If you're looking for wide open space, great hiking trails, and the great outdoors, Boulder, Colorado has miles and miles of that. If you're looking for good food, coffee, hiking trails for mountain biking, and bluegrass music, Boulder has you covered there too! From street performers in Downtown Boulder performing live music to Boulder brew tours for a craft beer happy hour, to the Boulder County Farmers Market, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The options are aplenty in Boulder County, so we consulted a local Boulder resident for his guide to help us narrow down the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Fortunately, Boxcar Coffee Roasters' Charles Lambert was more than happy to oblige. Here, he's sharing his must-see spots for your next Boulder visit.
Avery Brewing Co.
4910 Nautilus Court North
Boulder, Colorado 80301
Open Wednesday to Thursday 3:00 pm; Open Friday to Sunday 12:00 pm
No trip to Boulder is complete without stopping by Avery Brewing. With two restaurants on-site and an amazing outdoor patio filled with post-hike vibes and more dogs than you thought possible, this is the best place on the front range to drink award-winning beer, soak up a late summer sunset, and relive the day's adventure. After a day of touring the CU Boulder campus, doing a Banjo Billy's bus tour, or a museum tour, this is a great place to explore.
OAK at Fourteenth
1400 Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Open Wednesday to Sunday 5:00 pm
OAK at Fourteenth is one of my favorite places to go get a cocktail. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable and the fully inspired menu always features new drinks. If you happen to have one too many, which is easy to do at our altitude, they have an amazing food program that is part izakaya part American bistro, all cooked over wood fired grills.
Royal Arch Trail
Baseline Road and 9th Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Open daily 5:00 am
Royal Arch is my go to recommendation for an iconic Boulder hike. This hike heads out of Chautauqua Park and heads up into the Flatirons to a natural arch that is hidden amongst the many rock formations in the area. The view from the arch is one of the best in town and gives you a very unique perspective of the surrounding landscape. Just don’t forget to bring water as this trail climbs almost 1500 ft. in a short two miles!
Boxcar Coffee Roasters + Cured Cheese and Wine
1825 B Pearl Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Open daily 8:00 am
I might be biased, but for the best coffee and pastries in town I’d definitely recommend heading down to the Pearl Street café. The space is shared with a world-renowned cheese shop, which creates a truly magical combination of culinary experiences. This space is full of energy any day of the week and boasts some of the best people watching in town.
Tierra y Fuego Taqueria
4550 Broadway Unit C-3A
Boulder, Colorado 80304
Open Tuesday to Sunday 8:00 am
This once hidden gem got its start as a food truck which was always parked at their farm; The Diaz Farm located on the outskirts of town. News of their amazing tacos has spread allowing them to open a brick and mortar location in the North Broadway neighborhood. Tierra y Fuego's tacos feature the freshest ingredients possible sourced from their farm here in town, house-made tortillas, and grilled meats that will make you think you are for sure at someone's grandma's house in Central Mexico.
Gold Hill Inn
401 Main Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Open Wednesday to Sunday 5:00 pm
For a true Colorado experience, the Gold Hill Inn is the place to go. This is by and far one of my favorite places to go see world-class bluegrass and drink Colorado Whiskey. The building has been a hotel since 1872 and has been operating as the Gold Hill Inn since 1962. I can’t think of a better way to spend a crisp fall Saturday night.
Eldorado Springs Pool
401 Main Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
This iconic resort located at the mouth of Eldorado Canyon is otherworldly. Eldorado Canyon State Park is a beautiful place in Boulder Colorado to experience the Rocky Mountain scenery while participating in an outdoor activity, such as a rock climbing day trip. When you arrive to this spring feed pool on a hot summer day you are instantly transported to another time; roughly 80 years ago. Get there early to snag the best spots and bring lunch and drinks for the most idyllic pool day you can imagine.