# 14

2025 rank: 57

Meet the comeback kid. It’s been five years since City Park West made an appearance in our top 25—due to a sluggish real estate scene, subpar school performance, and a high crime rate—but this ’hood seems to have entered its redemption arc. The central Denver hamlet vaulted 43 spots this year, mostly thanks to a nearly 11 percent increase in home sale prices. Meanwhile, the precinct’s pupils have been hitting the books because both schools within its boundaries earned stellar performance ratings.

If you choose to move here, your neighbors to the east will be the fun-and-sun lovers at Denver’s largest (and second-oldest) public park just across York Street as well as the furred, feathered, and scaled denizens of the Denver Zoo. A large portion of City Park West’s north end is taken up by hospitals and medical centers, and the entire neighborhood is peppered with apartment and condo buildings.

The architectural styles are many: quaint Victorians, looming red brick Denver squares, angular Art Deco double-deckers, and recent stucco scrape-and-builds. East 17th and 18th Avenues have become busy thoroughfares for commuters coming and going between downtown and Denver’s east side. If you want to access the plethora of vibrant restaurants, bars, and cafes along the neighborhood’s southern border on East Colfax Avenue, you’ll have to navigate the maze of orange cones and lane closures from RTD’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project—scheduled to continue construction through late 2027.

Population 6,033
2024 Average Sale Price $709,076

Neighborhood Rankings

Real Estate Rank 5
Schools Score 4
Safety Rank 67
X Factor Score 8

How we got these numbers: We utilized the city’s official list of 78 neighborhoods (only 73 had enough data to be included), and ranked them using four variables: home prices, crime data, school rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things like access to open space, proximity to public transportation, and restaurant and shopping options. For more on our methodology, return to the main page.

Your Itinerary

Eat & Drink

City Park West encompasses one of Denver’s most vibrant restaurant scenes, with a continuous stream of new eateries in a variety of styles. Begin the day with savory crepes at Cafe Miriam, a fresh-baked croissant from Hearth, or a hearty bowl of breakfast fried rice at Onefold. When it’s lunchtime, pick up the namesake sammie from Porchetta House or a cheesy relleno burrito from Chivis Tacos, a beloved food truck turned brick-and-mortar concept.

Enjoy casual evenings out at Ollie & Parks, Vine Street Pub & Brewery (an outpost of Boulder’s Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery), or Dos Santos. East Coasters ought to visit White Pie, which the owners modeled after the New Haven–style pizzerias of their childhood. Asian cuisine has taken off here, too, with foodie favorites Hong Kong Station III, Noodles by Nina, Som Dee Thai, and Curry & Grill 2.

Denver sports fans will find likeminded locals, athlete-inspired alcoholic beverages, and 33 TVs at DNVR Bar. Want a similar sporty experience but with more…flair? Visit Tight End, the city’s first gay sports bar. If you’re looking for something other than lager, stop in at Carw Gwyn, a Welsh mead bar and medieval drinking hall, for sips of the honey-based brew and hearty meat pies.

Creative Pursuits

Other Denver neighborhoods are famous for their art galleries, but City Park West has Leon, a nonprofit art destination presenting solo and group exhibits intended to challenge audiences (such as a sonic sculpture show) and nurture new talent. Don’t have time to mill around a museum or gallery? Swing by the Storeroom, a once-vacant storefront that’s become a bite-size art installation.

If You Do One Thing…

…Neighborhood hop into City Park itself for City Park Jazz, a summertime ritual for 40 years. The free Sunday concerts start on June 7 and continue through August 9. Pack your own picnic (no open booze containers), spread out a blanket, and fend off the Sunday Scaries for a little longer.

Spots to Eat

Thai Basil Asian Fusion

The Mansion on Colfax

Sushi Bay 17

Olive & Finch

View All Restaurants in City Park West

About This Neighborhood