Explore Denver

Explore Denver

Denver's city skyline at sunset.
Credit: VISIT DENVER, the Convention and Visitors Bureau

Local Restaurants, Breweries, and Things to Do

Restaurants

Denver boasts a wide variety of top-tier restaurants and flourishing food culture its own. Experience everything from mouth-watering food truck fare to unforgettable fine dining.

Explore restaurants

Breweries and Taprooms

Denver was one of the original epicenters of the American craft beer renaissance. Visitors have their pick of some of the finest breweries and taprooms in the world.

Explore breweries

Craft beer enthusiasts: the Great American Beer Festival is taking place in Denver on 6–8 October, immediately before GSA Connects 2022. Interested?

Learn more about GABF

Things to Do

Connects 2022 is likely to keep you busy, but if you find time to explore Denver, the city and surrounding area offer world-class recreation.

Explore things to do

Making Denver a Great Place to Visit

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, VISIT DENVER, the Downtown Denver Partnership and the entire downtown Denver business community are dedicated to ensuring downtown Denver is safe, inviting, and fun for residents, workers and visitors. Tourism is one of the largest industries in metro Denver and Colorado.  We have invested billions of dollars in the growth of downtown Denver and we are all committed to improving and enhancing the experiences & hospitality throughout downtown.

Key Initiatives and Programs:

 
  1. Mayor Michael B. Hancock in collaboration local, state, and federal agencies has launched an enhanced 2022 public safety action plan. This action plan will address and improve public safety throughout the city to include, but not limited to:  Crime prevention & improving policy, proliferation of illegal guns, behavioral health & alternatives to police response, and police recruitment & retention.  Denver’s public safety agencies have established a national reputation for reform, better training of law enforcement, improved community engagement and innovation. View the detailed 2022 Public Safety Action Plan.
  2. Based on the successful implementation of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Security Action Plan in 2015, the second phase of the Security Action Plan is currently underway. VISIT DENVER is dedicating resources to the plan focused on enhancing the visitor experience including: expanding security staffing and deployment, establishing a downtown Code of Conduct, enhancements to the Block Captain program, mobile applications to enhance reporting capabilities and tracking, and the use of Smart City technologies to integrate surveillance solutions, enabling public and private services and property owners to work together more efficiently.
  3. The Business Improvement District (BID) deploys a security team on the 16th Street Mall and convention corridor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Private security officers welcome employees, residents, and visitors while playing an ambassadorial role, help direct individuals in need of social services, and work closely with Denver Police Department officers and private businesses in addressing unlawful behavior.
  4. DPD dedicates a substantial amount of police resources to the downtown region with a focus on providing high quality public safety services to our residents, businesses, and visitors in the downtown region.  In addition to our Precinct Officers, several District 6 Proactive Enforcement Units conduct a variety of patrols along our 16th Street Mall, and Convention Center corridors.
  5. Denver is leading the nation with several innovative safety programs.
    • Walk the Beat, a Denver police foot patrol team actively monitors the downtown corridor and 16th Street Mall providing safety, security, and informational resources.
    • Downtown Motor Unit and Mounted Police Unit.
    • The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), a program through the Denver Police Department serves the downtown corridor and connects individuals experiencing homelessness with support, supplies, and resources.
    • The Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program deploys paramedics and mental health clinicians to respond to non-emergency, non-violent calls as an alternative to engaging police. STAR is supported by a mental health sales tax measure supported by VISIT DENVER and approved by Denver voters.
    • A public radio/shared radio network program has been implemented between downtown security officers, police, and building security departments within the Business Improvement District.
    • Additional security Halo Cameras have been installed in the Business Improvement District with sophisticated visual and sound technology.
    • Violence Mitigation Operations – A Mobile Command Post along with pro-active enforcement teams are deployed to high-density night club areas in an effort to detour crime, mitigate violence, and locating & recovering illegal firearms.
  6. A new crisis-stabilization center was opened that will significantly enhance support for people going through behavioral-health emergencies, including people experiencing homelessness.
  7. The Denver Day Works program provides work opportunities to individuals who are experiencing homelessness with a goal of connecting participants to stable employment. The program is also connecting program participants to supportive services such as food assistance, shelter/housing and other resources.
  8. Many Denver shelters are transitioning to 24/7 operations with expanded services and other supportive program offerings. VISIT DENVER supported and Denver voters approved a sales tax increase to fund additional shelter, housing and services programs.
  9. A smoking ban went into effect along the 16th Street Mall, which makes downtown a healthy and clean destination and makes it easier to enforce laws against the public consumption of marijuana.