Best Restaurants in Boulder, CO

Boulder is not just one of the best foodie destinations in Colorado, it’s been repeatedly ranked as one of the best in the U.S. by such reputable sources as Forbes and Bon Appétit. On any day of the week, you can stroll down the Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall and find some great food. But, if you read our guide to Boulder restaurants, you’ll find the best a lot more easily!

What’s the best place to eat in Boulder, Colorado? That depends on what you’re looking for!

This list of Best Restaurants in Boulder, CO, has everything from fine-dining restaurants with multiple James Beard Awards, to the most casual greasy spoons. We cover the best dining in Boulder for many types of cuisines—Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Creole, to name a few. In addition, it has the best Boulder restaurants for charcuterie, high tea, tapas, pizzas, and more!

Whichever Boulder restaurant you choose, make a reservation if you can! Boulder knows good food, so good restaurants draw a crowd.

A view of some of the best restaurants in Boulder on the Pearl Street Mall

Frasca Food and Wine

Most Decorated Restaurant in Boulder

Frasca is a 3-time James Beard Award-Winning restaurant that has been dazzling diners with amazing dishes spotlighting Northern Italian cuisine since 2004. Specifically, this downtown Boulder jewel focuses on the culinary treasures of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy.

This region borders Austria, Slovenia, and the Adriatic, and its cuisine reflects this cultural and geographical mélange. Frasca pays homage to these flavors through its commitment to fresh food, local produce, and exacting expertise in the kitchen.

Frasca is one of the favorite restaurants among Boulder’s epicurean set. The tasting menus are transporting, the wine list phenomenal, and the experience remarkable. A splurge here is a passport to one of the best dining experiences in Boulder.

(To learn more about the enchanting region of Friuli, check out “Friuli Food and Wine,” by Frasca’s own Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson.)

Address: 1738 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

A glimpse of just part of the wine selection at Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine

Flagstaff House Restaurant

amazing views are the first course

The Flagstaff House Restaurant has been committed to providing an exceptional fine dining experience for more than 50 years. It’s one of the best restaurants in Boulder, with a view that rivals its incredible cuisine. The dining room and outdoor terraces are perched among the Flagstaff foothills and offer sweeping vistas of the mountains beyond and city below.

The tasting menus offer a mouthwatering array of choices. When we recently visited, dishes included a foie gras “mosaic,” pheasant roulade, and pan-smoked black cod, among other delectable offerings.

And wines have long been a passion at Flagstaff. Their collection numbers over 16,000 bottles. Luckily a master sommelier is on staff to offer expert assistance in choosing a bottle of wine suitable for any dish or occasion from the almost endless wine list.

Address: 1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, CO 80302

One of the magnificent views from the dining room of the Flagstaff House Restaurant

Blackbelly

A Butcher, A Baker, A Top-Chef PRize taker

Blackbelly is the ever-evolving creation of Chef Hosea Rosenberg. Rosenberg won Bravo’s Season 5 Top Chef competition in 2009. Two years later, he opened a catering business, followed by a small farm and food truck. Soon after, he opened a full-service restaurant, bar, and market, then a butcher shop—all in East Boulder.

Working only with Colorado-farmed meat and produce, Blackbelly is a great place to eat local and delicious. A breakfast menu and lunch menu are offered in the butcher shop/market, while dinner is offered in the restaurant, with its expansive patio.

It’s no surprise that the meat-centered dishes include a delicious charcuterie board, but everything on the menu is inventive and features lots of heirloom vegetables and jazzy sides. Crinkle cress, cranberry hibiscus, hakurei turnips, and koginut squash are just a sampling of the tasty ingredients that round out the creative dishes on offer.

Address: 1606 Conestoga Street, #3, Boulder, CO 80301

Outdoor seating at Blackbelly, in East Boulder

Lucile’s Creole Cafe

A Boulder Slice of New Orleans

I love New Orleans, have visited it repeatedly, and have enjoyed dozens of amazing meals there. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered the best biscuits and beignets I’ve ever had at Lucile’s, in Boulder, Colorado.

Yet, it makes sense: The cafe’s original and still head chef, Mickey Samuels, trained at the world-famous Commander’s Palace Restaurant in New Orleans. So, it’s no wonder that since opening in 1980, Lucile’s has been a local favorite for authentic Creole cooking.

It certainly offers one of the best breakfast experiences in town. When we went, my husband Mike had the Eggs Sardou—poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce atop creamed spinach, accompanied by Gulf shrimp. I had the Eggs Pontchartrain—poached eggs Bernaise atop pan-fried trout (a Colorado specialty) next to a heaping helping of cheesy, buttery grits. The dishes were so decadently delicious that they kept us full until dinner and had us reminiscing about them long thereafter.

Address: 2124 14th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

The delicious Eggs Sardou at Lucile’s Creole Cafe

Bramble & Hare

A Farm-to-Table that’s the cat’s meow

Bramble & Hare is the sister restaurant of the Black Cat Bistro—the seed that blossomed into Boulder’s love affair with the entire Black Cat family. Allow me to explain.

Chef Eric Skokan and his wife Jill opened the Black Cat in downtown Boulder in 2006. To provide the greatest variety of fresh local ingredients for the restaurant, they began Black Cat Farm. Today, the 425-acre, certified organic spread grows hundreds of different heirloom fruits and vegetables and raises heritage pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and geese.

The Black Cat would use the treasures of the farm to create an ever-changing menu of delights. While the Black Cat is closed for renovation, the Bramble and Hare carries on the tradition of farm-to-table tasting menus that deliciously reflect the region’s bounty.

Address: 1970 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Assorted greens from Black Cat Farm for sale at the Boulder Farmers Market

The Kitchen American Bistro

Where sharing brings the best rewards

With its stone and brick walls, wooden tables, and rustic elegance, this inviting spot creates a warm atmosphere in which to enjoy creative cuisine. Small plates recommended for sharing means everyone at your table will have a great time exploring the frequently changing menu.

The savory crullers, crab-fried rice, black spaghetti with rock shrimp, and roasted mushroom gnocchetti were just a few of the highlights that tantalized taste buds during a recent multi-dish flavor parade.

A very popular, stylish cocktail bar sits separate from and above the restaurant. Reservations are a near must for both the restaurant proper and cocktail bar.

We had another wonderful meal at the Kitchen’s Denver location. A third Kitchen makes its home in Chicago.

Address: 1039 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

The awesome melt-in-your-mouth savory crullers at The Kitchen American Bistro

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

The Place for Fresh Seafood

If you’re looking for fresh seafood in Boulder, simply head to Jax on the Pearl Street Mall downtown. That’s where Jax opened their first restaurant in 1994 and began their quest to “bring the coast to the coastless.”

The menu is impressively extensive. A raw bar offers everything from shrimp and oysters to Dungeness, Snow, and King crab—not to mention lobster. Prepared meals include a slew of salt-water and fresh-water favorites.

All seafood is sustainably caught and arrives fresh daily. If you can’t find something to love at Jax, seafood is definitely not your thing. If it is, keep in mind that food and drink specials are offered daily at Happy Hour, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.

Address: 928 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Jax, the place for fresh seafood in Boulder

Zoe Ma Ma

super yummy street food

This modest-looking eatery with inexpensive, amazing things to eat began as Chef Edwin Zoe’s attempt to lure his mom to Boulder from the Midwest after the passing of Zoe’s dad. The family had owned a Chinese restaurant in Missouri, and Zoe’s Ma Ma loved to cook, so she accepted his invitation.

In his childhood, Zoe had always marvelled at how the food the family ate at home was nothing like what was served at their restaurant. In Boulder, he asked his mom to only cook the authentic Taiwanese dishes she made at home. Ma Ma doubted American palates could handle it. What a delicious mistake!

Some of the many standouts on the menu are the eatery’s pork-filled, shrimp-stuffed, garlic-and-chive-flavored potstickers; Pork Belly Bao; and the Za Jiang Mian—egg noodles topped with pork in a savory bean sauce bordered by piles of various vegetables you either mix in or pick at. All noodles are made from strictly organic ingredients in house, eggs are cage free, and meats are all natural.

Address: 2010 10th St, Boulder, CO 80302

The facade and outdoor seating at low-key, high-flavor Zoe Ma Ma

The Buff Restaurant

Worthy of a Presidential Breakfast

This breakfast and lunch hot spot in the University of Colorado neighborhood has been turning out good food at a fair price since 1995. Choices are plentiful and portions hearty—which makes it the perfect place to get some great hangover-helper fare. And if you need extra help, Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, and Tequila Sunrises are only 99¢ when ordered alongside an entrée.

But don’t get me wrong: You don’t need to be hung over to enjoy The Buff. Mike and I showed up in perfect working condition and still enjoyed a delicious, stick-to-the-ribs meal. The Huevos Rancheros and Breakfast Quesadilla both hit the spot with saboroso Southwestern flair.

The Buff is such a mainstay of Boulder, even Barack Obama stopped by while president and fueled up on the Olé Skillet.

Address: 2600 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, CO 80302

The hearty Huevos Rancheros at the Buff Restaurant

Foolish Craig’s Cafe

Boulder-style Crêperie

Foolish Craig’s is an owner-operated breakfast, brunch, and lunch café that has been going strong since 1998. Located in the heart of downtown in the Pearl Street Mall, the place is probably most famous for its incredibly long list of crêpe varieties, but additional breakfast options also abound.

With its selection of salads, soups, and sandwiches, Foolish Craig’s is also one of the best-bet restaurants in Boulder for lunch as well. Their award-winning bread is homemade daily, their pork shoulder and corned beef braised in house, and their soups and dressings are made from scratch.

All that aside, “The Whole Thing” crêpe dessert might be reason enough to go. It’s made with some of the best things in the world: Nutella, bananas, and walnuts sauteed in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then topped off with either whip cream or ice cream. Enough said!

Address: 1611 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

The casual confines of Foolish Craig’s Cafe before the lunch rush kicks off

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

High Tea and so Much More

This is undoubtedly one of the most unique restaurants in Boulder. A gift of friendship from Boulder’s sister city Dushanbe, this teahouse was built in Tajikistan, completely disassembled, shipped in 200 crates to the U.S., then reassembled and erected on 13th Street downtown—steps away from where the Boulder Farmers Market is held.

It’s a good place to go just to gawk at the amazing artistry and craftsmanship that permeates the entire structure. But the best thing to do is to eat some amazing food and drink some exotic tea while experiencing the beauty of the setting.

The international theme carries through to the food menu, where dishes from dozens of countries are featured. And as you might expect, the range of teas available is encyclopedic. Brunch, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea are all offered. A meal here is a delightful, delicious adventure.

Address: 1770 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

A section of the sumptuous ceiling at Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Oak at Fourteenth

Creative Wood-fired artistry

OAK at Fourteenth is quite simply one of the best places to eat in Boulder, CO. It was created by co-owner Steve Redzikowski and his partner Bryan Dayton, both with long, impressive resumes in the restaurant business.

The pair shared a passion for the unique flavors that can be achieved by expert hands working with great ingredients over an open fire. So, their popular restaurant on 14th Street uses only the finest meats and produce from local farms to prepare seasonal fare that pays homage to the rich, multicultural heritage of American cuisine—without skimping on creativity.

Think artisanal house-made pastas or perfectly prepared pork chops, short ribs, ribeye, or halibut inventively teamed up with reimagined sides and you’ve got a glimpse of what to expect.

So, invite yourself to a great experience. Have a signature cocktail from the award-winning bar while peering into the open kitchen working magic with the oak-fueled wood oven. Relax and enjoy a wonderful meal complemented by a lovely wine. The world outside can take care of itself for a while.

Address: 1400 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

The award-winning bar at OAK at Fourteenth

Pizzeria Locale

Napoletana Pizza in Boulder

The group behind the award-winning Boulder restaurant Frasca started Pizzeria Locale next door. So, it won’t be a shock when I tell you that I think they make the best pizza in Boulder. Let’s face it, these guys know Italian cuisine.

Pizzeria Locale serves Napoletana-style thin crust pizza, and the menu lists Pizze Rosse (red pizzas) and Pizze Bianchi (white pizzas) separately. The colors refer to the sauce, but white doesn’t always mean white sauce; it can also mean pesto or garlic oil. Red pizzas use San Marzano tomato sauce similar to homemade marinara.

In addition to pizzas, you’ll find appetizers like the Sicilian-inspired Arancino along with specialties from Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, and Campagna. There is also an array of salads that range from simple arugula and parmigiano-reggiano to charred octopus with kale and beans. This is definitely not your average college-town pizzeria! However, if you’re leaning more towards typical, Cosmo’s Pizza has a few Boulder locations.

Address: 1730 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Efrain’s of Boulder

Delicious Mexican Food That won’t break el banco

A slew of locals we talked to named Efrain’s restaurant as one of their favorite Boulder eateries. And why wouldn’t they? Efrain’s serves excellent Mexican cuisine at affordable prices. The friendly environment welcomes everyone from hipsters to seniors. The colorful décor sets the scene for a fun, festive atmosphere. And the cozy patio with fireplace is also quite inviting.

Fans of Mexican food will recognize traditional foods like one of my favorite dishes from Oaxaca, tamales. Try the famous Chile Verde (green chile) Burrito with chunks of tender pork, refried beans, and cheese. Vegetarians, do not despair! Every category—tacos, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, and fajitas—has scrumptious meatless options.

A leaf symbol on the menu indicates vegetarian dishes and a blue dot means gluten-free. For those leery of spicy foods, a red bar tells you the heat level for each menu item.

Address: 2480 Canyon Boulevard, Unit M-1, Boulder, CO 80302

The colorful dining room at Efrain’s of Boulder Restaurant

Izakaya Amu

An authentic Japanese Experience

For traditional Japanese food in Boulder, Izakaya Amu, a block off the Pearl Street Mall, will fit the bill. In Japanese, Izakaya roughly means “stay-drink.” Izakayas are similar to pubs or taverns—casual watering holes where people sit, drink, and share food. That’s what you’ll find at Amu. For a real treat, grab a spot at the bar and watch the chef work.

Popular appetizers like Ebi Shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings) and Tsukemono (pickled veggies) can be followed by Maguro Avocado (tuna sashimi) and then Gindara Kasuzuke (grilled black cod). Don’t miss the Okonomiyaki, a savory pancake that’s a specialty of Osaka, but is so famous in Japan, you’ll even see it as a street food in Tokyo.

Amu strives for an authentic Japanese experience, even asking diners to leave their shoes at the door. So, you may want to pay special attention to the socks you wear before going to dine there!

Address: 1221 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Chautauqua Dining Hall

Steeped in History Since 1898

The Chautauqua movement in the United States began in the late 1800s to bring culture and education to small towns throughout America. In 1898, the Colorado Chautauqua and its dining hall opened in Boulder. Today, this Chautauqua still provides art, music, and educational programs, and its dining hall still operates as a restaurant.

So many people, including a Boulder historian, recommended Chautauqua Dining Hall to us that we knew we had to make a visit. From the charming Victorian facade, to the gorgeous surrounding scenery, to the mouthwatering menu, this historic restaurant delivered a very memorable lunch. We chose some Colorado specialties, the Bison Pastrami Rueben and the Bistro Elk Burger, and started with a pork green chili that rivaled those in Santa Fe restaurants.

Especially if it’s your first time visiting Boulder, you should at least visit Chautauqua Park for the up-close views of the iconic Flat Irons. As it turns out, the yummy food happens to be an added benefit of this incredible place.

Address: 900 Baseline Road, Boulder, CO 80302

Pork Green Chili at Chautauqua Dining Hall

Fresh Thymes Eatery

The Special-Diet Haven

Because Fresh Thymes Eatery is 100% gluten free, it’s the perfect place for those with gluten allergies and sensitivities. The restaurant doesn’t just switch the bread or pasta out, the whole facility is free of gluten. So, if you have celiac disease, rest assured, you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination.

Additionally, this is one of the best Boulder restaurants for vegans and vegetarians. I know it can be especially hard for traveling vegans. Sometimes food appears to be meat-free and then you find out it contains chicken broth. At Fresh Thymes, they spell everything out for you.

Really, they have tasty options for any dietary requirement: paleo, keto, dairy free, FODMAP, even no nightshades. As a former personal chef who cooked for hundreds of people with special diets, I can tell you firsthand that this is quite an impressive accomplishment!

Address: 2500 30th Street, Suite 101, Boulder, CO 80301

Spruce Farm and Fish

Landmark Location with land and sea specialties

Whether or not you stay at the historic Hotel Boulderado (recommended below), you should really check out this Boulder landmark, and one of the best ways to do that is to eat at their lovely restaurant, Spruce Farm and Fish. Pro-tip: Compare the floor tiles with the photos in the lobby—they’re original!

Whether you prefer Colorado classics or more creative cuisine, you’ll have plenty to choose from on the seasonal menu. Their farm specialties include Slow-Roasted CAB Prime Rib, a BBQ Baby Back Rib Platter, and Colorado Bison Steak Diane. From the sea, we thoroughly enjoyed the Prince Edward Island Black Mussels and the Rocky Mountain Trout (with brown butter, need I say more?).

Share an appetizer as the entrees each come with sides and will fill you up. With any luck, you’ll leave room for one of the homemade desserts.

To extend your history lesson, take the stairs down to the old speakeasy License No. 1 and toast the end of Prohibition at the first Boulder bar granted a liquor license.

Address: 2115 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Bison Steak Diane at the Boulder restaurant Spruce Farm and Fish

The Sink

Famous Boulder Burger Joint

A Boulder institution since 1923, the Sink is known for its iconic art, funky vibe, ugly pizzas (their description), and some of the best burgers in Boulder, CO. It’s also known for having attracted some extraordinarily famous people.

Let’s start with Robert Redford. I’m sure he ate here plenty, but he also worked here in 1955 as the janitor! Then, many years later, Guy Fieri did an episode of his Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in which he tried the Buddha Basil Pizza, the Texas Onion Straw Burger, and the Cowboy Reuben Sandwich. You can probably tell by the names of these choices that this is no ordinary burger joint!

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert also chose the Texas Onion Straw burger, as well as the Portabella burger and the barbecue short ribs. President Obama, on the other hand, went with pizza—he kind of had to as it was called the POTUS (President of the United States).

Address: 1165 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Corrida

rooftop Tapas

One of the best downtown Boulder restaurants with a view, Corrida cooks up modern takes of traditional Spanish dishes. Creations like pulpo (octopus) with pasilla chili and pepitas, sardines with pickled sea fennel, and langostinos with red yuzu and horseradish sit alongside a smattering of high-end steaks on the small menu.

Naturally, Corrida is Boulder’s favorite spot for tapas. Although the dinner menu has a tapas section, you can come between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm just for a few small plates. It may not be quite the same as snacking in Barcelona, but sipping a sangria and savoring a few bites while sitting outside on the rooftop terrace with a backdrop of the Flat Irons is a special pleasure in its own right.

Address: 1023 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Boulder, CO 80302

The best place for rooftop tapas in Boulder, the terrace at Corrida

Half Fast Subs

Largest Selection of Subs in America

If you find yourself hungry on University Hill and need a somewhat fast meal, head to Half Fast Subs. They’ve got all the meat options you’d want on a sub sandwich, plus over 20 kinds of vegetarian subs. And if a sandwich doesn’t fit your mood, they have salads too!

But what use is a great menu selection if the food doesn’t taste good? No worries, Half Fast Subs actually guarantees your satisfaction! As they say, “We promise the best darn sandwich you’ve ever had. We’re not your typical half-assed sub shop!” Indeed, they’re not. They’ve even been featured on the Travel Channel show “Food Paradise” for their Thanksgivingesque sub, The Gobbler.

Address: 1215 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

River and woods

Upscale Colorado Comfort Food

We took a long walk down Pearl Street and stumbled onto this cute and cozy restaurant in Boulder's Whittier neighborhood. Housed in an old miner’s cabin, it’s the kind of place you know you want to eat at even before you see the menu. But the menu will make you even more certain.

With a focus on locally sourced ingredients and family recipes, River and Woods elevates typical comfort foods into creative cookery. Think purple sweet potato soup with hemp seeds, mountain poutine with Pueblo green chili queso, and slow-braised Colorado short ribs with Dr. Pepper-chipotle bbq sauce next to bacon cheddar mac n’ cheese. An eclectic mix of beers, wines, specialty cocktails, and bevvies of the softer sort ensures your food choice will match up with a suitable drink companion.

Address: 2328 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

The quirky little cottage that is River and Woods Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado

Where to stay in Boulder Colorado

The Hotel Boulderado always gets my vote for the best place to stay in Boulder! I love the hotel’s history and how well it has been preserved since it opened in 1909. Take a look around the lobby—the original staircase, columns, water fountain, tile floors, safe, key slots, elevator, and so many other details make this landmark historic hotel so special. And, the stained glass ceiling—WOW!

If you want to really experience the historic feel of the Boulderado, stay in the main building. You’ll enjoy all the charms of yesteryear with access to all the modern amenities that matter. Our spacious suite, decorated in Victorian-style, had a large comfortable sitting area off the bedroom with a desk, sofa, and wet bar. Can you guess which got used most?

Perhaps most importantly, you can’t beat the Boulderado’s location on Spruce Street, just a block off Pearl. In addition to the hotel housing one of the best restaurants in Boulder, you can walk to many of the others on our list, as well as to many of the best attractions in Boulder that don’t involve food.