Ten Things to Do in Baker

The historic Baker neighborhood is known for its quirky charm, eclectic vintage and thrift shops, vape outposts, colorful bungalow homes and late-night bar scene along Broadway. It’s weird in the best way — after all, it’s home to the popular Wizard’s Chest, a “magical castle” known for its toys, costumes and games. Although Baker is a small neighborhood, it doesn’t lack shops, dining, arts or culture.

Here are ten ways to spend a day exploring all that Baker has to offer.

Electric Dream
101 Broadway
If you’re lined up for brunch at Snooze, pop into this woman-owned boutique while you wait for your table. Maybe keep the kids outside, as several items are, well, pretty sassy. Think “f*ck it” rings or tote bags that read, “the only thing keeping my sh*t together is this bag.” The clothing is cute, trendy and, most important, nothing like what you’ll find at chain stores — hello, seafood platter dresses and cardigans adorned with cherries. Perhaps the best touch is the basket of lollipops presented to you after you make a purchase — a simple thank you and a reminder why shopping local is so much more fun.

Fern and Skye
46 South Broadway
Featuring items from more than sixty artists and local makers, this woman-owned gift shop sells items like tea towels, candles, greeting cards, original artwork, stickers and earrings. And with a portion of the proceeds benefiting national parks, you’re going to want to buy your next gift — for a friend or likely for yourself — at this nature-inspired gallery. The small patio outside hosts private events and classes, like how to build a cactus terrarium or a wreath-making workshop. As owner Lauren McLaughlin puts it, “All of my art is driven by the never-ending pull that wanderlust has on my heart.”
Rebel Bread
675 South Broadway
If you’ve checked the ingredient list on just about any loaf of bread sold at a grocery store, the number of preservatives and chemicals added is appalling. That’s why health-conscious Denverites looking for fresh bread made with simple ingredients should visit Rebel Bread, a community bakery and bread school. The retail counter is in the Design District — a small industrial park off Broadway — so if you aren’t looking for it, it’s not the kind of place you stumble upon. Stop in before items such as fresh-baked bread like marble rye, heritage sourdough — made with Colorado-grown and milled heritage grains — or chocolate ciabatta sell out. If classic bread isn’t your thing (which is hard to imagine, but okay), try an iced cinnamon roll or sourdough chocolate chip cookie. The folks behind this operation aren’t keeping any secrets; you can sign up for an online class taught by the founder called "Sourdough at Home: The Art and Science of Home-Baked Bread."

The Hornet
76 Broadway
Open since 1995, The Hornet is a Baker staple. Located near the Mayan Theater, this is the best spot for pre-show drinks or food. And while this is an unsexy consideration, the free parking is clutch in a neighborhood where finding parking is as easy as the Rockies winning a game (read: not very). The Hornet is great for groups — plenty of seating and something on the menu for everyone, whether it's deviled eggs, honey-stung chicken or a veggie wrap; most items can be made gluten-free.
Sputnik
3 South Broadway
This vintage diner is giving David Bowie vibes — maybe it’s the cool-meets-nerdy aesthetic or simply because it’s not uncommon to hear Bowie on the indie playlist. It’s the perfect spot to hang out alone because the bar is huge and long, so you can post up with a laptop mid-day undisturbed or grab a drink before you meet friends next door for a concert at Hi-Dive. The food options will appease everyone in your group, whether it’s mac and cheese, corndogs, or anything on the vegan menu (think sandwiches like a tofu bahn mi or jackfruit cuban). If you order fries as your side, you’ll be asked the very exciting question, “regular fries, sweet potato fries, or a mix of both?” (The only correct answer is both).
Sweet Action
52 Broadway
With four locations across Denver, the Baker flagship might be the best, simply because of the huge window the staff keeps open (weather permitting) overlooking the hustle and bustle of Broadway. While the flavors rotate, enjoy options like vegan mint chip or gluten-free radical rainbow with a side of people watching. What we love most, besides the scoops, is that 100 percent of the parlors and manufacturing facilities are wind-powered and feature locally made, fresh ingredients. They even use compostable packaging and recycle everything they can. Nothing pairs better with a stroll through the heart of Baker than a hand-crafted cone you can feel good about.
SEWN
18 South Broadway
Vintage and thrift stores are all over Baker, but one of the best is SEWN. As the name suggests, it's a place for people who love to make things. Everything in this colorful store is curated with intention, from the wacky (purses with creepy doll faces), to the weird (a turtleneck featuring over-easy eggs), to the gorgeous (Jackie O-inspired textured dress). If you sew, come for curated vintage fabric, patterns and sewing notions. And since crochet is having a moment thanks to social media, here you’ll find crocheted items in all its forms — crocheted bikinis, jean jackets with crocheted sleeves, even crocheted earrings. For anyone who says vintage stores aren’t their thing, we dare you to come here and not find something you want to buy.
Pretty Neat
114 South Broadway
Amidst a sea of sticky floor joints and loud sports bars, cocktail bar Pretty Neat is a welcome relief. It’s upscale, but perhaps because of its neighbors, it doesn’t feel pretentious. At $12 a drink, it’s also reasonably priced. A standout drink is the Penicillin (scotch, honey, ginger, lemon and Laphroaig spritz), to which the bartender declared scotch is his least favorite spirit, but it’s somehow his favorite drink. The menu is always changing, but pop in now for a refreshing strawberry margarita or a classic Bee’s Knees. According to the staff, it’s a wildly popular date-night spot — cozy, busy enough to have some distractions (especially if the date is bad!) but not so busy that you can’t hear the conversation.
Mayan Theater
110 Broadway
Built in 1930, this beautiful art deco theater is home to independent and foreign-language films, as well as new releases. The Mayan features three screens — a main auditorium and two smaller theaters. Although it has modern amenities like a bar and state-of-the-art sound, the real joy in catching a show is the historic charm that doesn’t come with visiting an AMC. Fun fact: it is one of the country's three remaining theatres designed in the Art Deco Mayan Revival style.
Adrift
218 South Broadway
Polynesian and Caribbean-inspired bars certainly aren’t a dime a dozen in Denver, which makes Adrift stand out when you’re looking for something different. If you’re looking to get lit up, try the specialty Adrift cocktail, made from an undisclosed blend of tropical fruits, spices and spirits. The super-secret recipe is under NDA, and staff won’t let you order more than two, which sounds like the recipe for an eventful night. And while the bar feels like summertime — unsurprisingly, the drinks are fruity and rum-forward — the best time to visit might be for its annual holiday pop-up bar experience in November/December.