Boulder is known for its gorgeous natural wonders and vibrant craft cuisine and brewery scene. After taking in city attractions such as the beautiful Flatirons craggy rock formations and the renowned Fiske Planetarium, dates can enjoy a wide variety of cuisine options throughout the city's downtown district. Many of the city's restaurants are known for their one-of-a-kind architecture, from the traditional Tajikistan-style Boulder Dushanbe Tea House to the legendary Flagstaff House, located at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet above sea level.
Post Brewing Company
Post Brewing Company has been featured on the popular Food Network series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, known throughout the Boulder area for its delicious refreshing beers and elevated comfort fare. The brewpub, which offers four locations throughout the greater Boulder and Denver areas, serves up drafts of flagship ales such as its Mountain Nights Smoked Stout, GSD Everyday Ale, Ski Tan Red Lager, and Wet Hop Session IPA.
Delicious crispy fried chicken dishes are prepared traditional or Nashville Hot style, all served gluten-free. Hearty dinner entrees include favorites such as shrimp and grits, cast-iron meatloaf, and chicken and waffles, while lighter sandwich fare ranges from fried chicken BLTs to blackened shrimp po'boys.
Address: Post Brewing Company, 2027 13th St., Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 720-372-3341
Corrida
Corrida is a sophisticated Spanish steakhouse located within Boulder's Pearl Street Mall, housed within the fourth floor of the Pearl West Building. Guests can try elevated Spanish-inspired fare at lunch, brunch, and dinner service throughout the week while enjoying gorgeous mountain views from the restaurant's dining room and seasonal deck seating.
An extensive menu of tapas and pintxos are available for sharing with dates, including patatas con chorizo, croquetas de jamon, pimientos rellenos, and albondigas. High-quality cheese and charcuterie platters are also served, along with elegant prime filets, ribeyes, and seafood dishes such as wood-fired octopus with braised bacon and piquillo puree. Beverage options include gin tonics, vermouths, and imported Spanish beers.
Address: Corrida, 1023 Walnut St #400, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-444-1333
Santo
Santo is a delicious New Mexican-style restaurant offering from executive chef Hosea Rosenberg, paying homage to his upbringing and hometown culture in Taos. The restaurant, which is named for the Spanish word for "saint," showcases a collection of hand-carved patron saint sculptures crafted by artist Leonard Salazar.
Dinner service is offered seven days a week, highlighting hearty Southwestern-style entrees such as heirloom blue corn enchiladas, wood-oven-fired Manila clams cooked in mezcal and absinthe, and tacos prepared with diners' choice of braised lengua, pork adovada, and roasted vegetables. Land and sea offerings range from apple jalapeno chutney pork chops to signature smashed green chile cheeseburgers served with kennebec fries.
Address: Santo, 1265 Alpine Avenue, Boulder, CO 80304, Phone: 303-442-6100
Roadhouse
Roadhouse is a unique dining experience housed within the historic Boulder Train Depot, located in the city's downtown district at the corner of Pearl and 30th Streets. The restaurant, which was opened in 2015, is the latest offering from the city's Roadhouse Holiday Group, known for their work at regional favorites such as Spanky's Roadhouse.
Couples can dine in for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night service throughout the week, enjoying an extensive menu of elevated American gastropub fare. Build-your-own burgers offer topping options such as jalapeno cream cheese, kimchi, and fried eggs, while gluten-free and traditional flatbread pizzas come in varieties such as truffle mushroom and prosciutto asparagus. Clever shareable appetizers such as potato chip nachos can be paired with extensive selections of craft beer, wine, and cocktails.
Address: Roadhouse, 2366 Junction Place, Boulder, CO 80301, Phone: 303-443-2167
Black Cat Boulder
Black Cat Boulder was opened in 2006 by married duo Jill and Eric Skokan, named in honor of its supposedly unlucky location on downtown Boulder's 13th Street. The charming neighborhood bistro, which is housed within the Pearl Street Mall, is known for its inventive New American entree options, which are prepared with organic ingredients cultivated from the couple's Black Cat Farm facility.
Three-course dinner menus highlight entree options such as oaxaca arancini and Colorado striped bass paired with elegant desserts like oeufs à la neige with poached meringue and caramel cream. Chef's tasting menus are also available, showcasing daily-rotating selections paired with premium wine offerings.
Address: Black Cat Boulder, 1964 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-444-5500
The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House
The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House is one of Boulder's top tourist attractions, known as one of the city's best spots for high-quality tea fare. The restaurant is nestled within beautiful Central Park along the banks of Boulder Creek, originally constructed according to Central Asian design traditions in Tajikistan and presented as a sister city gift to the city in 1990.
Spectacular interior design elements include a mihrab motif "Tree of Life" panel series, an intricately-painted ceiling, and a series of sculptures meant to evoke the Nizami Ganjavi poem The Seven Beauties. Brunch and lunch service is offered throughout the week, highlighting Persian-style entrees such as tajik shish kabobs, chickpea kefta, and khoresh bademjan.
Address: 1770 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-4993
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is a delightful health-conscious restaurant offering alternative menu options for couples with dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The restaurant sources all of its ingredients from nearby Lafayette farm Three Leaf Farm, focusing on organic produce, free-range eggs, and sustainably-produced meats.
Lunch and dinner service are offered daily, with brunch menus available on the weekends. Couples can share small plates such as buffalo cauliflower tacos, avocado tartare, and calamari-style oyster mushrooms. Entree options draw on international influences, ranging from Creole-style polenta and Jamaican jerk tempeh to Persian-style grilled eggplant and udon noodles with Szechuan-style vegetables.
Address: Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, 1710 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-1485
Frasca Food and Wine
Frasca Food and Wine is one of Boulder's finest Italian restaurants, taking its culinary inspiration from northeast Italy's gorgeous subalpine Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The restaurant is the vision of executive chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and master sommelier Bobby Stuckey, who have crafted unique quattro piatto and Friulano tradizionale-style tasting menus for couples to enjoy Mondays through Saturdays.
Decadent pasta options include fava bean orecchiette, pork sausage and nettle gnocchi, and short rib gnudi with espresso. High-quality charcuterie and antipasto make for great shareable plates, while delicious desserts such as raspberry peppercorn panna cotta and white chocolate passionfruit tartes serve as perfect sweet treats. A comprehensive wine list showcases more than 200 international varieties by the glass or by the bottle.
Address: Frasca Food and Wine, 1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-6966
Flagstaff House
Flagstaff House has been named as one of America's most romantic restaurants by OpenTable, offering a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience atop gorgeous Flagstaff Mountain.
The restaurant is located at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet above sea level, housed within the Flagstaff House historic building, which was originally constructed as a summer cabin home in 1929 and transformed into a restaurant in 1971.
Address: Flagstaff House, 1138 Flagstaff Rd, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-4640