Five Points Denver Guide

Five Points is one of Denver’s oldest yet fastest-growing neighborhoods. Located just northeast of downtown, this neighborhood is renowned for its rich African-American heritage, thriving arts and music scene, and diverse food culture. Our Five Points Denver Guide covers the history of the neighborhood, restaurants, and businesses, and what to do and see when visiting.

Where is Five Points Denver?

The Five Points neighborhood is directly northeast of Downtown Denver. The neighborhood is bordered on the south by 20th St, 20th Ave, and Park Ave. Downing St provides the eastern border. The South Platte River forms the western edge resulting in a vaguely triangular 1.5 square mile neighborhood. The neighborhood is named after the five-point intersection of 26th Avenue, 27th Street, Washington Street, and Welton Street.

What about RiNo?

Denver has 78 official neighborhoods, which are technically referred to as “statistical neighborhoods.” The River North Art District (RiNo) is not one of them. RiNo is actually part of Five Points, Elyria-Swansea, Cole, and Globeville. The exact borders of RiNo depend on who you’re talking to or what you’re talking about. But the core of the district is on the west side of the Five Points neighborhood.

History of Five Points

Five Points has commonly been called the “Harlem of the west” and grew into a predominantly African-American neighborhood in the first half of the twentieth century. Denver was a destination city for Black people leaving the South during the Great Migration. Discrimination and exclusionary housing laws led to the congregation of Black residents in the neighborhood.

The neighborhood, especially the corridor along Welton Street, became a jazz hotspot starting in the 1920s, hosting the era’s leading musicians. The historic Rossonian Hotel hosted many performers and had a jazz lounge that featured many of the day’s top acts.

As was the case with many urban neighborhoods in the mid-twentieth century, the Five Points neighborhood experienced a period of decline. Suburbanization, loss of businesses, and disinvestment hurt the neighborhood. Since the 1990s, redevelopment in the neighborhood has increased. This is especially true in the past decade. In 2002 the neighborhood was designated as a cultural historic district in recognition of the role it has played in Denver’s Black history. The neighborhood maintains a prominent place in the city through its annual Juneteenth festival and music venues.

Five Points Events and Venues

The annual Juneteenth Music Festival is held in Five Points on or around June 19th. Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States and has been celebrated in the African-American community since 1866. It became a federal holiday in 2021. At the festival there are two days of performances, a parade, and hundreds of vendors. The Juneteenth parade is Denver’s longest-running parade.

The Five Points Jazz Festival ran for over two decades and was a celebration of jazz and the Five Points neighborhood’s culture. The festival has now been canceled and the 2024 iteration was the final event. It is being replaced by year-round jazz performances and jazz-related programming that will be funded through the Five Points Jazz Activation Fund. Check with Denver Arts & Venues for information about programming in 2025.

For those looking to hear live music in the heart of Five Points, Cervantes is a fixture in Denver’s music scene. They feature acts across the entire musical spectrum, from jazz to pop to rap. The venue has two halls and maintains a robust concert schedule.

Attractions in Five Points

Museums

The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center tells the story of Black cowboys and early African Americans in the American West. The museum is located in the house of Dr. Justina L. Ford, Colorado’s first licensed African American female physician. Make sure to check out the Dr. Justina L. Ford “The Lady Doctor” statue located directly across the street from the museum.

Visitors with a particular interest in Denver’s Black history will want to visit the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, part of the Denver Public Library. The library holds a rotating series of exhibits and events. A wealth of resources is available for scholars, local historians, and anyone interested in Denver’s Black community.

Restaurants and Businesses

Welton Street is the historic heart of Five Points. The Welton Street Cafe has been a fixture in the neighborhood for decades. They’ve recently reopened in a new location, but they’re still serving up all your favorite soul food and Caribbean dishes.

Located at the intersection that gave Five Points its name, Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen brings New York-style bagels to Denver. They do more than just bagels and coffee. Also check out their latkes and matzo ball soup.

Spangalang Brewery brews innovative beers on Welton Street in Five Points. They also have live music on the weekends. Check out their Masterpiece lager, brewed in collaboration with Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom. For a special treat, experience their Soul Sunday R&B Brunch, featuring live music, cocktails, and brunch every Sunday.

If you enjoy fancy and creative cocktails served in a lush lounge setting, Welton Room is a must-try venue. Explore interesting cocktails like their Rose & Lychee Espresso Martini and Midnight in Japan. They serve modern American tapas throughout the week and have a weekend brunch.

For a completely new take on beer and the spa experience, you’ll want to explore Oakwell Beer Spa. This award-winning day spa’s signature service is beer bath hydrotherapy where you relax in a bubbling hydrotherapy tub that’s filled with hops, barley, and aromatic herbs. And you can enjoy beer from their taproom during the entire experience.

Five Points Denver Guide Conclusion

We hope our guide encourages you to explore some of the history, culture, and entertainment that Five Points has to offer. Over the last century, Five Points has seen many changes and developments. Today it offers something interesting and unique for locals and tourists alike.