Boulder is both cosmopolitan and rugged, home to a seasoned dining scene that is conscious of the local environment and rooted in local ingredients. Located in the foothills of the Flatiron Mountains, the picturesque city has earned a reputable dining reputation with dining destinations like the Black Cat farm-to-table bistro, the in-house butchering Blackbelly, and the nationally-acclaimed Frasca Food & Wine. There is no shortage of a variety of cuisines for friends, families, and couples to enjoy during a night out.
Jill's Restaurant
Jill's Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado is a contemporary bistro focused on promoting organic, sustainable farming practices and showcases modern American fare made with a bit of a French twist.
The restaurant contains an outdoor patio, a full bar, and The Onyx Room, one of the city’s most beautiful private dining spaces.
Open daily, Jill’s Restaurant serves delicious dishes all day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a Saturday and Sunday Brunch, and a vegan lunch buffet on the first Friday of every month.
Jill's Restaurant, 900 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 720-406-9696
Blackbelly
The Blackbelly Market is award-winning chef Hosea Rosenberg’s first restaurant, located in the city’s up-and-coming neighborhood of East Boulder. The menu focuses on organic, sustainable, locally-sourced cuisine. The bar at Blackbelly pours world-class wines, local beers, and seasonal cocktails. Blackberry Market is open daily for dinner beginning at 4:00pm. A daily Happy Hour is offered as well from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. The restaurant features two outdoor patios, a quaint bar, a chef’s counter, and abundant parking. The Blackbelly Market also manages the Blackbelly Butcher Shop, selling antibiotic and hormone-free meats from several of Colorado’s ranches and farms.
Blackbelly, 1606 Conestoga St, Boulder, CO 80301, Phone: 303-247-1000
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar - Boulder
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar - Boulder has been around since the year 1994. The list of cocktails offered at the restaurant is “as delicious as it is geeky,” including legacy infusions served alongside contemporary crafted cocktails that have made Jax a famous place for drinks. The complete opposite of any “speakeasy,” the Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar is fun, vibrant, noisy, and completely free of any pretense.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar - Boulder, 928 Pearl St, Boulder, CO, Phone: 303-444-1811
740 Front Restaurant
The 740 Front Restaurant is a laid-back dining venue that specializes in cocktails and surf ‘n’ turf in what was once a saloon. In fact, it’s the last remaining saloon from the original thirteen saloons that once lined a three-block stretch of Louisville’s Front Street in the historic downtown area, and is one of the two oldest saloons that still remain standing in the state of Colorado. The saloon-turned-restaurant that serves lunch, dinner, and brunch near Boulder, Colorado has been transformed back to what it looked like in 1904 with turn-of-the-century ambiance and a dominating bar that was constructed back in 1880.
740 Front Restaurant, 740 Front St, Louisville, CO 80027, Phone: 720-519-1972
Basta
Basta, which means “enough” in Italian, is one of Boulder’s boutique restaurants, located in a rather unassuming apartment complex in the city’s eastern side. Basta serves dinner six days a week. Basta can be somewhat difficult to find, but it’s worth the effort to try dishes from the market-driven, creative menu that includes pizza, salumi, burrata, and wood-fired chicken that go with the various cocktails and affordable wines. Kelly Whitaker, the chef-owner of Basta, offers a modern Italian-inspired dining spot hidden among the luxury lofts.
3601 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303, Phone: 303-997-8775
Flagstaff House
The Flagstaff House is owned and managed by Adam Monette, Chris Royster, and Scott Monette and offers a unique Colorado dining experience. Situated at 6,000 feet in elevation, the restaurant provides guests with some incredible views, a world-class wine list, excellent service, and New American cuisine with a bit of a French twist. The Flagstaff House has consistently received a Four Star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide and AAA Four Diamond status, as well as ranked as one of the top 100 “Most Romantic Restaurants in America” by OpenTable. The restaurant’s menu is curated by seasonal and local cuisine.
Flagstaff House , 1138 Flagstaff Rd, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-4640
Frasca Food and Wine
Frasca Food and Wine is the creation of Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey. The two share a passion for fine wine and Friulano cuisine, reflected in the extensive wine list of more than two hundred varieties and the excellently prepared food. The Friulano cuisine come from northeast Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the Frasca neighborhood plays a significant part of the region’s food tradition. Frascas were informal and friendly gathering places for families, friends, and farmers to share wine and a meal, a symbol of warm hospitality, wine, and farm cuisine. Frasca Food and Wine is closed on Sundays.
Frasca Food and Wine, 1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO, Phone: 303-442-6966
Japango
Japango is located in the heart of Boulder’s downtown district on Pearl Street and is a popular restaurant among locals for both modern and traditional Japanese cuisine, as well as fresh sushi. The Japanese restaurant features the state of Colorado’s largest assortment of Japanese whiskey, an extensive selection of craft beer, a Sake Bar and Whiskey Lounge, the Pearl Street Patio, and the Fireside Patio Bar.
Japango, 1136 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-938-0330
Le French Cafe
Le French Cafe in Boulder is a casual French cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, along with a variety of freshly baked pastries and coffee. First started out as a dream in French by the French duo of Quentin and Agnes Garrigou, the French restaurant was opened in 2017 and serves food six days a week to hungry guests. Le French Cafe is open from 9:00am until 4:30pm on Sunday and from 7:30am until 4:30pm on Saturday. The kitchen, however, closes at 3:30pm each day, and the cafe is closed completely on Mondays.
Le French Cafe, 2525 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-284-2265
Mateo
Mateo, named after the owner and chef, first opened in the city of Boulder in 2001 and features simple dishes that are inspired by Europe’s Provence Region. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu that utilizes organic and local produce when possible and continues to draw influences from the Provence Region today. The wine list at Mateo compliments the seasonal food menu and places a focus on small batch varietals from Italy and France. Lunch is served Monday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday, and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Hour specials are available Monday to Friday from 3:00pm until 6:00pm.
Mateo , 1837 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-443-7766
Oak
The Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder melds together elements of the city’s contemporary and hip dining scene with the rustic backdrop of the state of Colorado, making the restaurant a stylish neighborhood dining destination that offers seasonal and local New American fare with a professional and friendly atmosphere. The Oak at Fourteenth is open Monday to Saturday from 11:30am until 10:00pm and on Sundays for dinner from 5:30pm until 10:00pm. The restaurant is closed on the major holidays of New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, as well as Super Bowl Sunday.
Oak, 1400 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-444-3622
Spruce Farm & Fish
Spruce Farm & Fish serves inspired, approachable, straight-forward, and fresh food to the people of Boulder, Colorado. The restaurant strives to showcase the best that nature and the Colorado region have to offer, always highlighting seasonal ingredients. From familiar flavors to creative cuisine, the Spruce Farm and Fish aims to offer only the most interesting and freshest dishes accompanied by exceptional service and value. Brunch is offered 6:30am until 3:00pm on weekdays and 7:00am until 3:00pm on weekends. Dinner is served daily from 5:00pm until 10:00pm, with Happy Hour 3:00pm until 6:00pm.
Spruce Farm & Fish, 2115 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302, Phone: 303-442-4880
The Boulder Cork
The Boulder Cork has been a tradition in fine dining of the city for over thirty years, possessing the community connections, experience, and skill to provide its guests with dishes that are made with the highest quality of ingredients. First opening its doors back in 1969, prides itself on its attentive and casual atmosphere, modern American cuisine, and the some of the freshest ingredients around, sourced locally whenever possible. The Cork is open from 11:15am until 2:00pm for lunch Monday to Friday, with dinner served 5:00pm until 10:00pm Monday to Saturday and until 9:00pm on Sundays.
The Boulder Cork, 3295 30th St, Boulder, CO 80301, Phone: 303-443-9505
