Top 10 Restaurants In Boulder, Colorado

Inspired by the simple yet flavoursome hallmarks of Spanish cuisine, Cafe Aion’s menu draws heavily on the popular small plates common to tapas, priding themselves on a relaxed, informal and communal atmosphere. For groups, the rich yet fluffy paella is the perfect dish to share and for those simply after traditional tapas, the Colorado lamb merguez sausage and aion fried cauliflower are amongst the most popular choices. Cafe Aion is understated but committed to producing great quality food in a fun-loving environment. The jalapeño and smoky mescal cocktail is a local favourite but in order to secure a spot, be sure to make a reservation – particularly on the weekend.

Teahouses in Central Asia are traditionally places of community, where people can meet friends, play games and enjoy a communal, convivial dining experience. Usually decorated in the traditional Persian style of repeated motifs and patterns, teahouses have the mark of artisans whose skills and craft are often passed down through the generations. In 1987, Mayor Maksuf Ikramov announced that Boulder would be presented with one such teahouse, aligning it with the culture of Tajikistan and celebrating the town’s links with Dushanbe. Chief architect Lado Shanidze oversaw the project and ensured that the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse did justice to its cultural heritage. Whether looking for an afternoon tea or the traditional Tajikistan Plov for a relaxed and unusual dinner, the Dushanbe Teahouse promises an exquisite setting and a memorable visit.

At the heart of The Kitchen’s ethos is the notion of ‘community through food’. Owners Kimbal Musk, Jen Lewin and Hugo Matheson selected the name to represent the role of the domestic kitchen in the home: the nucleus of family life, a kitchen brings people together to communicate and share in a united experience. With this in mind, The Kitchen in Boulder opened as a community bistro and offers a community hour between 3 and 5, during which time there is a subsidised menu available comprising of classic dishes such as mac and cheese, pork sandwiches and sticky toffee pudding. Community nights are also popular, where diners can come and meet the farmers and purveyors who keep The Kitchen fully stocked, offering a chance to fully engage in the process involved in getting ingredients from the farm to the plate.

Inspired by the European travels of owner and chef Bradford Heap, SALT the Bistroembraces local produce and incorporates his own travelling experiences into the menu. Heap’s ethos starts with the belief that ‘superior taste begins at the farm…I am always trying to expand our network of regional growers and purveyors’. The sister restaurant of Colterra, SALT retains the burger tradition of its predecessor Tom’s Tavern, giving this classic American culinary item a gourmet edge. There is also an impressive range of seasonal cocktails on the menu, including the ‘The SC Sour’, consisting of Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon, amaretto, vanilla simple syrup, egg whites and fresh lemon.

Built into the mountainside, Flagstaff House Restaurantoffers a breath-taking dining experience, overlooking the entire city. Originally built as a holiday cabin in 1929 by Hattie Bilchert, the Monettes family purchased the building in 1971 and opened it as an all-year-round fine-dining restaurant, adding the floor-to-ceiling windows to allow diners to experience the natural beauty of Boulder City Park. Still family-run, the restaurant is renowned for its impeccable, old-school service – perfect for if you’re celebrating a particularly special event. The maple bacon appetiser, pork tenderloin and sticky toffee pudding come highly recommended. The extravagance of the food is reflected in the price, but for a truly special and memorable dining experience Flagstaff should be top of your list.

Leaf is dedicated to providing its diners with an outstanding vegetarian experience. Using ingredients from their very own garden at the Three Leaf Farm in Lafayette, the restaurant honours its commitment to sustainable dining as well as being able to use wholly organic produce for dishes such as their sweet pea gnocchi – served in a Dijon beurre blanc with pine nuts and radish sprouts. Leaf also hosts a number of events, including the First Bite Boulder Festival – running from 14-22 November in 2014, celebrating the best of Boulder’s culinary scene – and a brand new traditional afternoon tea service available every day between 3 and 5pm.

A fusion of Colorado’s rustic heritage and the emerging contemporary vibe of Boulder, Oak at Fourteenthoffers a seasonally focused menu using ingredients sourced from the rich array of local Colorado farms, all prepared using Oak’s unique oak-fired oven and grill. The pairing of owners Bryan Dayton – a passionate mixologist – and Chef Steven Redzikowski, is what makes Oak’s so special. They bring cocktails to the forefront of their menu, sitting in pride of place alongside the food and creating a perfectly balanced, flavoursome experience. Recommendations include the house ricotta and smoked corn ravioli as well as the crispy ancho glazed pork.