Marc in October, chose the LoHi location to offer residents quality meats without having to drive across town. “Now, all the locals have to do is walk or ride their bikes to pick up quality pork, beef and the best charcuterie assortment in Denver,” he said.

The Corner Boutique Framing
3275 W. 32nd Ave.
720-633-4368
http://thecornerframing.com
Yet another new business, The Corner Boutique Framing, which opened in August, is a place where locals can have all of their photography and framing needs met. Eddy Bowles, who co-owns the business with his partner David Schmidt, quickly fell in love with the area after moving from New York. The framing shop shares a space with 211 Photography and Bloom Portraits (both owned and operated by Bowles and Schmidt) on the corner of Speer Boulevard and West 32nd Avenue.

Plus:
Vitruvian Fitness
3212 Tejon St.
303-455-0437
http://vmfit.com
Semi-private personal training and small-group workouts with no monthly memberships required.