RiNo Art District: Murals, Makers and Nightlife North of Downtown

The RiNo Art District, short for River North, covers a set of former industrial blocks just north of downtown Denver. Once dominated by warehouses and rail lines, the area has been redeveloped into a district known for creative businesses, according to the district organization and VisitDenver.

RiNo is best known for its outdoor murals, many of them large-scale works painted on the sides of buildings, which draw visitors who come to walk the streets and photograph the art. The district also holds galleries, design studios and maker spaces alongside its converted warehouse buildings.

The neighborhood has become a center for food and drink, with breweries, distilleries, coffee roasters and restaurants clustered within walking distance. VisitDenver highlights RiNo as one of the city's more active nightlife and dining districts.

For visitors, RiNo is reachable from downtown by a short rideshare trip, by the commuter rail line that stops at the 38th and Blake station, and on foot from the northern edge of LoDo. The district is walkable once you arrive, with much of the mural art concentrated along a few main streets.

RiNo suits an afternoon or evening of wandering, whether your interest is street art, independent shops, or the local brewery scene. Its mix of creative and industrial character has made it one of Denver's most talked-about neighborhoods for visitors and residents alike.

The district rewards unhurried exploration on foot, since many of its murals, shops and taprooms are tucked along side streets rather than a single main strip. Because much of the area was built as industrial space, the architecture mixes raw warehouse exteriors with newer development, giving the neighborhood a distinct look. The mural collection changes over time as new works are added and older ones are painted over, so the streetscape a visitor sees today may differ from one photographed a year earlier.