Boulder and North Central Colorado Restaurants

Thanks to the influx of people from around the world, you have plenty of options here. Restaurants in north central Colorado run the gamut from simple diners with tasty, homey basics to elegant establishments with extensive wine lists. The hot trend is organic and sustainable ingredients, with many restaurants offering dishes made from local ingredients. Some restaurants take reservations, but many, particularly those in the middle price range, seat on a first-come, first-served basis.

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  • 1. Blackbelly

    $$$

    At the only independent restaurant in Boulder licensed to make and sell its own house-cured meats (you can see some in the windows), those seeking a sophisticated yet casual culinary experience away from downtown will delight in food known for farm-to-table freshness. Chef Hosea Rosenberg, a Top Chef winner, crafts a changing menu using ingredients from local farms and ranches. Blackbelly's market serves quick service weekdays for breakfast and lunch. Full-service dinner is available daily.

    1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, Colorado, 80301, USA
    303-247--1000

    Known For

    • A hyperseasonal menu that constantly changes
    • Dry-aged beef, house-made sausages, and salumi
    • Creative small plates

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations essential
  • 2. Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

    $$

    Feast your eyes on the intricately carved walls, pillars, and ceiling at this unique teahouse, a gift from Boulder's sister city Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Tajik artisans decorated the building in a traditional style, with ceramic Islamic art and a riot of colorful wood. The menu presents a culinary cross section of the world, with dishes including North African harissa chicken, spicy Indonesian peanut noodles, and Tajik shish kebab.

    1770 13th St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
    303-442–4993

    Known For

    • Traditional afternoon tea service
    • Nearly 100 varieties of tea
    • Lovely patio
  • 3. Fat Cat Cafe

    $

    Located on the boardwalk, this cozy family-run café serves up hearty helpings, as well as advice on local sightseeing. The weekend breakfast buffet includes nearly 50 items—including biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros casserole with house-made green chile sauce, and a wide selection of scones, pastries, and pies that are baked in-house.

    916 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, Colorado, 80447, USA
    970-627–0900

    Known For

    • Sprawling brunch buffet
    • Homemade pies
    • Homey decor

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
  • 4. Flagstaff House Restaurant

    $$$$

    Boulder's most opulent restaurant has formal service and thoughtfully prepared food, served in a sophisticated space with oversized windows and tables with crisp, white tablecloths. Executive chef Chris Royster has fresh fish flown in daily and is noted for the exquisite combinations of ingredients on his daily-changing menu, which might include Wagyu ravioli; Colorado lamb rack, loin, and shank; or Maine lobster soup. Choose between the four-course menu or multicourse chef's menu with optional wine pairings.

    1138 Flagstaff Rd., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
    303-442–4640

    Known For

    • Stunning views overlooking the Front Range
    • Award-winning wine list
    • Fanciful food presentations

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed. Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 5. Frasca Food and Wine

    $$$$

    One of Boulder's best restaurants (with three James Beard honors) serves meticulously prepared food in the style of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, in a bustling dining room with a backlit wine wall. You choose from two prix-fixe tasting menus and might feast on dishes including an antipasto such as fish crudo; a house-made pasta with pork ragù; and lamb with hay-smoked potato.

    1738 Pearl St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
    303-442–6966

    Known For

    • Informed servers and warm hospitality
    • Grappa cart for after-dinner libations
    • Stellar wine service and pairings

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar

    $$$

    At this seafood hot spot, the butcher-paper-covered tables, exposed brick walls, and unique light fixtures encourage a cool, festive vibe. Explore Jax's delicious culinary creations by digging into a plate of peel 'n' eat shrimp, then moving on to seasonal combinations like citrus-glazed salmon, spiced tuna with aioli, or the staple fried fish po'boy. There's a branch in downtown Boulder, too.

    123 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524, USA
    970-682--2275

    Known For

    • Marvelous cocktails
    • Oysters flown in fresh daily
    • Commitment to sustainable seafood

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 7. Sagebrush BBQ and Grill

    $$

    Falling-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue pork, chicken, and beef draw local and out-of-town attention to this homey café. Munch on peanuts (and toss the shells on the floor) while dining at tables with cowhide-patterned tablecloths set against a backdrop of license plates from across the country.

    1101 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, Colorado, 80447, USA
    970-627–1404

    Known For

    • Peanut-shell-lined floor
    • Wild game burgers and sausage
    • Rotating daily specials
  • 8. Seasoned

    $$$$

    With a menu that changes monthly, Seasoned takes its name to heart with its always-changing ingredients from local farms. The creative dishes, created by chef-owner and Michelin-star veteran Rob Corey, reflect influences from North, South, and Central America and feature Colorado specialties like lamb, trout, and bass.

    205 Park La., Colorado, 80517, USA
    970-586–9000

    Known For

    • Creative cuisine
    • Colorado lamb, trout, and bass
    • Attentive service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.–Sat. No dinner Sun.
  • 9. The Emporium: An American Brasserie

    $$$

    This farm-to-table restaurant inside the Elizabeth Hotel has a full wine market, so you can select bottles on-site at retail price for your meal. It all adds to the homey yet hip, slightly retro vibe and look—complete with tile floor and wood throughout—that matches well with food that is some of the city's best, including the Wagyu beef burger, bison bourguignon, and elk Wellington with puff pastry.

    378 Walnut St., Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524, USA
    970-493--0024

    Known For

    • Perfect charcuterie board
    • Bowerbird Coffee Shop by day, unpretentious wine market by night
    • Weekend brunch

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential

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