Exploring Denver’s RiNo Art District
Union Station has always been a place of arrivals. These days, it’s also the easiest starting point for the RiNo neighborhood. RiNo is close enough to reach in minutes from LoDo, but it feels like a different Denver — warehouse walls covered in paint, galleries hiding in plain sight, and murals that show up the second you take a wrong turn on purpose.
If you like cities where you can spend a whole day just walking and looking up, Denver is your place. And when you’re done, it’s nice to come back to Union Station and The Crawford — shower, change, and head downstairs for a nightcap.
What You’ll Get From This Guide
- A quick introduction to RiNo’s creative roots
- Must-see murals (plus an easy, self-guided route)
- Community spaces and contemporary galleries worth your time
- A one-day LoDo-to-RiNo itinerary you can copy and paste
Denver’s RiNo Art District
Not that long ago, a lot of RiNo was warehouses and empty industrial space. In the early 2000s, artists started taking over the empty buildings — studios first, then storefronts, then the momentum that turned the whole neighborhood. RiNo Art District was officially established in 2005, and you can still feel that DIY, community-built spirit in the art.
Named in USA Today’s 2026 list of top 10 Best Art Districts, it is home to four historic neighborhoods: Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, and Cole. RiNo is best explored on foot, and you’ll be glad you did — local markets, craft breweries, galleries, and market halls fill the street, but the murals are the real star of the show; 111 make up the official Mural Guide.
The closest mural to The Crawford is the BLKOUT collab at Garden Factory Lofts. A seven-minute drive from our front doors, or a 25-minute walk, it’s the perfect place to start your RiNo education.
Pull it up on maps and head over: Directions to the BLKOUT collab
A Few Murals to Put on Your Short List
A lot of RiNo’s best murals aren’t just decorative — they’re loud about what the neighborhood cares about. You’ll see work here that centers BIPOC voices, women artists, and themes around identity and equality — not as a side note, but as the point.
| Title | Artist | Where to find |
Power & Equality | Shepard Fairey | 2669 Larimer St |
| Holding Hope | Chloé Duplessis and Valerie Rose | 2669 Larimer St |
| Queen Fathima | Jodie Herrera and Miles Toland | 27th Street and Walnut Street |
| We Are Here / We Are Still Here, Re-imagining Stereotypes | Danielle SeeWalker, Gregg Deal, JayCee Beyale | 2669 Larimer St |
Fine Art and Contemporary Galleries
RiNo is a premier hub for contemporary and modern art. If you want to see what Denver artists are doing right now, this is where you go. Artists like Roxanne Rossi, Jason T. Graves, and Elizabeth Faraci have roots here, and the gallery calendar changes often enough that a second visit doesn’t feel like a repeat. Whether you collect, browse, or just like stepping into a quiet room after a loud street, there are galleries here that feel welcoming instead of precious.
fooLPRoof Contemporary Art, 3240 Larimer Street: fooLPRoof is an easy one to start with — approachable, varied, and good at mixing emerging work with more established names.
RULE Gallery, 3001 Brighton Boulevard, Suite 600: Focused on mid-career artists and supporting their long-term careers, RULE often showcases institutional collaborations and exhibitions in non-traditional settings.
Plinth Gallery, 3520 Brighton Boulevard: An exciting addition, Plinth is the ceramics stop — the kind of place that makes you notice texture again. They offer workshops, special events, and monthly exhibitions. Artist Jonathan Kaplan’s work is featured regularly here.
Creative Community Space in RiNo
With so much to do in the area, RiNo acts as an open-air museum. One of the best ways to spend a day is at the Denver Central Market. Eleven vendors share this 14,000-square-foot building. This funky, moody, eclectic space is brimming with culinary talent and a melting pot of Denver’s finest and brightest minds from all creative fields. This is the space to stop for a midday meal and inspiration.
The RiNo ArtPark is proof that the neighborhood takes public space seriously. What started as a collection of underused city buildings has transformed into a creative community hub and, now, a park and campus that preserves the site’s historic buildings and invites all to spend time next to the South Platte River. Today, the ArtPark is a multidisciplinary destination that blends arts programming, public gathering space, affordable creative infrastructure, and community-centered partnerships. If you’re hoping to catch a show, check the events calendar before you go.
LoDo to RiNo Itinerary
The Crawford sits in LoDo, just south of RiNo, so the day is easy to pull off. Walk if you feel like it, hop on transit, or take a quick ride over — then come back to Union Station when you’re ready to slow down.
Walking to RiNo from The Crawford Hotel takes about 33 minutes, transit takes about 27 minutes, and driving takes about seven minutes.
Here’s your guide to the perfect day in RiNo
10:00 AM: After a comfortable sleep in, order room service from Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, or pop down to Pigtrain Coffee Co. for a delicious start to your day.
11:00 AM: Make your way to RiNo. You’ll know you’re there when you see the BLKOUT collab mural.
11:30 AM: Take a self-guided tour of the RiNo murals.
1:00 PM: Visit the Denver Central Market for a rest and a bite to eat.
2:30 PM: Check out local galleries and shops.
4:30 PM: Make your way over to the ArtPark for a relaxing and beautiful evening by the river. Better yet, catch a performance.
7:00 PM: Head back to The Crawford for supper at The Cooper Lounge and end the night with a cocktail at Terminal Bar.
Get Inspired by Denver
If you’re staying in LoDo at The Crawford Hotel, carve out a day for RiNo. You’ll leave with a full camera roll, at least one new favorite artist, and an appreciation for a different corner of Denver. And when you come back to Union Station, the contrast is the fun part — old Denver under the arches, new Denver on the walls, and your room upstairs when you’re ready to call it.
When you’re ready, explore our latest offers, book a stay at The Crawford, and make Union Station your home base for a RiNo day.