From family-owned Chinese to Four-Course menus near the mountains.
Have you been to Boulder yet? If not, you might want to check out the Happiest City in the United States as soon as you can. Not only is there great access to nature with mountains and hikes very close to the Downtown Area that makes it easy to go from one to the other in a long day. That’s not to mention Boulder’s amazing culinary scene that was once named Bon Apétit’s top foodie city in the country. We’ve included 4 unique hotels to stay at for a long weekend and the 7 restaurants you should check out while you’re there. Enjoy!
1. Boulder Guest House
Start off your Boulder Stay in Boulder Guest House, a cute residential-style boutique hotel. Right in the heart of Downtown Boulder, this cute hotel has an urban Zen Buddhist practice center. An old Victorian house that has long been a bed and breakfast is a great, relaxing start off to a weekend in Boulder. Stay here, then take a stroll in the downtown area for dinner and drinks.
Where: 2151 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
2. Hotel Boulderado
For a more elegant stay, check out Hotel Boulderado within the Downtown Boulder area as well. This historic Victorian-inspired hotel is decked out in chandeliers and golden accents with a cute and whimsical outdoor patio. If you’re willing to stay in one of their suites then you’re in a for nice surprise, as their suites are decorated in a gorgeous, ornate style reminiscent of a castle grounds.
Where: 2115 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
3. Frasca Food & Wine
Frasca pays homage to their Northern Italian Roots with a refined menu that takes you across the Atlantic. Enjoy an antipasti of Burrata and Heirlooms then dig into a plate of spinach pasta with lobster. And don’t skimp out on checking the wine menu, even if you aren’t a huge wino, as there are a ton of varietals and regions to choose from on their extensive menu.
Where: 1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
4. River and Woods
River and Woods specializes in Colorado comfort food all locally sourced. From Rocky Mountain Trout with oyster mushrooms and jasmine rice to bison cheeseburger and fries, R&W takes mountain food very seriously, by elevating them to new heights. Hang out in the cute outdoor patio and enjoy a delicious meal with a specialty cocktail, like their Beast of Bourbon with Bourbon and citrus notes.
Where: 2328 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
5. Zoe Ma Ma
Zoe MaMa is a beloved staple of Boulder that has since gotten its very own hub in Union station here in Denver. But if you want to throw it back to where it all began, then you can check out the Boulder location. Don’t skip out on their delicious soups, from yummy beef noodle to pork wonton, and their delicious noodle dishes without soup are great and less heavy choices. We’d recommend the Dan Dan Noodles, as they are a great Sichuan classic with spicy peppercorns and sesame paste. Yum.
Where: 1023 Walnut St STE 400, Boulder, CO 80302
6. Corrida
Welcome to Corrida, a Basque-inspired steakhouse that borrows flavors from the North of Spain within their tapas and wines + spirits. The classic Basque-tapa is actually called a pinxto, which is different ingredients on top of a little piece of bread, and these are skewers with olives, anchovies, and peppers. You can also try a Sherry, a sweet wine from the South of Spain and don’t forget to try a Gin Tonic, a staple in Spain.
Where: 1023 Walnut St STE 400, Boulder, CO 80302
7. Rincon Argentino
Straight from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Boulder, Colorado, the owners of Rincon Argentino are bringing a little piece of their history to the states with empanadas and the works. Try an empanada de pollo de chorizo with chicken and chorizo, or an empanada de carne picante with steak and peppers. Their other specialities are their sandwiches like the milanesa de pollo, with lightly breaded chicken filets on bread.
Where: 2525 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
8. Boulder Adventure Lodge
A little outside of Downtown Boulder by Four Mile Creek is the Adventure Lodge, or A-Lodge. The A-Lodge has either campsites, a traveler’s lodge, and even a three-bedroom cabin with a few in-between sites suited for any occasion. Enjoy a little taste of the outdoors that’s only a few miles away from Downtown Boulder. Even better, A-Lodge has rental vans for your next #vanlife adventure. Book here.
Where: 91 Fourmile Canyon Dr, Boulder, CO 80302
9. Blackbelly
“Farmhouse-chic” is the tagline of Blackbelly, a rustic restaurant over in Boulder that serves things like crispy pig ears, house made sausage, and even lamb. Their lunch menu has items like a wagyu french dip, grilled cheese, and smoked tri-tip.
Where: 1606 Conestoga St #3, Boulder, CO 80301
10. Foot of the Mountain Motel
This beautiful 1950s motel has been renovated to offer modern hotel comforts which brings you the best of both worlds. This motel is tucked away in Boulder Creek but not too far away from Downtown to explore, with beautiful cabin-esque rooms and suites. For you hikers out there, you can head out to Boulder Falls or Settler’s Park or even see the marvel of Royal Arch. Once you’re done hiking, head over to Pearl Street to try out one of the restaurants on this list.
Where: 200 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
11. Flagstaff House
The Flagstaff House was originally built as a summer cabin in 1929 and has since been created as an elegant summer restaurant that serves up chic and elegant American food. If you want an elegant and impressive meal of caviar, oysters, or a delicious chef-chosen four course meal, you definitely need to head to Flagstaff House. Their entire menu looks totally delicious and is listed here on the menu, so check it out for yourself. But we will say, they’ve got a Miyazaki A5 Wagyu New York Strip Steak that sounds amazing.
Where: 1138 Flagstaff Rd, Boulder, CO 80302
[featured image by Nick Cahill Photography]