Virginia Village, a small enclave of just over 20,000 residents in southeast Denver, has a suburban feel despite its urban location.

The neighborhood was built in the 1950s and features smaller ranch-style or split-level homes. Niche.com gives it an overall A rating and ranks it 41^st out of 75 neighborhoods in Denver.

Virginia Village’s boundaries are approximately East Cherry Creek North Drive to the north, East Evans Avenue to the south, South Colorado Boulevard to the west, and South Poplar Street to the east.

It’s an awesome neighborhood that is close to everything.

The area’s southeastern edge backs up to I-25, giving residents quick access to anywhere they need to go. It’s also a short jaunt to Speer Boulevard to head downtown. For those who use RTD light rail, the E, F and H lines stop at the Colorado Station off Colorado Boulevard.

There is a lot of commerce along Colorado Boulevard and Evans Avenue, though, so residents can pretty much get all their needs attended to without leaving the area. For instance, hard-core shoppers can hit the Cherry Creek Mall or peruse the small shops and bigger stores that are scattered throughout the neighborhood.

There are also a lot of restaurants from which to choose. One is Sojourners Coffee & Tea, 1501 S. Holly St., which offers excellent coffee, tea and pastries and has a homey feeling with friendly staff and neighborhood residents. Another is the Breakfast Inn at 6135 E. Evans, which bills itself as “Dinner Too,” lest potential customers of this 40-year-old eatery mistakenly think it only offers breakfast.

For dinner out, consider the Bull & Bush Brewery at 4700 Cherry Creek Drive South.  It feels like a London Pub, with delicious beers and food. And don’t miss the live jazz that starts at 6 on Sunday nights! Other favorites include Esters a neighborhood pub (1950 Holly St.), and Chakas Mexican Restaurant (6265 E. Evans Ave.). 

If you’re looking to get outdoors, bicyclists and hikers can hop on the Cherry Creek Trail or visit Cook Park, which features a playground, picnic areas, athletic fields and a recreation center with an outdoor pool. David T. Garland Park, just outside of the neighborhood’s northeastern border, has Lollipop Lake as well as the usual park amenities. Or venture a little north and west to Burns Park, a unique park at the convergence of Colorado Boulevard, Alameda Avenue and Leetsdale Drive with sculptures by national artists. Also, nearby on South Forest Street, is Four-Mile Historic Park, which used to be a stage stop on the banks of Cherry Creek in the mid-1850s.

There are four schools within Virginia Village’s boundaries: Ellis Elementary, Montessori School of Denver, Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning and Highline Academy Charter School.

Whether you’re a young, single professional who wants an easy commute to work and some great nightlife or have a family and are looking for a friendly neighborhood with lots of things for kids to do, Virginia Village is a great place to live.