Restaurants and Bars

You might think dining in Boulder requires a taste for granola, yogurt, tofu or nutrition smoothies. While Boulder residents might be extremely active, (they average two bikes per person—road and mountain,) and the healthiest population in the land, they still love to eat. Training for marathons can make a person hungry. And, even though you might find the occasional health food creation utilizing a dab of yogurt and a bit of granola, Boulder has a hefty helping of hearty dining options. A talented crop of chefs, drawn to the city's hip lifestyle, create cosmopolitan menus rivaling the big towns. The offerings range from fine dining to brewpub fare.

Locals also love to eat outside, so most restaurants, especially those along the Pearl Street Mall, offer patio seating. A good portion of the upscale restaurants reside downtown, while up on "The Hill" students get a fix of cafes, pizza parlors and big burrito joints. There are dining gems around every corner, and in every nook and cranny of Boulder. Plus, there is nothing like a romantic mountain dining excursion.

Like everything else in Boulder, during the summer and special events at the University of Colorado, you better have a reservation or expect to wait a bit. A local government ban prohibits smoking inside most restaurants and bars, but some establishments find interesting ways around the issue. Make sure to ask about the restaurant's policy before pulling out a cigarette or cigar. Also, regardless of expense, most restaurants are casual, so leave the suit and tie back at the hotel.

Downtown

As you walk along Pearl Street, aromas drifting from the restaurants penetrate the senses, making it hard to choose on where to dine. From sophisticated cuisine to inexpensive pub grub and microbrews, get ready for a quality dining experience. For the health minded looking for stereotypical Boulder fare (i.e. natural foods), stop in at the Creative Vegetarian Cafe for some of the best fiber fodder this side of California. The Harvest, another popular stop for fat gram counters, serves a vegetable walnut casserole that feels almost fattening. The Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery is a brewery with a Boulder twist, specializing in full-bodied ales and mostly meatless bar fare.

Upscale bistros and stylish cafes pepper the downtown vicinity. A good majority of the restaurants feature seasonal menus emphasizing contemporary American creations. The imaginative dishes usually involve salmon, trout, lamb, chicken and tenderloin. Most local chefs feature homegrown organic ingredients including seasonings, spices and vegetables.

Try Q's Restaurant in the Hotel Boulderado for a taste of regional fare and Boulder's most happening ambiance. Chef John Platt is a master of artistic presentation, and the roasted rack of lamb is well worth the expense. Renowned Denver chef Kevin Taylor opened the Dandelion a few years back, bringing the college town an elegant bistro exuding big city style. The hip decor and postmodern atmosphere attracts the business crowd along with Boulder's well-to-do. Jacks Fish House proves you can be landlocked in a mountain town and still find incredible clam chowder and other ocean delights. Plus, the martinis are the best around.

The sunny Riviera comes alive at Mediterranean (a.k.a The Med). Incorporating a wood-burning oven, this cozy hideaway just off the Pearl Street Mall serves traditional favorites from Spain, France and Italy. The wood burning oven also flickers at Antica Roma Ristorante & Bar and the 14th Street Bar and Grill, baking innovative Neapolitan pizzas, along with other Italian standards.

For deep-dish, Chicago style pizza and an intoxicating drink menu, stop in Old Chicago and take the world beer tour. The patio is one of the rowdiest in town, especially during the summer. BJ's Pizza, Grill and Brewery brings the chain element to Pearl Street, but still handcrafts some fine local ale while serving an array of pizzas and sandwiches. Hometown brewpubs include the Walnut Brewery and the Oasis. Both pubs concoct masterful blends of barley and hops and go way beyond the traditional bar fare.

Downtown's ethnic offerings span the mountain depths of the Himalayas, chart the cold coastal waters of Japan, and delve into the exotic mysteries of India all in less than a 10 block area. Trek over to the Himalayas Restaurant for authentic Tibetan and Nepalese cuisine featuring some amazingly spicy curries. Mij Bani mixes the healthy (and spicy) eats of old world India with the spiritual flavorings of Nepal.

Sushi lovers line up outside Sushi Zanmai for wild nights of karaoke and the freshest rice wrapped in seafood money can buy. Japango's sushi bar is tops, but the funky eatery also caters to those who prefer Japanese fare a bit Americanized. The Orchid Garden serves upscale Chinese cuisine without the upscale price, and Pan Asia Fusion dabbles in Far East delights.

The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House, a gift from Boulder's sister city Dushanbe, Tajikistan, adorns the eastern fringe of Central Park and is a cultural experience in itself. The international menu includes creations from Tajik and Algeria.

Juanita's, a festive Mexican joint a block from the Pearl Street Mall, draws the local crowd for platters piled high with all the standards: burritos, tacos and enchiladas. The Rio Grande's potent margaritas (there is a 3-drink limit) are powerful enough to knock anyone silly, and make the Mexican fare taste even better.

If you want to skip on the fancy cuisines and simply bite into a no frills burger, head over to Tom's Tavern. It is the best place in town to hear how things used to be in Boulder. The folks that run the place make everyone feel like a local and prepare home-style classics, along with the biggest burgers in town.

No trip to Boulder should be complete without stopping in a downtown coffee shop and debating a little Buddhist philosophy over java and eclairs. If you are up for bantering with locals, check out the Trident Cafe, Penny Lane or Sidney's Cappuccino and Art Bar. For the less adventurous, there is always Starbucks.

University Hill

No matter how many businesses move to town or how high the median income might be, Boulder is still undeniably part college town. The depth of cheap eats, pizza joints and coffee shops on The Hill reflect this reality. For a quirky example of the feel of this campus area look no further than The Sink. Low ceilings and graffiti coated walls give the place the urban charm of a hip subway tunnel, and with every tasty pizza comes a bit of local attitude. The joint is always rocking with distressed poets, suburban hippies and hungry students. Frat boys and business cohorts hit the drink specials at Teresa's Pizza Colore. A local chain, Abo's is the perfect stop for pizza by the slice.

Illegal Pete's caters to the big burrito crowd, packing all sorts of veggies, rice, beans and meats into a tortilla the size of a large pizza. Hapa On The Hill is where to go for cheap sushi. Moe's Broadway Bagel is probably the closest thing to healthy the neighborhood has to offer.

On the other side of The Hill, travel into the past for a feast at the Chautauqua Dining Hall. Now open year round, the seasonal menu features Colorado lamb and rainbow trout.

28th Street Vicinity

Muddled in the mass of chain eateries and fast food fry pits, and lost in the labyrinth of strip malls congesting the area, are some of Boulder's best dining surprises. Dolan's, a longstanding Boulder tradition, dabs heavily into the regional cuisine and is the place to go for steak and seafood. If you are entertaining clients, try the Boulder Broker for a juicy porterhouse or filet. John's Restaurant, owned by longtime resident John Bizarro, is best for romance and magical New American cuisine. Zolo Grill, a Zagat favorite, specializes in fiery southwestern fare and a lively atmosphere.

For vegetarian fare, sports and microbrews kick back at the Lazy Dog Sports Bar and Grill. Do not worry, the joint also cooks up the traditional burger and fries. Casa Alvarez conjures a taste of old Mexico straight from the family recipe book. Turley's is a great neighbor stop for healthy grub, and Dot's Diner is an inexpensive place to get the day going.

Foothills and Mountains

There is nothing quite like dining alongside a mountain, watching the sun creep away, witnessing the city lights settle into an easy glimmer, and mustering up a bit of romance. The Flagstaff House is perhaps Boulder's most elegant (and pricey) dining experience. Perched atop Flagstaff Mountain, it is the place for rattlesnake and alligator appetizers and the best Buffalo filet in the world—for $50, it should be. The Red Lion Inn also exudes a bit of romance, but is also a great place for business meetings, and the German cuisine emphasizes wild game.

Nederland has quite a few interesting dining spots loaded with all sorts of mountain characters, but Neapolitan's pizza joint is the most popular layover for tourists, especially after a long day of skiing at Eldora Mountain.