8 Awesome Places to Get Your Eat & Drink on in Boulder, CO

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Post updated: June 1, 2026

The Best Restaurants in Boulder: My Favorite Places to Eat

Postino – for Mediterranean-style boards & bites

Postino is one of my favorite places to eat in Boulder. This gem is set right on Pearl Street, which means it’s always buzzing. That’s especially true during happy hour (until 5 pm) when glasses of wine and pitchers of beer are just $6.

Drink deals aside, I love the Mediterranean-inspired small plates, as well as the scrumptious selection of “snacky things,” paninis, soups, and salads.

If you’re visiting as a group, you simply have to order from “The Boards” section. You can pick four creative bruschettas ranging from Smoked Salmon & Pesto to Warm Artichoke Spread to Mushroom & Mascarpone. Postino also does some beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards!

Flagstaff House – for fine dining & amazing views

Set at the top of Flagstaff Mountain, Flagstaff House is one of the best places to eat in Boulder if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Not only are the views absolutely incredible from this mountaintop restaurant, but the New American dishes are always meticulously prepared and presented. Oh, and the wine list is as impressive as they come.

The chefs curate the menu each day, so expect seasonal delights that are always thoughtfully sourced. Think Alaskan Halibut with green garlic, Colorado Lamb Loin with morel mushrooms, Maryland Soft Shell Crab with flowering scallion, and Texas Pharaoh Quail with black truffle. If you’re in the mood to splurge, you can also opt for one of the 3-course meals or the Chef’s Tasting menu, which comes with wine pairings.

Organic Sandwich Company – for a gourmet picnic lunch

Boulder is chock full of sandwich shops but I could not have been more thrilled that my sister and I stumbled into this one. The Organic Sandwich Company served up one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. 

Because I’m a vegetarian, I ordered the Spicy Veggie, a glorious concoction of avocado, caramelized onion, and aged white cheddar, all slathered with a spicy relish and sandwiched between a soft pretzel loaf. Yup, a pretzel loaf. 

This sandwich was even better than it looked. My sister got the Turkey & Brie with honey mustard and apple slices, which looked pretty fantastic too. They also serve up a ton of soups and salads. It’s a great place for vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike.

Pizzeria Alberico – for Italian aperitivo

Residents of Boulder love a good happy hour. And clearly, that’s fine by me. There are tons of options out there but Pizzeria Alberico is a great aperitivo spot if you’re in the mood for Italian. Their Italian food is always top-notch, and their vino bianco is chilled to perfection. 

Their aperitivo runs from 4-6 pm every day and you can order drinks like their Aperol Spritz and Negroni for $8 or their Frosé for $9. And if you’re feeling peckish, you can order arancino ($2), Antica salad ($6), or Italian meatballs ($10).

Of course, the regular menu also boasts hand-tossed pizzas under their Pizze Rosse and Pizze Bianche sections, as well as other Italian apps and dishes.

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse – for tea and globally-inspired eats

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is one of the most iconic restaurants in Boulder. This place is an architectural marvel and it’s as much worth visiting for the craftsmanship as it is for the food and tea. What makes this place truly unique is that it was built by over 40 artisans in Tajikistan and imported to Boulder.

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse offers all-day dining, as well as “tea time” from 3-5 pm. No matter what time you visit, you can expect delicious globally-inspired dishes ranging from Malaysian Sambal Curry and Jamaican Jerk Steak to West African Shoko, Persian Chickpea Kufteh, and Uruguay Chivito Sandwich. The menu also features tons of vegan and gluten-free options, which is always an added bonus.

Lucile’s Creole Cafe – for breakfast

Lucile’s is an institution in Boulder. It’s arguably one of the best restaurants in Boulder. The New Orleans-style café is located in an adorable Victorian house in the heart of downtown and has been around for over 40 years. Yes, it’s a bit touristy and it gets packed on the weekends. But there’s a good reason for this.

Obviously, you can’t go here without ordering the beignets (delicious fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar). But you’ll be tempted by everything else on their Southern-inspired menu, too, which also features everything from praline waffles to shrimp and grits with spicy andouille sausage.

I went for the Eggs Jennifer, basically a delicious spin on eggs benedict:  English muffins and poached eggs topped with avocado, spinach and tomato and drenched in a tangy hollandaise sauce.  Did I mention you can choose to have either potatoes, grits or both on the side? I went with both. 

bartaco – for tacos and tequila

As a San Diego native, I’m always a sucker for Mexican food. So if you’re like me and you’re in the mood for tacos, make your way to bartaco on Pearl Street.

The “tacos” menu has a whopping 14 kinds of creative tacos, ranging from Pork Belly, Mojo Pork Carnitas, and Sesame Ribeye for meat-eaters to Mushroom and Cauliflower for the vegetarian-inclined like me. There’s also a “not tacos” menu featuring tempting Mexican creations like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Duck Birria, and Pork Tamales.

No matter what you get to eat, you should order a tequila-infused Paloma Fresca – you’ll thank me later!

Mustard’s Last Stand – for Chicago-style hot dogs

Mustard’s Last Stand is a Chicago-style hot dog stand and it has been in Boulder (and Denver) since 1948. Their dogs are made with real Vienna beef and they offer pretty much every topping under the sun, from sauerkraut to relish to peppers. They also have a huge selection of sandwiches. 

What I love about this place is that they also have an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. So I was able to indulge in a veggie hot dog. It’s always a fun place to pop into if you’re looking for a quick, casual, and cheap restaurant in Boulder.

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That completes my list of the best restaurants in Boulder. I hope you enjoy eating your way around the city!