LoHi’s 17 Global Restaurants Offer Aurora Neighbors a Taste of Denver

The Lower Highlands, or LoHi, is a compact Denver neighborhood bounded by 38th Avenue to the north, Zuni Street to the west and I‑25 to the south and east. Within its few blocks sit 17 restaurants that span the globe, from Mexican to Japanese, Italian to Middle Eastern.

Bars such as Williams & Graham and The Family Jones rank among the city’s best, while bakeries like Wooden Spoon and the iconic Little Man ice‑cream parlor satisfy sweet cravings. The area’s Mexican scene shines at Alma, where chef‑owner Johnny Curiel serves dishes like scallop crudo in serrano ponzu and an avocado margarita that has become a local cult favorite.

Italian lovers can head to a contemporary spot led by chef Cindhura Reddy and partner Elliot Strathmann, where seasonal pastas feature goat and occasional Indian influences such as elk tartare with masala aioli. Japanese sushi specialist Chef Corey Booker offers pristine cuts, including 34‑day dry‑aged toro and an optional wasabi flight, alongside clam soup in butter dashi and fried Berkshire pork sandos.

Seafood‑focused menus appear at a new occupant of the former Z Cuisine space, serving oysters, grilled blue oyster mushrooms with tahini and Calabrian chili, plus inventive cocktails. Ramen pioneer Tommy Lee’s flagship continues to draw crowds with noodle soups, soft‑shell crab buns and duck‑leg bibimbap.

The Culinary Creative group adds a modern Middle Eastern/North African kitchen, highlighted by hummus, wood‑roasted carrots with herbed labneh and a sesame‑seeded chicken schnitzel on challah. Nearby, Bar Dough offers Italian fare, while Fox and the Hen provides a casual breakfast setting.

What this means for residents: The LoHi corridor delivers a concentrated, walk‑able collection of international flavors just a short drive north on I‑25, offering Aurora diners an easy option for a weekend culinary outing.