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

Here's a few things to keep in mind when visiting 16th Street Mall: 1) Yes, it's a very touristy place. There's a lot of larger chain stores/restaurants along the 1.25 mile mall with a sprinkling of smaller Colorado exclusives. 2) There's a large population of street performers and panhandlers. That's part of it's "charm." Though it is not a place I enjoy being after dark... 3) There are some interesting art installments along the way! 4) You have to pay to park if you choose to drive. However, you can use the RTD (Denver's public transit) and the free mall ride to get to whatever destination you are seeking - so why not leave the car at home? 16th Street Mall is def "A-Ok" in my book - as long as you know what to expect! Seeing that many of my out-of-town guests usually want to make their way here at some point during their visit; I know I will be back. read more

It's worth taking a look at. It's not huge, but some fun shops. My husband and I found it wondering around.

I love outdoor malls. Right in the middle of downtown. This is a three story mall with all the amazing shops and pretty cool places to hang out too. When you get out of the mall there's most shops the same street! Keep shopping! read more

16th Street - 16th street mall - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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It was okay. Maybe the timing was off when we walked down here but there was no one on the street on memorial day--I think they had just finished the rock the city festival but it was only like 9PM? I thought there would be more things going on haha. Maybe this wasnt the place to go? But I found that a lot of the restaurants outside this street mall had a lot more going on for them. Perhaps 16th street is better during the day and not really a night time scene? I just thought it could have been more. As far as touristy things go, I mean this is definitely a place you must visit while in Denver. I think just the expectations weren't quite met. Some notable places were the Hard Rock Cafe, numerous starbuck locations, pavilion shops and souvenir shops--definitely catered to tourists so make sure you stop by and enjoy the shops of Denver! I think walking to the state capitol building through 16th street was much more interesting haha. But yes, check it out and see what you think! read more

My relationship for 16th Street is a Love or Hate. Sometimes I love it, and sometimes I want to get the heck out of there. The best time to come here is in a summers evening at around 7/8pm, you'll witness a wonderful sunset with lots of friendly tourists walking around. Here are so pros and cons. Pros: - Free bus that you can hop on and hop off - Wide selection of stores and restaurants Cons: - Those annoying rickshaw bikes nearly run you down on the sidewalk half the time - Questionable characters present on the corner of each block read more

16th Street - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Metered parking. Most of the stores have closed down and the ones that aren't weren't even open. Lots of construction and homeless. Pretty sketchy and dirty area. Definitely not worth your time... read more

One thing i say i will tolerate more are outdoor malls. We strolled over here for the first time on 16th street to check out some fashion and fun of the mall. Amazing artsy like buildings i have never seen in my life. I was so impressed and all we could say is wow. Awesome places to dine at and eat at. Lots of families and young crowds plot around the mall. Awesome place, I love it. We will be back. read more

I thought this outside mall was cool as hell. I mean, it was super cold outside, but we enjoyed perusing the stores. When we arrived to Denver, I was thinking this was a typical mall. It wasn't. It is a stretch on 16th street that is full of stores and restaurants. Pretty much anything you are looking for, you will find it here. We hung out there during the day and then to ring in 2015. They had fireworks in two separate areas of the street, so there was no way to have a bad view of them. It really was just a cool place to hang out and find souvenirs. I would definitely tell any out-of-towners to check out this mall! read more

16th Street - Ringing in 2015 at the 16th street mall - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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The overall mall is ok, some empty store fronts, but ok. The homeless on the street is bad, they really didn't say anything to us, mind there own for the most part. A lot of different stores and restaurants to choose from. read more

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. read more

Really pretty at night. Trees are lit up and lots of places to eat and shop. The free bus was amazing. Took the bus to Union Square to eat. It was clean and safe. What a great deal... Plus didn't have to pay a cab or drive and pay for parking. read more

16th Street - Trees lit up at night - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The 16th street mall is 1.25 miles of pedestrian shopping. There are free shuttle busses (Mall Ride) that travel up and down 16th street. Denver has a very large homeless population and its very evident in this area and surrounding areas. 16th street consists of tourist/souvenier shops, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, etc. To me its just a lot of cheesy t shirt shops in a dirty area and throw in a few art pieces in an attempt to add character. The redeeming factor is the free shuttle bus system. If youre looking for pedestrian shopping with character and beauty check out pearl street in Boulder CO. Done so much better!!! read more

Introduction: Located in downtown Denver in the southern business district is a long street with every store and restaurant you can think of within older Art Deco buildings some with interesting architecture detail and others waining from the years gone by. Food: You can get anything you feel like having from poke bowls, ramen, burgers, Italian, fast food chains, it's all there making it a one stop location for breakfast lunch or dinner. Shopping: From H & M to Ross and pac sun to Victoria's Secret you can find it on this street. There are also these only in Colorado tourist stores which peddle lots of garbage souvenirs and tie dye hoodies and T-shirt's that say things like "I love weed" and "Colorado". Overall the street has a nice clean newer mall area in the Denver pavilion section then it gets ghetto as you continue into the older part. After that it gives way to a gorgeous park with the Platte river running through it and across that is the highlands which is an awesome area all connected by a couple bridges scenic relaxing and refreshing. read more

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Large, open walkway with easy transportation, great restaurants and shops, and an overall pleasant vibe.

I used to love staying at the Marriott and walking the mall area but not anymore. Now I feel completely unsafe even during the day. I find the mall heartbreaking. The city needs to step up their homeless outreach, their harm reduction outreach and housing initiatives. The mall has simply become an area for drug deals , pan handling and a haven for those who are in desperate need of mental health and addiction services . I won't stay there ever again for vacation. If I come back it will be with tools for outreach that I don't see is being provided! read more

Very strange that they call this a mall. We could find one single store. No souvenirs, nothing! Please stop telling people to go here - there is nothing! read more

Arrived at our nearby hotel and googled "restaurants and nice street to walk in downtown Denver". Walked over and felt like we were in an episode of "The Walking Dead". The street looks run down and there are a lot of homeless, drug addicted zombies walking around yelling. Fortunately the rest of the city was nice. Really liked the LoDo area. read more

Not too exciting. Handful of Colorado souvenir stores and the remedy are chain restaurants and shops that you can find anywhere. It's nice that there are busses. Good for a one time thing but more than that, then you might be bored. Not much to see here at all. read more

When the weather is nice, 16th Street Mall is a nice place to just take a stroll right through the heart of Downtown Denver. I am sure it is nice in the cold as well, but luckily we had some real nice weather during our stay. There are plenty of shops and food spots that you could eat something different for each meal during your entire stay. Now, the shops are the ones that you will find in pretty much any mall you have ever been too: Forever 21, Uniqlo (we have a few of them here in CA), etc. The restuarants are the same thing as the shops, nothing too different, but you will find a few local spots. Also this is the place to come if you are looking for souvenirs from your trip or anything that says Denver, Colorado or for Marijuana related trinkets. The bus that goes up and down 16th Street is free to ride. Make sure you take advantage of that if you need to get to and from Union Station and also so you do not have to walk far (1 mile is not far) distances. The buses can get pretty crowded, so make sure you watch for pick pocketing and shenanigans like that. Yes, there are plenty of transients scattered throughout the 16th Street Mall. There are security guards there trying to push them along, but there are quiet a few of them. You will find a lot more of them come around in the night hours. read more

Stay off the free mall ride. It's full of homeless people that ride it all day to stay warm or cool. Even if you walk you're still going to run into homeless people. They have been trying to clean up that area for years and it still hasn't happened. read more

A long street with eateries, bars and a few shopping Strips here and there. Doesn't seem like a street mall everything is spread out it's cool the street is blocked off from normal traffic there are a few places to shop and a lot of places to eat or have a drink at it's a nice area to visit if your a tourist read more

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Outdoor Mall in downtown Denver. It offers something for everyone. There was food, shopping, street performers and movie theaters. I enjoyed it very much and so did the family. It did feel kinda touristy, people were trying to sell things the entire time that I was there. Parking can be an issue but overall it was a solid 3.5 to 4 stars. When I go back I will explore more. Oh yea, I feel in love with Smashburger in Denver near downtown 16th street. read more

Maybe this place was great before the pandemic, but it just felt unsafe and sad visiting today. There's lots of homeless people, people on drugs or mentally ill, and even seemed like someone was possibly overdosing. Many stores are closed too. read more

This place is disgusting. Zero stars. Disgusting stench of the interior of a dumpster on a hot day permeates the entire area and gets into your mouth. Homeless people sleeping everywhere, most shops closed during the day. Be prepared to breathe in other people's cigarette smoke while stewing in your own regret until the Uber picks you up. read more

The 16th Street Mall is so freakin' fun! Imagine a stretch of downtown street that extends about 2 dozen blocks, with a train terminal that connects to the airport at one end, and the state capitol at the other. Lined with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, a movie theater, a bowling alley and clubs and shenanigans from local street performers. You are starting to get the picture. Throw in the fact that Denver's hybrid electric buses are the only traffic allowed and the mix takes shape. Did I mention the buses are FREE? What an epic place to see and do! People watching is priceless here because you've got it all. There's a bevy of Denver-style food trucks in kiosks to try. There's pianos set up to take a try on - and some of the performers are pretty good. If you get tired you can hire a bicycle Surrey to wheel you around. If you need something there's a retail mall with 40 shops available. My suggestions for maximum enjoyment are to wear comfortable shoes and carry a light rucksack/backpack to carry sundry items. Bring your sense of adventure because fun is sure to follow! read more

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This is a must-go, if you have a few hours to spare in Denver! We parked in the 15th street garage, which was $3 for every half hour. There are a lot of stores here that we don't have in our hometown of Des Moines, IA, so that was a plus. We had a pretty good time. It's fall, so all of the trees were golden/red and the skies are clear. This mall goes down 16th street for so many blocks, we got a really good workout in! Traffic is heavy but it's downtown, so expect that much. It was an absolutely beautiful trip with so many shops, restaurants, food vendors, and a free bus line that is dedicated to the entire mall. Each block seems to have some hidden set of shops, so it's really fun to explore. This is a really great way to work off some of the food your'e going to enjoy, and to see something unlike anything we have in the midwest! read more

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Most people know what is mile-high in Denver (the Mile High Stadium for those who don't follow sports), but do you know what famous landmark is a mile long? The 16th Street Mall is an outdoor mall that is literally a mile long and most of it is closed to traffic and is pedestrians only (although you still encounter traffic at cross streets). There are free shuttle buses running the entire stretch of the mall going in both directions. That's great if you are in a hurry (or don't feel like walking) to get to a certain spot, or you can walk one way and take the bus back. There is also a small indoor complex called the Denver Pavilion which hosts the UA theaters along with some bars, restaurants and shops. Most of the restaurants are large chains such as Yard House and Cheesecake Factory. Retailers are also mostly national chains like Forever 21, Gap, Banana Republic, etc. There are some local flavors but they are few and far between. Other than the fact that the mall is linearly arranged and is a mile long, there really isn't anything special, or anything that you can't find back home. On a beautiful and unusually warm November day, it can be quite a pleasant walk. But be warned that there are plenty of homeless people scattered throughout the streets at every corner. Most of them are just there and wouldn't bother you, but a few could be asking for money. Also be careful about some sketchy people hanging out there. Avoid eye contact and keep walking and don't respond if you are approached. There are some center dividers or islands with chairs and tables which would have been a nice place to sit and relax and to soak in the scenery that Denver has to offer. It would be nice just to rest your feet. But sadly, most of these seating areas are occupied by homeless people. If you happen to be in the area on a gorgeous day with a couple of hours to spare, it's not a bad place to take a stroll and do some shopping and dining. But it's definitely not worth getting out of your way to go there. read more

There isn't a lot of places to choose from. A lot of construction and it doesn't feel the safest. Definitely not a place I would go to at night read more

Walking down 16th street mall was as nice as walking through San Francisco's market street. There's a mixture of good vibes as well as restaurants, bars, homelessness, and more. I probably would only come here with the boys to meet women but not to take my lady. read more

The 16th Street Mall is a great example of a city creating a district to revitilize itself and create a go-to desitination for tourists. The 16th Street Mall is, well, a "mall" along 16th street in downtown Denver. It stretches for about 16 blocks, too. It is blocked off to all vehicles with more than 2 wheels, except: 1. The Free Mall bus. These are white energy efficient buses that go up and down the Mall, stopping at every intersection. THEY ARE FREE! They also have 4 large doors for easy in-out access, and low rise bodies. 2. Horse drawn carriages. There are several white, horse drawn carriages with men in top hats that will give you and your S.O. a more romantic ride up the Mall. 3. Pedicabs. These 3 wheeled wonders that are ubiquitous with tourists, are also here. There are a plethora of restaurants and shops along the 16th Street Mall. Any type, from casual to upscale. From brew pubs to nice bars. Cheesecake Factory to Fast Food. The shopping isn't exactly New York, Union Square, Magnificent Mile, Rodeo, or even Ala Moana, but just like in the movie "Babe", the shopping here, well, "it'll do pig". There is a sense of whimsy, with the icons along the Mall to provide curiosity to the Tourists. A lot of cities are trying to do this, by commissioning unusual art along a tourist strip. Like Cows, Steer, Birds, etc. When I was there, it was old upright Pianos, with colorful graffiti on them. As in many tourist strips in major US cities, there is the Riff Raff element present. There are some haggard straggler types, some just finishing toking their mdeical marijuana, some drumming for bills or panhandling for change. But overall, there is a wide mix of young and old present on the warm summer nights, and the areas is well lit and generally safe. If you want to be a part of this tourist nightlife area, there are plenty of hotels within a block of the 16th Street Mall. read more

16th Street - Pianos along the Mall for everyone to enjoy! - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Kind of a strange homeless hipster crusty granola group that wanders around here later at night. Some begging. Others wandering around in a drug and booze fueled haze. Others just singing. During the day and night. Weird. At least there are free bus rides up and down it and so many places to eat, drink, and shop along the way, but it's all kind of touristy to me. Mostly chain stores. During the day there are random multi-colored pianos set up along the route that people can play on. Fountains and public art throughout. Street performers too. This is a great spot for people watching. Taco Bell open late at night after a round of bar hopping was a happy surprise. Bean burritos! Also, this strip is within a few minutes walking distance to all the hotels in the area and the convention center. Yet, it can be a little unnerving for some walking around here later at night with all the shady characters shuffling around. Not once did I see any Denver police patrolling the area in the time I was here. read more

Man this place has gone downhill. A lot of stores did not re-open, understandably. However there is just way too many homeless people lingering around 16th St to make it seem family friendly or safe. read more

16th Street Mall is a mile long stretch of shops and restaurants that are mostly chains (Cheesecake Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, H&M, It's Sugar, Rite Aid, Chipotle) with a few unique stops in-between (local breweries, bookstores, and bars). I thought 16th Street Mall was great for people watching and getting a dose of the big city life. I liked the big clock tower that rang on the hour, the architecture and skyscrapers, and the chess games going on in the middle of the mall. Yes, there's a sizable homeless population lined throughout the area, but being from Vegas, I guess I'm kind of used to that. Parking was difficult, but we parked in a public garage a few blocks away and ended up paying $6 for around 5 hours or so. Free parking pretty much isn't an option. There's a bus that makes frequent stops up and down 16th Street, and it's free to use. Every time we seen one they looked packed, so we chose to walk instead. There's signs on every other corner that points tourists and locals alike to popular landmarks in the city (Coors Field, Larimer Square), which proved to be quite helpful. YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2015: #199 read more

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I kind of wish Chicago had something like the 16th St. Mall. I really enjoy that there's a mile long stretch of tons of stuff to do right at the foot of the Capitol in Denver. Sure, most of it it a total tourist trap, but there's always something to do. The mall begins at the foot of the Capitol and runs all the way in to LoDo. LoDo has tons of bars, restaurants and places to go, so it's a really great neighborhood to have the mall running through. When you walk down toward the end of the mall, you'll pass by every chain restaurant that exists in the world: Cheesecake Factory, Tokyo Joe's, Cosi, Corner Bakery, etc. There's tons of restaurant options for your famished self, but there's also some local Denver spots on the mall and on the streets right near it. Do some exploring and you'll find some nice stuff. As you proceed down the mall toward LoDo, you'll pass by the Denver Performing Arts Complex (awesome) which always has something for you to do. There's tons of shopping opportunities for those with a little money to spend and as you get further down, you'll be closer to all of the sports complexes in Denver. Go to the east and you'll be right at Coors Field, go to the west and you'll have a bit of a walk to Pepsi Center. Definitely has a bunch of stuff for everyone to do, so come on down to the mall. It's a cool place to sit outside in the summer and people watch - there's always a place to have a drink and talk with your friends. Oh, and did I mention the Free MallRide? Awesome! read more

16th Street - Shopping Centers Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Blocks & blocks of restaurants & shopping. My 1st trip downtown & 16th is really cool, But wondering off to state capital was really disappointing, Denver has a large homeless population & it's really rough. The mall is well worth the trip. read more

The 16th Street Mall is located in downtown Denver with plenty of shops and restaurants. But being that this is located in downtown, there are some homeless people/ bums that do reside on random corners, so be sure you are aware of your safety, especially if you come at night. Now you can read all the other Yelp reviews about this place with it pros and cons. But what really made me decide to award 16th Street a 4th star is the awesome free mall bus. I think it is such an excellent feature that Denver offers for free. You could drink and let someone else drive you down the street. Honestly, I would love to have my own downtown offer this free service. Maybe someday (doubtful though). read more

How cool is it to have a mile long pedestrian promenade running through the middle of a major metropolitan city? Designed by world renowned architect I.M. Pei in 1982, the Mall is constructed of red, white and gray granite designed to mimic the skin of a Western Diamondback rattlesnake. Hopefully you won't see any snakes there but the Mall is home to loads of shops and restaurants, some chains and some locally owned. It's fun to stroll around and people watch. There are various vendors and street performers along the way. There are also some leftover CowParade sculptures to admire and a couple of random pianos for anyone to play should the mood strike. If you get tired of walking, you can always hop on one of the free shuttles that run up and down the street. There are other things to do on the Mall besides shopping and eating. You can examine some of Denver's older buildings up close and personal. The Downtown Denver Arts Festival is held there and a skating rink is open in the winter. On New Year's Eve, you can go down to the Mall and watch fireworks to ring in the new year (two shows, one at 9:00 PM and one at midnight). Definitely a unique place to hang out and enjoy beautiful downtown Denver. read more

I have walked/shopped/eaten at 16th Street Mall numerous times. During the day it's a vibrant, bustling city street that's reminiscent of other big cities. Men and women in business suits, moms and their babies, teenage girls shopping and flirting, friends getting together for lunch. At night it turns into a scary shit hole and it makes me feel genuinely afraid for my safety and well-being. 16th street is well lit and there are always tons of people walking around. The only problem with that is: -7 out of 10 people are drunk or high on something. -2 out of 10 want to rob you, hurt you, or ask for money. -The last person out of 10 just wants to get the hell home. Tonight we walked 10 blocks up and down 16th street. One block I was afraid a gang of 10 teenagers was going to jump me (@ Stout St.). For two blocks I watched some guy wobble in and out of the street eating a salad with his fingers and making a trail of garbage. We were asked for change 3 separate times. The whole center median had people in their sleeping bags, tucked in for the night. I understand homeless people need places to sleep, but this makes Denver look really, really crappy. Not once on our "stroll" to Pinkberry did I see one security guard or police officer. This is ridiculous considering there have been numerous instances of people being mugged on 16th street, and when there are roving packs of 10-15 people looking for trouble, there should DEFINITELY be some police presence. I am really not one to get scared walking around town. I live downtown (just 2 blocks away from 2 shelters) and feel plenty safe walking by myself at night. It just seems all the derelicts of society congregate on 16th Street Mall after 9pm. Recommended during the day. Not so much Sunday-Wednesday nights. read more

Free shuttle/bus that takes you up and down the street. Shopping more like a Walgreens/Rite Aid, with a mix of Ross/TJ Maxx, sprinkled with some Forever21/ H&M and franchise fast food outlets like Taco Bell/Jimmy John's/and 7-11. Some local flavor but seemed more geared towards tourists. To eat? Plenty of affordable franchise options, some touristy bars, and some sit down places like giant restaurant chains like Cheesecake and Chilis. Saw some food stands but only about half of the operators seemed to be open. Was honestly expecting more local businesses and a more clean environment. Tons of homeless and pan handlers. I was out during lunch time and probably encountered 15 homeless people working 2 blocks. I would not recommend for families unless you are running a specific errands or other than to take advantage of the free bus that runs up and down 16th street. read more