Think you know the Denver area? If you haven’t taken the short trip northwest of the city to Olde Town Arvada, you’re missing one of the Front Range’s most charming destinations. The walkable downtown is lined with a diverse mix of restaurants, coffeehouses and cafés, a fascinating local museum, and an engaging selection of boutiques, galleries and entertainment venues.
© Debra Bokur
Arvada’s history reaches back to Colorado’s Pike’s Peak Gold Rush era. Founded in the 1870s as an agricultural community along the Colorado Central Railroad, the town was first known as Ralston Point and later earned the nickname “Celery Capital of the World.” At the turn of the 20th century the community adopted the name Arvada. While early trolley service has faded into memory, the neighborhood is now served by the Gold Line of RTD’s commuter rail, with a central station that links directly to Union Station in downtown Denver.
For lunch, settle in at Teocalli Cocina, where Head Chef Julio Gaspar, originally from Escondido, Oaxaca, and Chef John Curiel craft an authentic menu. Standouts include Esquites, blistered shishito peppers and a rich Birria de Res — braised short ribs with grilled bone marrow in a guajillo stew, served alongside rice and beans.
© Debra Bokur
Begin browsing at Ramah for home décor and an array of gifts and floral arrangements; visit Outside the Box for pottery, rugs and distinctive finds; or stop by Balefire Goods for locally made art and jewelry. Musicians will enjoy Pickin’ Parlor, a must for instruments and accessories or for finding something special for the player in your life.
Golf enthusiasts should check out The TRN golf simulator, where you can book a private bay and play from among more than 2,000 virtual courses. The full-service bar serves craft beers, cocktails and wine, and private instruction is available. Owner Kent McCurdy can arrange coaching or private events, and the venue also offers a free nine-hole miniature golf option, patio seating and, on many days, local food trucks parked just outside.
Pause for coffee and a bite at Hunter Bay Coffee Roasters, then visit the Arvada Historical Society to explore its museum and arrange a guided tour of the historic Arva-Pride Flour Mill. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located next to the railroad tracks, the mill opened in the early 1920s. Its exhibitions illuminate life in Arvada during an era when grain production helped shape the town’s future.
© Debra Bokur
If you’re hungry for dinner, try Arvada Tavern. The restaurant celebrates the end of Prohibition with the town’s first Tavern License issued in 1933 and serves expertly prepared pub-style dishes alongside inventive cocktails that nod to local history. Sample drinks such as Smoke and Mirrors, Lavender Greyhound, or Mable Gramm, named after a long-time and beloved former barmaid. Don’t miss the vintage phone booth that hides a secret stairway to a Tiki Room, where live performances and musical acts are regularly showcased.
Olde Town Arvada blends history, local flavor and lively entertainment into an easy, rewarding day trip from Denver — whether you’re exploring museums, shopping indie stores, enjoying world-class food or catching live music in a storied setting.