Front view of a drawn map of Downtown Littleton

History of Downtown Littleton

The history of Littleton can be seen as far back as the gold rush of 1859. During the gold rush, people came to the capital city of Denver in greater numbers than before, but they also settled in outlying areas. Richard Sullivan Little was one of the people who set his sights on an outlying area. Little filed land claims and a stake in the region now known as Littleton, subdividing it out as the years progressed. This caused the village of Littleton to form, named after Little himself. By 1890, the town was voted to be officially recognized as the Town of Littleton by its 245 members. Today, Downtown Littleton is only a 30 minute drive from the heart of Downtown Denver, and it is home to a number of businesses, a community college, and a light rail station. 

What to do in Downtown Littleton

There are a plethora of restaurants and stores along the main street; however, you can venture down a side path and find small shops and eateries as well! Feeling adventurous and brave? Try the Mystic Escape Room on Rapp Street. Want to relax in the shade and read a book from Tattered Covers? Find Bega Park at the far end of main street and pull out your picnic blanket. If you’re looking for anything from buying spices to getting a new tattoo, Downtown Littleton has a place for that. Most importantly, there are a number of restaurants and dessert places to stop by that range from peaceful to more rambunctious. Downtown Littleton is accessible for all ages. 

Sweet and Savory Places to Eat

Trying new restaurants in Downtown Littleton is one of my favorite things to do. Everything is within walking distance. 

Sweet Treats

The Chocolate Therapist is a great place to stop in for a sweet treat. They make their chocolates in-house so they are always fresh and the shop always smells good. Born2Bake offers cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and even some sweet drinks. I like the raspberry macarons the best. Inside Scoop Creamery has 20 different flavors of homemade ice cream, perfect for warm summer days and slightly warmer winter days. The shop is a little off of Main Street, but it is worth trying.  

Savory Eats

There are a number of breweries in the area if that is your thing. Travel a little bit outside of the heart of Downtown Littleton to find Breckenridge Brewery which serves handcrafted beer and delicious food (including vegetarian and vegan options). Make a reservation in advance as the brewery is almost always packed full of people. Pho Real has been making homemade pho since 1949, and it is my personal (second) favorite pho restaurant in Littleton. If you want a quick deli sandwich, Curds Gourmet Cheese Shop & European Deli is a delicious option. They have coffee, cheese, paninis, and even breakfast burritos to choose from. 

Conclusion

I feel lucky to live near this area that offers indoor and outdoor options, food and drinks, and access to other points within Denver. It is a good place to relax and refuel while still being outside in the 300 days of sunshine in Colorado.

A view of the front of The Olive Branch, a shop on Main Street

Looking in at the statue of a a boy in Bega Park

Historic remake of a light on City Hall

The inside of a small craft shop on Prince Street selling stationary and prints