Bikes, Brews & Hidden Bars: A Ride Through RiNo & Downtown

The best part of this Denver tour is the way it joins three good city pleasures in one ride: local history, public art, and neighborhood bars. You will pedal from downtown to RiNo, with the Cherry Creek and Platte rivers helping connect the grand landmarks to the more informal side of the city.

I like the route because it gives you a useful map of Denver instead of keeping you in one tourist pocket. I also like the small group, capped at six, and the chance to stop at places such as Lincolns Speakeasy, Our Mutual Friends, Improper City, and Central Market. The main consideration is simple: you will be riding about eight miles while visiting drinking spots, so pacing yourself matters.

Key points at a glance

• About eight miles by bike: See several Denver districts in three hours without spending the day in a vehicle.
• A dozen RiNo murals: The route brings public art into the tour rather than treating it as background scenery.
• Two or three drinking stops: Possible stops include Lincolns Speakeasy, Our Mutual Friends, Improper City, and Central Market.
• Downtown landmarks included: Pass Coors Field, the Dairy Block, Union Station, and Larimer Square.
• Small group of six or fewer: The size should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• Useful arrival-day timing: The afternoon schedule mentioned by one rider made this a handy first-day activity.

Why this bike ride gives you a better Denver map

A standard downtown walk can show you Union Station and Larimer Square, but it may not explain how the center connects with RiNo, the river corridors, and the Platte. This route covers that wider picture in a short three-hour outing.

You begin downtown, where Denver’s polished public spaces and major landmarks provide an easy introduction. From there, the ride follows the Cherry Creek River toward its meeting point with the Platte River, then continues into the River North Art District, usually called RiNo.

That change of scenery is the point. You start with recognizable city sights and finish among murals, food options, open-air gathering areas, and local bars. I like this kind of route because it gives you orientation without making you spend a full day on a formal history tour.

The tour is led in English by a live guide. Jeremy is named as the guide associated with the experience, and the available comments describe him as friendly, welcoming, and good at explaining the areas along the way. Four available ratings give the tour five stars, but the sample is small, so I would treat that as an encouraging sign rather than a guarantee that every outing will be identical.

Downtown landmarks from Coors Field to Larimer Square

The downtown section gives the tour its historical backbone. You will pass Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, then continue by the Dairy Block, Union Station, and Larimer Square.

These places are useful reference points even if you have already seen them. Coors Field helps you place the northern side of downtown, while Union Station anchors the center with one of Denver’s best-known landmarks. Larimer Square adds an older commercial layer to the route, and the Dairy Block shows a newer side of the city.

The value here is not a long stop at each site. You should expect to see and discuss them as part of a moving route, not take a full guided tour inside every building. That keeps the pace brisk and allows the ride to reach RiNo.

If you are arriving in Denver for the first time, this opening section can help you decide where to return later. You might mark Union Station for a longer look, Larimer Square for a stroll, or the Dairy Block for food and a closer look at its renovated urban setting.

Following Cherry Creek to the Platte

The ride along Cherry Creek adds a welcome change from downtown streets. You will follow the river toward its confluence with the Platte River, a natural meeting point that also helps explain Denver’s layout.

This part of the trip matters because Denver is not only a grid of streets and named districts. Its waterways help shape the city, and the route lets you see how a ride can link central neighborhoods without relying only on major roads.

The information provided does not give detailed trail conditions or describe every road crossing, so you should ask about the day’s exact route when you arrive. Still, the river section appears to be one of the tour’s connecting passages rather than a separate stop with a long visit.

Bring the right mindset: this is a city ride, not a wilderness outing. You will cover ground, see changing neighborhoods, and stop for art and drinks. The route is about eight miles, which is manageable for many casual cyclists, but you should be comfortable spending three hours on a bike.

RiNo’s murals turn the ride into an outdoor gallery

The River North Art District is the creative center of the experience. The tour seeks out roughly a dozen murals, giving you a better look at RiNo than a simple ride past its main streets.

Murals work especially well on a bicycle tour. You can cover several blocks, stop to take in large painted walls, and then move on without the fixed rhythm of a museum. The art also gives you a reason to look above storefront level and into side streets that you could easily miss on foot.

The exact mural selection can change, and no individual artists are listed in the tour details. That is worth knowing if you are booking specifically to see one famous wall. You are paying for a broad look at RiNo’s street art, not a guaranteed checklist of named works.

I like the balance between seeing art and learning Denver’s past. The tour is not only about pretty walls. It uses the ride to show how different parts of the city feel and function, with the murals acting as visual markers along the way.

One practical tip: keep your camera ready, but do not let photography turn the ride into a stop-and-start crawl. With about a dozen murals and several bar stops planned, the three hours can pass quickly.

Local drinking stops, from speakeasy style to Central Market

The drinking portion gives the tour its social side. Depending on the route and the day, stops may include Lincolns Speakeasy, Our Mutual Friends, Improper City, and Central Market.

Those choices offer different settings. Lincolns Speakeasy suggests a more tucked-away bar feel, while Our Mutual Friends and Improper City bring you into the local brewery and gathering scene. Central Market adds food options and a larger shared setting. The point is not to spend the whole afternoon in one brewery. You will visit two or three places as part of the ride.

Your booking includes two alcoholic drinks, along with bottled water and snacks. Extra drinks and food cost more, so budget for them if you want a longer stop or a meal. The included drinks add real value to the $95 price, especially since the tour also supplies the bike and helmet.

You should also pace yourself. This is still a cycling activity, and alcohol is part of the experience rather than its sole purpose. Water is included, which helps, but you should use good judgment and avoid treating the tour like a bar crawl on wheels.

One useful detail comes from the route experience described by Megan: a stop at a local market included beer, murals, an open area, cornhole, and a taco truck. That gives you a sense of the relaxed social setting you might encounter at one of the stops, though the exact venues can vary.

What the three-hour format means for your day

Three hours is long enough to see several districts, but short enough to fit into a larger Denver plan. You are not signing up for an all-day cycling commitment.

The afternoon timing can be especially useful. Megan chose this type of tour on arrival day because many bike tours run in the morning. If your schedule offers a similar afternoon start, you could check in, settle your luggage, and use the ride to get your first sense of downtown and RiNo.

Start times depend on availability, so check the current options before building your day around it. The tour is conducted in English, and the experience is limited to six participants, which should keep the group moving at a reasonable pace.

The small size also matters at bar stops. A group of six or fewer is less likely to feel like a large organized procession, and you should have a better chance to ask Jeremy about the neighborhoods, murals, and landmarks.

Is $95 a fair price for this Denver experience?

At $95 per person, this is not the cheapest way to rent a bicycle for an afternoon. But that is the wrong comparison. The price includes a bike, helmet, bottled water, snacks, and two alcoholic drinks, plus a guide and a planned route through several districts.

You are also paying for the time saved in finding the murals and choosing places to stop. If you rented a bike on your own, you would need to plan the downtown route, locate RiNo artwork, decide where to drink, and work out how to link the river corridors with the city center.

The value is strongest if you want a social introduction to Denver and would otherwise pay separately for bike hire, drinks, and a guided city tour. It is weaker if you do not drink, already know downtown and RiNo well, or prefer to linger at one museum or historic site.

Food and extra drinks are not included. Central Market or a taco truck may offer convenient options, but you should plan to pay separately if you want more than the included snacks.

Who will enjoy this ride most

I would recommend this tour to someone who wants a first look at Denver without spending the day indoors. It suits active couples, small groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting a few other people while seeing the city.

It also fits people who enjoy street art more than formal galleries. RiNo’s murals are central to the route, and the tour gives you a reason to explore beyond the standard downtown sights.

The ride may also work well for an arrival day, especially if you find an afternoon departure. You get an overview of several neighborhoods, then can return later to the places that caught your attention.

You may want a different activity if you dislike cycling, want a slow historical walking tour, or prefer a strict list of named breweries. The tour provides a mix of landmarks, murals, riverside riding, and bars, so no single element receives the entire three hours.

Meeting point, gear, and small practical details

The bikes are located in front of the guide’s apartment complex, where you can park. That is more informal than meeting at a major attraction, so read the directions carefully and allow time to find the correct building.

A bike and helmet are provided. Bottled water and snacks are also included, which means you do not need to carry a full supply for a three-hour outing, though you should still dress for riding and bring anything you personally need.

The group size is limited to six. That is one of the strongest practical features for a tour that combines moving through city streets with stops at bars and murals.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Denver schedule is still shifting.

Should you book Bikes, Brews & Hidden Bars?

Book it if you want a lively but manageable introduction to Denver, especially if you like bicycles, murals, local drinking spots, and neighborhood context in equal measure. The route gives you more than a downtown checklist, and the two included drinks help support the $95 cost.

I would be most inclined to book it early in a Denver stay, or on arrival day if an afternoon time works. You will leave with a clearer sense of how downtown, the rivers, and RiNo fit together.

Skip it if you want a quiet museum visit, a serious brewery tasting, or a detailed stop-by-stop history lecture. For an active three-hour overview with a small group, about a dozen murals, and two or three local stops, it offers a practical and enjoyable way to get your bearings.

FAQ

How long is the Bikes, Brews & Hidden Bars tour?

The tour lasts three hours.

How far will I ride?

The full ride is about eight miles.

Which parts of Denver does the route cover?

The route begins downtown, follows the Cherry Creek River to its confluence with the Platte River, and continues into the River North Art District, also known as RiNo.

Which downtown landmarks will I see?

The route passes Coors Field, the Dairy Block, Union Station, and Larimer Square.

How many murals are included?

The tour explores about a dozen murals in RiNo.

Which drinking spots might be included?

Possible stops include Lincolns Speakeasy, Our Mutual Friends, Improper City, and Central Market. The tour visits two or three local drinking establishments.

What is included in the $95 price?

The price includes a bike, helmet, bottled water, snacks, and two alcoholic beverages.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to six participants.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. A live English-speaking guide leads the experience.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve without paying immediately?

Yes. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying at the time of reservation.