RiNo (River North Art District) is the Brooklyn of Denver.
RiNo (River North Art District) named the Brooklyn of Denver
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named RiNo (River North Art District) the Brooklyn of Denver.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Denver's verdict went to RiNo (River North Art District) ahead of Capitol Hill, Baker and Five Points, which take the runner-up positions.
"RiNo, the River North Art District, is our pick for the Brooklyn of Denver. It is what happens when warehouses get handed over to muralists and cocktail nerds, and the whole place still smells like fresh wheat paste to prove it. Denverites are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to RiNo (River North Art District)'s independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Denver verdict: brooklynof.com/denver
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/denver
Runner-up neighborhoods: Capitol Hill, Baker, Five Points
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.