Noteworthy Mention of the Baker Neighborhood

Baker neighborhood was one of the original neighborhoods in Denver and gained historic designation by the city in 2000. Originally a 160-acre homestead, Baker neighborhood is now a diverse area, home to a variety of architectural styles, and many commercial properties and industrial sites. It was named after James Baker, a president of the University of Colorado.

History of Baker Neighborhood

Baker’s first subdivisions were platted in 1872 but most of the development occurred following the annexation of South Side to Denver in 1883. Broadway’s cable cars, as well as the Circle Railroad system, drew citizens to South Side. Today, the Baker neighborhood is a vibrant community filled with freshly renovated Victorian homes, bungalows, duplexes, and condos. Baker tends to attract an array of residents from hip singles to young families. It’s urban core and streets are interspersed with coffee houses, eclectic shops, galleries, nightclubs, and fine and casual dining.

The neighborhood is a mix of industrial, residential and commercial properties with the area along I-25 having an industrial character, the area along Broadway consisting mostly of commercial retail and offices, and north of Alameda between Santa Fe and Broadway making up the residential core. Baker is home to two popular parks — Dailey Park at W. Ellsworth Avenue and Cherokee Street, and Phil Milstein Park which is open space that runs along the South Platte River, south of 6th Avenue and I-25. Baker is served by several bus lines and two light rail stops, Alameda and I-25 and Broadway.

Restaurants and Culture

The Baker neighborhood is home to the Mayan Theater which was built in 1930. The Mayan Theatre features some of the finest independent film and foreign language cinema in the city.

The Underground Music Showcase (the UMS) is a premier summer festival which is held in the Baker neighborhood. The UMS is not only known for its local talent but also for the diversity and high energy of the performances you can enjoy at various outdoor and indoor locations.

Broadway provides a stunning variety of restaurants. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Go Fish | The name alone is reason enough to check this place out. Superb Japanese fare along with an array of imported sake. And a Happy Hour that will knock your socks off.
• Denver Biscuit Company | Have yet to meet a person who doesn’t like biscuits or this establishment. Biscuit plates, biscuit sandwiches, grits, gravy, you get the idea. Bring your appetite; worry about the scale next month.
• TRVE Brewing | Beer enthusiasts needs a little counter-culture every once in a while. TRVE offers that and much more with exceptionally named brews — try Exhumation and World’s Blood to name a few. A self-described “rad place to hang out.”
• Queen City Collective Coffee | A mouthful of a name but a warm and inviting coffee shop, featuring small batch African coffee. Distinctive and delightful — you won’t be disappointed!