Discover 16th Street and LoDo for a Fun Summer Adventure
Make a trip down to LoDo in Denver for a peek at the revamped 16th Street with a few foodie stops along the way.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Austin
Hello, my fellow foodies, and welcome back. It is summer and I am so excited! As a mountain girl, I thought it would be a great idea to make a trip down to LoDo in Denver for a peek at the revamped 16th Street with a few foodie stops along the way. This was an awesome way to beat the mountain traffic on the weekends and explore an expanding and thriving part of Denver. I planned out an itinerary, grabbed my husband and off we popped for a Denver adventure.
When we arrived, we decided to take a long walk down 16th Street. The revamp of the street is gorgeous, tree lined, with new sidewalks and stunning landscapes. It was so great to see crowds walking, taking pictures and shopping.
We were hungry so we headed to Bao Brewhouse for lunch just around the corner from Larimar Square. Bao Brewhouse has a tap room downstairs and a tearoom upstairs with a slightly more upscale menu. We decided to sit in the tap room for some light bites and cocktails. We ordered the Mother Clucker Dumplings, Char Sui Bao Buns, the Garlic Fried Rice and a Tuna special. The Bao Buns were amazing, full of BBQ Chinese pork, a message from my home in New York for sure. The Garlic Fried rice is a must order. You can add a protein, but it is not necessary, it’s just so good.
We were full so needed a walk and stopped at CoCo & Grace in Larimer Square for a little retail therapy. This boutique is so cute and the apparel answer to any occasion you might have. There are summer dresses galore. I could have spent hours there. I will definitely be back.
I had to go check out the remodeled Union Station next. I have been there many times, and on this occasion, it looked pristine, bustling with people, and with many new restaurants and retail shops. We needed a coffee, so we headed to the award winning Mercantile for a latte and pastries. I have eaten at Mercantile before but never enjoyed a relaxing coffee there. The homemade pastries and coffee were divine. I’m a girl who loves fresh flowers so when we passed by the new addition to Union Station Beet & Yarrow flower shop, I couldn’t resist. Their arrangements are so different and contain a few flowers I have never laid eyes on. You must stop there and “smell the roses” while at Union Station.
Right next to Beet & Yarrow is Telluride Truffle. Owner and founder Patty Denny has two other locations Lakewood and Telluride CO, and Union Station is her newest venture. The truffles are named after fun mountain seasons, ski runs, and animals. My two favorites were Bunny hill, and Early Frost. Bunny Hill is milk chocolate infused with banana, and Early Frost is dark chocolate with mint, my two favorite combinations. The truffles have no waxes or preservatives, and they are shaped like pretty Colorado mountains. If you can’t decide, purchase the “Fourteener” with contains all the truffles in a beautiful box. This is a must stop while at Union Station for chocolatey Colorado goodness.
I am so glad I took the trip to Denver to check out all that is going on in LoDo. It was full of happy people enjoying the Colorado sunshine, and a fabulous getaway for the day. Sometimes a mountain girl like myself needs a little day down in the city to shop, eat, and just enjoy sitting on a bench watching the world go by. Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.
