The Ultimate Guide to Boulder’s Very Best Restaurants

Just a few miles outside of Denver, Boulders is a college town that you definitely don’t want to skip out on. It’s filled with unique and charming restaurants and notable chefs that welcome you with mouthwatering food. Boulder’s dining scene is also known to be filled with religiously healthy and organic ingredients. Farm-to-table is the norm here, so you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body as well. it’s  If you’re ever in the area or a local looking for something fresh, here are some of the best restaurants in Boulder CO, that you need to check out!

Photo credit: travelboulder.com

Basta

3601 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 997-8775

Basta is home to some of Colorado’s best pizzas, seafood, and other bites mostly inspired by Italy. No other place can beat Basta as the restaurant solely runs by an oven fired by wood. Their menu is simple to choose from. They offer a handful of pizza options, a small raw bar, freshly baked Piadina bread, and some dinner plate selections.

 

Photo credit: 5280.com

Blackbelly Market

1606 Conestoga St #3, Boulder, CO 80301.
(303) 247-1000

Blackbelly Market is a well-known restaurant by award winning chef, Hosea Rosenberg. The restaurant offers staple farm-to-table dishes as well as an innovative cocktail menu which makes it a perfect venue for a variety of different occasions. Some popular dishes include Prawns & Pork Belly, Colorado Wagyu beef, and the smoked lamb shank. They also have a meat shop where you may choose from a selection of local meats sourced from neighboring ranches.

 

Photo credit: usarestaurants.info

Black Cat

1964 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-5500

The Black Cat is a bistro that relies on its certified organic vegetable garden to serve modern French and American cuisine. The garden is located outside of Boulder and it supplies vegetables, grains, and meat to the restaurant. The bistro offers a daily menu of local meats and vegetables. Some popular dishes include Foie Gras Terrine, duo of Colorado beef, and Colorado Striped Bass. For a light appetizer and to sample some of the delicious local meat, try ordering the Charcuterie. 

 

Photo credit: hungryandfit.com

Chez Thuy

2655 28th St, Boulder, CO 80301.
(303) 442-1700

Chez Thuy is a restaurant that has roots in Vietnam. It combines culinary traditions from China, Indonesia, France, and Thailand and has been serving stir-fries, spring rolls, and curries since 1993. Among their wide selection of dishes, some crowd favorites include their spring rolls, Pad Thai, and Green Curry Noodle. Many diners regard the restaurant for its delicious food and comfortable ambience.

 

Photo credit: foodle.pro

Frasca Food and Wine

1738 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302.
(303) 442-6966

Frasca Food and Wine has been nominated for the James Beard Nomination for the best restaurant. They specialize in fine dining and have won awards for exceptional hospitality and expertise in Northern Italian Friulano cuisines. With that said, make sure to call ahead and make a reservation if you are planning to dine at Frasca. Popular dishes include Frico Caldo, braised pork short rib, and the Salumi Plate. Their wine selection is quite a treat, as well. We suggest asking your host for their recommendations as they are regularly changing.  

 

Photo credit: usarestaurants.info

Izakaya Amu

1221 Spruce St, Boulder, CO 80302.
(303) 440-0807.

Although the restaurant is quite small, Izakaya Amu is known to offer the best high-quality sushi in Boulder. Emulating a similar dining experience comparable to those in Japan, the restaurant sticks to traditions especially asking guests to remove their shoes before sitting down at the counter or in the back-tea rooms. (All that to say make sure you’re wearing clean socks!) Some popular dishes are the soft shell crabs, Agedashi tofu, and the Ebi Shumai.  

 

Photo credit: westword.com

Oak at Fourteenth

1400 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
303-444-3622

Oak at Fourteenth offers dishes like oak-grilled chicken, smoked cheddar hush puppies, and oak-grilled hanger steak. To top off your dining experience in high spirit, we recommend trying one of their delicious cocktails or a glass of smooth blended wine. They also offer a libation menu that you can try out anytime you visit Boulder.