Southeast Denver
Bonnie Brae
Curving streets, storybook Tudors and an ice cream shop everyone knows, just east of Washington Park.
Location: Southeast Denver, roughly University Blvd to Steele St and Exposition Ave to Mississippi Ave | Vibe: Charming, walkable, family-friendly | Known for: Winding streets, Tudor homes, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
Bonnie Brae is a small neighborhood with a very distinct look, roughly between University Boulevard and Steele Street, from Exposition Avenue south to Mississippi. It is not one of Denver’s official statistical neighborhoods. The city counts it as the southwest corner of Belcaro, but everyone in Denver knows it by name.
Developer George W. Olinger started it in 1923 and gave it a Scottish name that roughly means pleasant hill. Instead of a grid, the streets follow the land in curves and loops around an oval park at the center, meant to feel like a village. Stone entrance pillars from those early years still stand along University.
Why the homes are a mix
The first houses went up in 1923 and 1924, but Olinger’s company went bankrupt by 1928 and building slowed through the Depression. It picked up again after the central park was finished in 1936 and continued after World War II. That is why you see storybook Tudors and brick cottages next to 1940s and 1950s ranches, along with a growing number of new custom homes on scraped lots.
The University Boulevard strip
The little commercial strip on University is the heart of the neighborhood. Bonnie Brae Ice Cream has lines out the door on summer nights, and the liquor store and shops nearby make it easy to walk for small errands. The Bonnie Brae Tavern, a neighborhood fixture since 1934, closed in 2022 and the site was redeveloped. Washington Park is a few minutes west.
Bonnie Brae at a glance
Where it fits
Part of the official Belcaro neighborhood, in its southwest corner. Bonnie Brae does not have its own census count.
Getting around
University Blvd runs along the west side, and I-25 is just to the south. Downtown is about 15 minutes by car.
Public schools
Denver Public Schools. Assignments vary by address, so confirm with DPS for any home you are considering.
Rules to know
The curving streets mean lots come in odd shapes and sizes. If you plan to add on or rebuild, check setbacks and lot coverage for that specific parcel.
“Bonnie Brae is the neighborhood people drive through on purpose. The streets curve, the houses have personality and the ice cream is worth the line.”
Marla on Bonnie Brae
Discover Bonnie Brae
Local spots worth knowing
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Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
The neighborhood’s favorite stop on University Boulevard, especially on summer evenings.
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University Boulevard shops
A small, walkable strip with a liquor store, shops and services.
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The central park
The oval park at the heart of the neighborhood, finished in 1936.
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Washington Park
Lakes, gardens and a running loop a few minutes west.
Bonnie Brae real estate
Bonnie Brae homes range from 1920s and 1930s Tudors and cottages to mid-century ranches and new custom builds. Because Bonnie Brae is part of Belcaro on the city’s map, the numbers below are for all of Belcaro, which includes some larger estate properties.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index for Source: Zillow Home Value Index for Belcaro, Denver (which includes Bonnie Brae), as of August 31, 2026. All home types, including condos and townhomes., as of August 31, 2026. All home types, including condos and townhomes.
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Who buys in Bonnie Brae
The buyers I see in Bonnie Brae usually fall for the streets first and the house second.
Families
Quiet curving streets, a central park and an ice cream shop within walking distance.
Character home buyers
Original Tudors and cottages with details that are hard to find in newer neighborhoods.
Builders
Older ranches on good lots in a neighborhood where new custom homes sell well.
Bonnie Brae questions I get asked
Is Bonnie Brae an official Denver neighborhood?
Not on the city’s statistical map. Denver counts Bonnie Brae as part of Belcaro, but it has its own long history, street layout and identity.
Why are the streets in Bonnie Brae curved?
The developer, George W. Olinger, laid the neighborhood out in 1923 to feel like a Scottish village, with streets that follow the land and loop around a central park instead of a grid.
How much do homes cost in Bonnie Brae?
Bonnie Brae is part of Belcaro, where the Zillow Home Value Index was about $1.49 million as of August 2026, up 3.6% over the prior 12 months. Bonnie Brae prices vary a lot between original cottages and new custom homes.
Is the Bonnie Brae Tavern still open?
No. The Bonnie Brae Tavern opened in 1934 and closed in 2022 after the property was sold for redevelopment.
Nearby neighborhoods
Belcaro surrounds Bonnie Brae on the north and east, and Washington Park is west across University. Cory-Merrill is south across Mississippi, and Cherry Creek North is a few minutes north.
Buying in Bonnie Brae? My Denver home buyer’s guide walks through the whole process in 10 steps.
Thinking about Bonnie Brae?
Looking for a home in Bonnie Brae? I can watch for the streets you love and show you what original homes and new builds are selling for.
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