Guidebook for Boulder
Food Scene
Vic's
2680 Broadwaybest espresso in Boulder
Best value in Boulder: Terrific food--think dumplings and naan bread and chicken curry and delicious chai tea. Happy hour has $2 pints of delicious local microbrews.
68 locals recommend
Sherpa Restaurant
825 Walnut StBest value in Boulder: Terrific food--think dumplings and naan bread and chicken curry and delicious chai tea. Happy hour has $2 pints of delicious local microbrews.
Handmade, homemade pizza (gluten-free crusts, too) that you bring home and bake in the oven. Delicious & local!
9 locals recommend
Nick-N-Willy's Pizza
801 Pearl StHandmade, homemade pizza (gluten-free crusts, too) that you bring home and bake in the oven. Delicious & local!
Curry N Kebob
3050 28th StBest Indian Food. Excellent value. They deliver!
Delicious Higher-End Pizza (for regular pizza--try Ideal market or Nick& Willy's). They specialize in Northern Italian fare.
149 locals recommend
Pizzeria Locale
1730 Pearl StDelicious Higher-End Pizza (for regular pizza--try Ideal market or Nick& Willy's). They specialize in Northern Italian fare.
Mateo
1837 Pearl StDelicious French food and a great bar; and they have parking!
sounds crazy to recommend a fish house in the mountains, but go for their happy hour and be blown away by their fries with bouillabaisse topping.
80 locals recommend
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar - Boulder
928 Pearl Streetsounds crazy to recommend a fish house in the mountains, but go for their happy hour and be blown away by their fries with bouillabaisse topping.
Red Agave Tequileria Cocina Calaca Bar
2845 28th StExcellent Mexican food near bike path
Delicious (and popular! -so go early) brunch: specialty is to-die-for eggs benedict with light and spicy sauces.
862 locals recommend
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
6315 W 104th AveDelicious (and popular! -so go early) brunch: specialty is to-die-for eggs benedict with light and spicy sauces.
Three restaurants: The Kitchen, kitchen upstairs, and Kitchen Next Door: The latter is best for kids--great, locally sourced food--delicious and fun. Owners are local heroes.
220 locals recommend
The Kitchen
1039 Pearl StThree restaurants: The Kitchen, kitchen upstairs, and Kitchen Next Door: The latter is best for kids--great, locally sourced food--delicious and fun. Owners are local heroes.
Beer! Excellent beer selection--including all local microbrews.
57 locals recommend
The West End Tavern
926 Pearl StreetBeer! Excellent beer selection--including all local microbrews.
Excellent Brew Pub. One caution: Can get loud in there. Bad acoustics.
154 locals recommend
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
1535 Pearl StExcellent Brew Pub. One caution: Can get loud in there. Bad acoustics.
Spruce Confections
767 Pearl StScones! Pies! Great coffee and Chai.
Favorite Chinese restaurant. Very reasonably priced and super yummy.
37 locals recommend
China Gourmet
3970 BroadwayFavorite Chinese restaurant. Very reasonably priced and super yummy.
Zoe Ma Ma
2010 10th StSoup! Outrageously delicious Asian street-food & soups.
Best ice cream right at the end of our street. Our favorite flavor: cookies and cream!
74 locals recommend
Sweet Cow
2628 BroadwayBest ice cream right at the end of our street. Our favorite flavor: cookies and cream!
Hungry Toad
2543 BroadwayPub fair, great for families, at west end of our street
KT's BBQ & Catering
2660 BroadwayRibs! at end of our street; great for take-out too
Next to Ideal market down the street; american fair. Great for breakfast, happy hour, dinner, sitting outside. A little weird in that you are sitting next to a parking lot but you have these incredible views.
Scott's on Alpine
1265 Alpine Ave.Next to Ideal market down the street; american fair. Great for breakfast, happy hour, dinner, sitting outside. A little weird in that you are sitting next to a parking lot but you have these incredible views.
Wapos
4929 BroadwayAuthentic Mexican. Nothing fancy, just good food and great people.
T/aco
1175 Walnut StTacos! all kinds-delicious. $2 on Tuesdays. Great margs too.
Entertainment & Activities
Noodles and Company
1245 Alpine Ave.great pasta for whole family
Into The Wind
1408 Pearl StLocal favorite toy store & specialty kite shop
Giant flat park with terrific playground. Groomed in the winter for x-country skiing!
45 locals recommend
North Boulder Park
Dellwood AvenueGiant flat park with terrific playground. Groomed in the winter for x-country skiing!
Events for kids, great place to sit and study, easy to use, large public library
38 locals recommend
Boulder Public Library
1001 Arapahoe AveEvents for kids, great place to sit and study, easy to use, large public library
Hit the Bricks! The largest LEGO display in town: http://cuheritage.org/hit-bricks/
FREE and super fun exhibit> Also a chance to try on space suits from real astronauts.
133 locals recommend
University of Colorado at Boulder
Hit the Bricks! The largest LEGO display in town: http://cuheritage.org/hit-bricks/
FREE and super fun exhibit> Also a chance to try on space suits from real astronauts.
6 theaters, about 5 min away in an outdoor shopping area called 29th street mall
82 locals recommend
Century Theatre
1700 29th St6 theaters, about 5 min away in an outdoor shopping area called 29th street mall
National Center for Atmospheric Research: Great FREE, hands-on science exhibits. Need to drive there--it's high up on the hill--but great views and kids will love it!
64 locals recommend
NCAR Mesa Laboratory
1850 Table Mesa DrNational Center for Atmospheric Research: Great FREE, hands-on science exhibits. Need to drive there--it's high up on the hill--but great views and kids will love it!
Everything Else
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
2700 Broadwaypharmacy with post office inside!
Closest Emergency Room with excellent service, doctors, and latest technology.
6 locals recommend
Foothills Hospital Emergency Department
4747 Arapahoe AveClosest Emergency Room with excellent service, doctors, and latest technology.
Urgent Care for non-emergency situations. Has x-ray facilities and oxygen and usually not too crowded.
6 locals recommend
Boulder Community Health
4747 Arapahoe AveUrgent Care for non-emergency situations. Has x-ray facilities and oxygen and usually not too crowded.
Wonderful indoor swimming pool with a slide for kids and a separate lap pool for workouts. Public admission is $5/visit at time of writing this.
42 locals recommend
North Boulder Recreation Center
3170 BroadwayWonderful indoor swimming pool with a slide for kids and a separate lap pool for workouts. Public admission is $5/visit at time of writing this.
Best Hardware store in the west; if they don't have what you need, you don't need it! Also has great CO stuff.Go just to walk around and get the best wisdom from the green-vest team that works there.
39 locals recommend
McGuckin Hardware
2525 Arapahoe AveBest Hardware store in the west; if they don't have what you need, you don't need it! Also has great CO stuff.Go just to walk around and get the best wisdom from the green-vest team that works there.
Full Cycle Bikes
2355 30th StreetBike repair, rentals, sales. Great service.
A triathlete's favorite fitness center on the Goose Creek bike path near our house with day passes available and 2 swim pools, excellent coaches/facilities.
RallySport Health and Fitness Club
2727 29th StA triathlete's favorite fitness center on the Goose Creek bike path near our house with day passes available and 2 swim pools, excellent coaches/facilities.
Essentials
Moe's Broadway Bagel
2650 BroadwayBagels! need I say more?
This is a food museum more than a grocery store, though you can find everything and more than you need. Also has excellent prepared meals. Worth a visit.
216 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
695 S BroadwayThis is a food museum more than a grocery store, though you can find everything and more than you need. Also has excellent prepared meals. Worth a visit.
IDEAL Market is how it's known. Small Grocery store in the shopping area at the end of our street. Hip, historic, friendly. Also has great take-out pizzas and deli food.
156 locals recommend
Ideal Market Boulder
1275 Alpine Ave.IDEAL Market is how it's known. Small Grocery store in the shopping area at the end of our street. Hip, historic, friendly. Also has great take-out pizzas and deli food.
Safeway
2798 Arapahoe AveDriving distance, but slightly cheaper and great for everyday needs.
Shopping
Kitchen store with abundant desirable merchandise (if you like that kind of thing) great Boulder gifts for family and friends who didn't get to make the trip!
33 locals recommend
Peppercorn Gourmet Goods
1235 Pearl StKitchen store with abundant desirable merchandise (if you like that kind of thing) great Boulder gifts for family and friends who didn't get to make the trip!
Need a haircut? Blow-out? Wax? Great value, skilled staff, and easy to get an appointment.
Beauty Brands
Need a haircut? Blow-out? Wax? Great value, skilled staff, and easy to get an appointment.
REI
1789 28th Sta one-stop shop for all outdoor needs
Gorgeous cards, art supplies, pens and paper. Favorite shop to browse.
14 locals recommend
Two Hands Paperie
803 Pearl StGorgeous cards, art supplies, pens and paper. Favorite shop to browse.
Contempo Nails
1631 28th StQuality, cheap mani-pedis!
Sightseeing
Local ski area with terrain for everyone. Surprisingly challenging and fun resort only 35 minutes away in Nederland
148 locals recommend
Eldora
2861 Eldora Ski RdLocal ski area with terrain for everyone. Surprisingly challenging and fun resort only 35 minutes away in Nederland
For special occasions: a gorgeous view. Try just going for dessert or drinks and feel pampered by exceptional staff and chefs.
56 locals recommend
Flagstaff House
1138 Flagstaff RdFor special occasions: a gorgeous view. Try just going for dessert or drinks and feel pampered by exceptional staff and chefs.
Locally-owned fabulous bookstore with 5-star knowledgeable staff
56 locals recommend
Lighthouse Bookstore
1201 Pearl StLocally-owned fabulous bookstore with 5-star knowledgeable staff
Favorite place to mountain bike. I believe Wed & Saturdays are off-limits to bikes. All other days open and fun!
41 locals recommend
Betasso Preserve
Betasso RoadFavorite place to mountain bike. I believe Wed & Saturdays are off-limits to bikes. All other days open and fun!
Diagonal Highway & 63rd street: swimming, paddle board rentals, beach, sailing: entrance fee for a day pass by the car/person.
Boulder Reservoir Trail
Boulder Reservoir TrailDiagonal Highway & 63rd street: swimming, paddle board rentals, beach, sailing: entrance fee for a day pass by the car/person.
Brainard Lake
Accessible, fantastic, high-mountain hiking and biking
My daily walk. Can walk or drive to trailhead (1 mile away). Can hike to top and back down (1.5 hrs max) or stroll valley trail. Beautiful, protected space. Warning! lots of friendly dogs come here with their owners, can get crowded midday.
160 locals recommend
Mount Sanitas Trail
Mount Sanitas TrailMy daily walk. Can walk or drive to trailhead (1 mile away). Can hike to top and back down (1.5 hrs max) or stroll valley trail. Beautiful, protected space. Warning! lots of friendly dogs come here with their owners, can get crowded midday.
Easy, flat walk along gorgeous creek. (one of the few flat places). Can run, rent bikes, see farmer's market, go as long or short as you want. Also possible to rent inter tubes and float down the river. Rent tubes at gas station near creek or ask around. Takes about 10 min walking from our house to get here.
76 locals recommend
Boulder Creek Path
Boulder Creek PathEasy, flat walk along gorgeous creek. (one of the few flat places). Can run, rent bikes, see farmer's market, go as long or short as you want. Also possible to rent inter tubes and float down the river. Rent tubes at gas station near creek or ask around. Takes about 10 min walking from our house to get here.
Hard to categorize this gorgeous spot, at base of Flatiron mountains: trails for hiking, awesome dining room/restaurant, live music events, tennis courts. Can get crowded, but worth trying!
649 locals recommend
Chautauqua Park
9th StreetHard to categorize this gorgeous spot, at base of Flatiron mountains: trails for hiking, awesome dining room/restaurant, live music events, tennis courts. Can get crowded, but worth trying!
Arts & Culture
walkable concerts with last-minute tickets often available--need I say more?
165 locals recommend
Boulder Theater
2032 14th Stwalkable concerts with last-minute tickets often available--need I say more?
Independent films, dance and theater performances that are reasonably priced and outstanding in quality.
105 locals recommend
Dairy Arts Center
2590 Walnut StIndependent films, dance and theater performances that are reasonably priced and outstanding in quality.
Unique and beautiful; go for tea and stay for lunch--a tiled building hand-built by friends in our sister city Dushanbe
317 locals recommend
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th StUnique and beautiful; go for tea and stay for lunch--a tiled building hand-built by friends in our sister city Dushanbe