Life in Old Town
The Neighborhood
One of the nation's best public squares
Old Town Square has been voted one of the best public squares in the nation — and its turn-of-the-20th-century architecture is said to have served as inspiration for Disneyland's Main Street USA. More than 20 restored historical buildings line streets that have been walkable since long before walkability became a design goal.
Dining
100 Local Restaurants
Downtown Fort Collins is home to over 100 local restaurants, spanning every type of cuisine — from lively brew pubs and seasonally focused cafés to unique fine dining, all within walking distance.
The dining culture here leans heavily local and ingredient-driven. Standouts include Jax Fish House for sustainably sourced seafood, The Emporium inside the Elizabeth Hotel for Colorado-forward brasserie fare, and Maida Trattoria for handmade Italian in the heart of Old Town. The Silver Grill Café has been serving breakfast and its legendary cinnamon rolls since 1933.
Craft Beer
The Best Breweries
Fort Collins produces 70% of the craft beer made in Colorado and is widely known as the craft beer capital of the state. Downtown alone is home to eight breweries and more than 15 bars with patios. New Belgium and Odell — both founded in 1989 — helped pioneer the American craft beer movement and remain anchors of the neighborhood. CooperSmith's, Fort Collins' first brewpub, has been crafting beer with time-honoured techniques since 1989 and still draws locals to its Old Town Square patio on any given evening.
Events & Culture
Fabulous Festivals
Fort Collins takes its calendar seriously. FoCoMX — presented by the Fort Collins Musicians Association — has earned the unofficial title of "The Biggest Little Festival in America," bringing over 400 Colorado bands to 30+ venues across town each spring. Tour de Fat, New Belgium's beloved costumed bike parade and festival, has raised nearly $6 million for local bike nonprofits since it began in 1999. Taste of Fort Collins fills a September weekend with incredible food, live music, and the kind of easy community energy that's hard to manufacture and impossible to fake. Year-round, Old Town Square hosts free concerts, ice carving events, and holiday programming that make the neighborhood feel alive in every season.
Fort Collins — A City Worth Noting
#1
Most Peaceful Place to Live in the United States — Travel + Leisure
#4
Best Public Square in the Nation — USA Today 10Best, Old Town Square
70%
of Colorado's craft beer produced here — Craft Beer Capital of Colorado
2050
Carbon neutrality target — Our Climate Future, Fort Collins
89
Walk Score — Old Town Fort Collins
Additional third-party coverage and resources on L'Avenir for buyers who want to go deeper.
EnergyLogic — Project Spotlight: theenergylogic.com/projects/lavenir
EEBA — L'Avenir: The Future Has Come to Fort Collins: eeba.org/lavenir-the-future-has-come-to-fort-collins
Davis Davis Architects: davisdavisarch.com
Grab a Hardhat, Let's Walk the Site
Let’s begin the conversation.
La Vie Lumière was designed for people who want to live fully in a place with genuine character. Old Town Fort Collins is that place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about life in Old Town Fort Collins? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime using the contact form above.
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Old Town is known for its well-preserved Victorian-era architecture, walkable streets, and an unusually rich mix of independent restaurants, breweries, live music, and cultural venues for a city of its size. Old Town Square has been voted one of the top public squares in the nation and is said to have served as one of the inspirations for Disneyland's Main Street USA.
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Old Town Fort Collins has a Walk Score of 89, the highest in the city. Restaurants, breweries, parks, and cultural venues are all within easy walking distance of La Vie Lumière. The Poudre River Trail is accessible on foot from the front door.
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Old Town is home to over 100 restaurants. Standouts include Jax Fish House for sustainably sourced seafood, The Emporium inside The Elizabeth Hotel for Colorado-forward brasserie fare, Maida Trattoria for handmade Italian, and the Silver Grill Café — serving breakfast and legendary cinnamon rolls since 1933. Browse the full directory at Downtown Fort Collins.
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Old Town has eight breweries in the downtown district. New Belgium and Odell Brewing — both founded in 1989 — helped define the American craft beer movement and remain anchors of the neighborhood. CooperSmith's has been Fort Collins' original brewpub since 1989, operating on Old Town Square.
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Fort Collins produces approximately 70% of the craft beer made in Colorado and has a strong claim to the title. New Belgium and Odell — both founded here in 1989 — are among the most recognized craft breweries in the country. The city has more than 20 breweries in total. Visit Fort Collins' brewery guide has the full picture.
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Old Town has a dense and active live music scene. Washington's is a 900-capacity concert hall in a restored 1903 sandstone building. Magic Rat in Old Firehouse Alley hosts local and touring artists most nights. The Armory FoCo runs an intimate year-round series. Ace Gillett's offers live jazz five nights a week. Old Town Square hosts Thursday Night Live free outdoor concerts throughout summer.
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Fort Collins has a rich events calendar. FoCoMX brings 400+ Colorado bands to 30+ downtown venues each spring. Tour de Fat, New Belgium's costumed bike parade, has raised nearly $6 million for local bike nonprofits since 1999. Taste of Fort Collins fills a September weekend with food, live music, and outdoor programming. Year-round, Old Town Square hosts concerts, ice carving, holiday events, the Foodie Walk, and the First Friday Art Walk.
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The foothills are about 15 minutes by car. Horsetooth Mountain Open Space has 29+ miles of trails. Lory State Park is adjacent to Horsetooth Reservoir. Rocky Mountain National Park is approximately 45 minutes away. For daily exercise, the Poudre River Trail runs directly through the neighborhood.
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The Poudre River Trail is a paved multi-use path following Colorado's only designated Wild and Scenic River through Fort Collins and into the Poudre Canyon — more than 20 miles in total. It connects Old Town to neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas and is accessible on foot from La Vie Lumière.
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Old Town has preserved its historic commercial core in a way most Colorado cities have not — more than 20 restored Victorian-era buildings lining walkable streets that have been active since the 1800s. It's grown without hollowing out: the independent businesses, breweries, music venues, and farmers market have remained intact. Fort Collins has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as the most peaceful place to live in the United States.