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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
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
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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
Known For
- Traditional afternoon tea service
- Nearly 100 varieties of tea
- Lovely patio
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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
Known For
- Sprawling brunch buffet
- Homemade pies
- Homey decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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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
Known For
- Peanut-shell-lined floor
- Wild game burgers and sausage
- Rotating daily specials
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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
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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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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An Estes Park staple since 1972, this family-run outfit is where the locals go for breakfast. Try a double-cheese omelet, huevos rancheros, or grits before heading into the park in the morning. The owners are happy to pack a lunch for you—just place your order along with breakfast, and it will be ready when you leave. This homey spot also serves lunch and dinner, with specialties such as house-smoked pulled pork, house-made meatballs, and rib eye cut on-site. Expect a wait in summer.
401 W. Elkhorn Ave., Colorado, 80517, USA
Known For
- Hearty breakfast
- Huge portions
- Picnic lunches to go
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Thurs.
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The aroma of homemade bread and soup hint at the loving care this sandwich shop infuses into its food. Grab a quick breakfast burrito or sandwich to take out on the trail, or stay and snag a table inside the cheerful blue deli or on the sunny patio.
717 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, Colorado, 80447, USA
Known For
- Quick lunch
- Green and red chile breakfast burritos
- Fresh-bread sandwiches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–mid-May
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Vermont-based Dedalus Wine Group has taken over the day-to-day operations of Boulder’s finest sandwich shop and the best place in town for a quick meal. The café--gourmet grocery store is small, with only a few tables, but impressive; sample the exquisite charcuterie and cheese trays, European-style sandwiches, and premade dinners, including roasted organic chicken. Snag a bottle of wine in what claims to be Colorado's tiniest liquor store, and don’t pass up a latte from Boxcar Coffee, which shares the space.
1825 Pearl St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
Known For
- Extensive cured meats selection
- Well-rounded international wine selections by the bottle
- Cheese-centric picnic lunches in wooden baskets
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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The fajitas and well-stocked bar make this lively Mexican restaurant popular with locals and visitors alike. The decor is bright, with light woods and large windows. When the sun is shining, ask for patio seating by the river. If you're hungry, try one of the enchilada platters or carne asada. The fish and bison tacos are other popular options.
390 E. Elkhorn Ave., Colorado, 80517, USA
Known For
- Bison tacos and burgers
- Avocado margaritas
- Scenic riverfront patio seating
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If you want to sample some local brews, check out the Estes Park Brewery, which has been crafting beer since 1993. The food is no-frills (beer chili is the specialty), and the menu includes things like pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and house-made bratwurst. Not sure which beer you will like? Head downstairs to the tasting area to sample a variety of brews on tap, like the popular Stinger Wild Honey Wheat or the balanced Estes Park Gold amber ale.
470 Prospect Village Dr., Colorado, 80517, USA
Known For
- Local beer
- Pool tables
- Laid-back atmosphere
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Serving up arguably the best street tacos in Boulder County, this colorful, upbeat restaurant is a popular spot with locals who appreciate the old-school hip-hop soundtrack and daily happy hour from 3 to 5 pm when street tacos are just a buck. The Squashacado (made with roasted butternut squash) is a vegetarian taco so tasty that it’s almost as requested as the best-seller carne asada.
246 Main St., Longmont, Colorado, 80501, USA
Known For
- Chorizo queso appetizer
- Fresh fruit margaritas
- Tacos with meat from a local family farm
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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Prices are reasonable at this casual, bustling Nepali and Indian restaurant with dark wood walls, red booths, and a wood bar in the center of the room. Kathmandu has received accolades for its vegetarian food, but everything is good on a full traditional menu that spans the gamut from starters like momos (dumplings) and samosas to aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes), tandoori chicken and lamb, and curries. Friday night features an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet.
110 N. Jefferson St., Nederland, Colorado, 80466, USA
Known For
- Authentic food from family recipes
- All-you-can-eat lunch buffet
- Chicken tikka masala
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An Estes Park institution since 1989, Mama Rose's consistently serves no-nonsense Italian meals, including the house specialty: hearty lasagna concocted with house-made meatballs and sausage. There are also plenty of lighter options, including vegetarian and gluten-free entrées, as well as build-your-own pasta from three noodles, six sauces, and nine meats and vegetables. The spacious Victorian dining room with decorative woodwork and fine art harkens back to an earlier era, minus the formal dress code. You can also dine outside on the patio with views of the Big Thompson River. Reservations are recommended in the summer.
338 E. Elkhorn Ave., Colorado, 80517, USA
Known For
- Cozy Italian comfort food
- Prime riverside location
- Sprawling porch seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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The first American craft brewery to can its beer, Oskar Blues is a Lyons hot spot for beer, pub grub, and music. Try Dale's Pale Ale or any of the other robust beers brewed nearby in small (20-barrel) batches. In the basement, a "juke joint" hosts live music and an arcade has old-time games; there's a bluegrass jam Tuesday night.
303 Main St., Lyons, Colorado, 80540, USA
Known For
- Creative burgers
- Cajun dishes
- Bourbon balls for dessert
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This Pearl Street café's locally roasted coffee is unmatched, with about a dozen blends, so you can expect all of Ozo's five locations to be packed. The decor is simple, centering around local art, and the food at the pastry counter is simple, too—coffee is the star. Ozo boasts its own training center, accredited through the Specialty Coffee Association of America and open to anyone who wants to study.
1015 Pearl St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
Known For
- Cholaca Mocha with pure, liquid cacao
- Artfully crafted espresso and coffee drinks
- Tasty breakfast burritos
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, No reservations
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This casual riverside eatery serves creative signature pizzas. Try the spinach, artichoke, and feta pie made with sun-dried-tomato pesto. You can also create your own pie from five sauces and nearly 40 toppings. Other options include sandwiches, wraps, salads, and burgers. Poppy's has patio seating at the river and an extensive selection of beer.
342 E. Elkhorn Ave., Colorado, 80517, USA
Known For
- Create-your-own pizza
- Riverfront patio
- Vegan and gluten-free dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Like its other Front Range brethren, the Fort Collins branch of this six-location restaurant always satisfies with favorites such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and fajitas. The spacious location in the heart of Old Town has exposed brick walls, hand-painted tables, and old storefront windows. When the weather is warm, wait for a table on the enclosed patio with a giant Mexican fountain.
143 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524, USA
Known For
- Potent margaritas with a limit of three
- 60-plus hand-selected tequilas
- From-scratch black beans and handmade tortillas
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A favorite of Boulder's many health-conscious athletes and world travelers, this homey restaurant in a historical house is owned and run by genuine Sherpas, and offers a voluminous menu with Himalayan favorites like curry and tandoori chicken. It oozes mountain culture and has a bar and library, and a chef who has summited Everest 10 times. Owner Pemba Sherpa also offers guiding services in Nepal.
825 Walnut St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
Known For
- Saag dip with naan bread
- One of Boulder's best patios
- Super-friendly but slow service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended.
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For comfort food in a historic atmosphere, stop by this charming, bustling café with diner counters, some boxy booths, dozens of tables, and an inviting, year-round patio. Operating in its current location since 1933, it serves a wide selection of breakfast food all day, such as omelets, Benedicts, biscuits and gravy, hotcakes, steak and eggs, and burritos, while lunch features delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and burgers.
218 Walnut St., Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524, USA
Known For
- Legendary cinnamon rolls
- Top-notch breakfasts including homemade hash browns
- Award-winning Bloody Marys
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, No reservations.
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Coffered ceilings, stained-glass windows, and mosaic tile floors create a classic setting for this fish-focused restaurant in the Hotel Boulderado. Savor happy hour at the spruce-wood bar with farm-fresh oysters and handcrafted cocktails, or stay for dinner in the dining room with its fully enclosed porch and sample a seasonal menu emphasizing local foods.
2115 13th St., Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
Known For
- Signature barrel-aged Manhattan
- Daily brunch with sweet and savory options
- Pan-seared Rocky Mountain trout
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential.
