The Best Boutique Hotels in Boulder, Colorado

The Hotel Boulderado is a renowned city landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Opened in 1909, its elegant interiors include a Victorian-era stained glass ceiling above the main atrium, plus the original cherrywood staircase and a manually operated Otis elevator. The 160-room hotel sits just one block from Boulder’s popular, pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street Mall and offers impressive views of the famed Flatirons peaks, which are also within walking distance of downtown.

On the edge of the University of Colorado at Boulder campus near the residential Goss-Grove neighborhood, Basecamp Boulder features 50 renovated rooms decorated with camping-inspired touches like sustainable beetle kill pine furniture and custom-made tapestry maps. The adventure-themed property also has its own rock climbing wall, plus an adjacent outdoor fire pit and a lobby bar stocked with craft beers from Boulder-based Avery Brewing Company and Upslope Brewing Company.

The Boulder Adventure Lodge (A-Lodge) sits two miles (3.2km) from downtown Boulder in the forested Fourmile Canyon, just off the banks of the canyon’s namesake creek. At this relaxed hotel-meets-hostel-and-campsite lodge, guests can use high-speed tablets to book guided outdoor excursions, like rock climbing in the nearby Boulder Canyon. The property also offers direct access to scenic hiking areas, like the Betasso Preserve Trailhead, not to mention a slackline course on the grounds, plus fire pits and a seasonal pool.

Bordered on one side by the Boulder Creek at the base of Flagstaff Mountain, the aptly named Foot of the Mountain Motel exudes the charm of an old-school alpine getaway. The family-owned motel was built in the 1930s but underwent a renovation in 2014 to modernize the property while preserving its vintage feel. Today, the boutique motel features 20 modest rooms modeled after classic log cabins, plus an outdoor fire pit, bike rentals and a book-lending library.

Owned by an ordained monk who has practiced Zen meditation for more than 30 years, the Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast features 10 tranquil guest rooms decorated with Japanese art and ikebana flower arrangements. The 1880s house, which is located in the quiet Goss-Grove neighborhood near downtown Boulder, features a lush garden in addition to a 400-square-foot (37sqm) meditation room. Meanwhile, the complimentary organic breakfast is worth a stay in itself, with delectable specialties that include homemade granola and a Southwestern frittata.

When you stay at Alps Boulder Canyon Inn, you’ll be within a 10-minute drive of the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, but you’ll feel like you’re much more deeply immersed in the surrounding wilderness. Located in the impressive Boulder Canyon along the meandering Boulder Creek, this inn was built in 1870 to serve travelers heading to Colorado’s mining districts. Today, its 12 luxury suites feature cozy amenities, like wood-burning fireplaces and private outdoor patios.

Just a stone’s throw from some of Boulder’s top bistros, including Black Cat and Oak at Fourteenth, the Bradley Boulder Inn has 12 polished adults-only suites. Each room offers 100% cotton bed linens and a private bathroom with a tub. Some suites also feature fireplaces or mountain-facing balconies with French doors. The B&B offers complimentary homemade breakfast, not to mention a free wine-and-cheese hour by a communal fireplace in the evenings.

The Niwot Inn & Spa was built in 1999 in historic downtown Niwot, just 15 minutes from Boulder’s Pearl Street. Its 13 rooms feature natural decor inspired by Niwot’s Native American roots, like clay walls, stone hearth fireplaces and wooden furniture made by local craftspeople. The family-run property also has an on-site spa where guests can unwind with a soothing massage after exploring nearby areas like Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.