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Welcome to Boulder, Colorado!

The BEST town in The Big XII 😏

Hey Coach 👋

Welcome to Boulder! As you gear up for your time here to compete against our basketball team, I wanted to put together a quick list of some of my favorite local spots to eat, drink, and unwind. I know that when you’re traveling for games, finding quality places to grab a bite or relax can be a challenge, especially when you’re limited to just a couple of days in town. It can also be somewhat difficult based on the hotel accommodations or team/travel obligations; although our Lyfts and Ubers are quite accessible.

Why this list? Simply put, Boulder has some fantastic local spots that I believe showcase the cool vibe of our Mountain community. I’ve spent years living and working here, and I’ve made it a point to discover places that not only offer great food and drinks but also give you a true taste of Boulder’s unique vibe.

Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee before morning shoot-around, a hearty post-game meal, or a a post-evening spot to unwind with a drink after a long travel day (with maybe just your support staff), I’ve got you covered.

I hope this list helps make your stay a bit more enjoyable. It’s always great to host fellow strength and conditioning coaches in our town, and I know how valuable it is to have a few insider tips when visiting a new city.

Also, if you're looking to get a training sesh in – or cook in our infrared light sauna – I'm always happy to have you in our CU Events Center weight room. If you need any more recommendations or assistance while you’re here, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Enjoy your time in Boulder and best of luck in the game!

Here's a Few Recommendations

Voted on by us residents of Boulder

đŸœïž Overall Restaurant 

Blackbelly  
1606 Conestoga St., Boulder 

Blackbelly is beloved by our voters because it best represents what “Boulder cuisine” can be. It has also been recognized with the most prestigious international honors a restaurant can earn: recommended status and the Green Star from Michelin, and recognition of Kelly Kawachi, Blackbelly’s head butcher, as Michelin’s top Colorado culinary professional. The Boulder location was recently renovated, expanding the restaurant’s market area offering wine, house-baked breads and pastries, espresso drinks and the famous breakfast burritos.  

🚛 Food Truck Scene

McDevitt Taco Supply
4800 Baseline Road, Suite C 110, Boulder

McDevitt Taco Supply started in 2011 as a little cart on the Pearl Street Mall. The taco tradition continues with a brick-and-mortar location, carts at events and music festivals. The made-for-beer menu includes McDevitt’s chicken wings, nachos, Mexican street corn, green chile mac and cheese plus a lineup of corn tortilla-wrapped tacos. 

đŸ„Ą Take-Out

Snarf's 
Multiple Locations

We think Snarf’s annual domination of this Best of Boulder category comes down to immediate gratification of our cravings. Easy online ordering and customization makes takeout a breeze from the Boulder-born restaurant chain, especially if you know and love one particular fully loaded sandwich. We alternate between the classic Italian on a toasted bun with signature giardinera, or the McSnarf — roast beef, American cheese, 1000 island dressing and no sesame seeds on the bun.  

đŸ„— Organic/Vegetarian

Flower Child 
2580 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 110, Boulder

Boulder’s older resident flower children from the 1960s still chuckle about the name of this chain eatery, but they also head there for lunch. It’s rare to find a customizable menu featuring organic ingredients in bowls, salads, wraps suitable for Paleo, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diners. Flower Child’s sustainable beverages range from organic wines to kombucha.
It’s not hard to find vegetarian dishes on local restaurant menus. The challenge is having several interesting meatless choices at one eatery. Flower Child meets the moment with a customizable menu packed with options. These range from avocado toast with a soft egg to an Italian chopped salad. The Mother Earth bowl embraces grains, sweet potato, portobello and more. 

🍔 Solid Burgers

Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries
Multiple Locations (Pearl Street)

It’s not a burger joint, but Mountain Sun Pubs wins this category consistently. Their simple secret is always taking burgers seriously. They start with a 1/3-pound patty of freshly ground Colorado beef or bison, grill it to order and serve it on a better bun. Personalization includes cheese choices and signature toppings. The patty piece de resistance is Mountain Sun’s Junk Burger, a gloriously messy joy layered with bacon, cheese, sautĂ©ed mushrooms and onions, and roasted garlic mayo. 

đŸ€‘ Happy Hour (Drinks & Food)

Postino
1468 Pearl St. Suite 110, Boulder

Open at 9 a.m on the weekends and 11 a.m. weekdays, Postino features a variety of $6 glasses of white or red wines and pitchers of beer until 5 p.m. You can also pair any bruschetta board with a glass of wine for just $15. Start the week off right on Monday and Tuesday after 8 p.m. with a $25 bottle of wine and a bruschetta board. 

đŸș Craft Brewery (Drinks)

Upslope Brewing Company
1898 S. Flatiron Court, Boulder

With North and East Boulder locations in an industrial building and an office park, respectively, Uplsope is a real local’s brewery. Their classic beers still satisfy, and their seltzers — with flavors like juniper/lime and tangerine/hops — were a welcome addition to a landscape lousy with sickly sweet White Claws. 

đŸč Fruity Tropical "Vacation" Drinks

Jungle 
2018 10th St., Boulder

Since 2019, Boulder residents have escaped to the canopy of trees to enjoy a selection of tropical drinks at Jungle. Classics from the Mai Tai to Sex on the Beach are menu mainstays. Additional options like the tropical whisky Iron Ranger and the less sugary Jungle Bird — plus the fun, funky cups they come in — have made this a popular destination. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drink options are also available.

đŸ„ƒ Classic Cocktails & Drinks

Bitter Bar
835 Walnut St., Boulder 

As a cocktail bar, Bitter Bar is known for serving a mix of classic and creative drinks. Most notably, Boulder Weekly readers enjoy the vodka and crĂšme de violette Blue Velvet and the bourbon and elderflower Tin Man cocktails. Another reader favorite is the later happy hour, from 5-7 p.m., for those who can’t ditch work early. The knowledgeable bartenders are great at helping you find that perfect craft cocktail for the mood. 

đŸ» Sports Bar (Just Trust Me)

Dark Horse 
2922 Baseline Road, Boulder

Since 1975, this Boulder landmark has been the place to enjoy watching your favorite team with other sports enthusiasts. Twenty-five TVs are always playing an array of sports, whether it’s College Football Saturday or the NHL playoffs, with precedence to local teams. If you want in on the action, the restaurant has pool tables, air hockey, foosball and video games. Serving pub food and brew from Front Range breweries, the Dark Horse is a long-standing institution. Now under threat of redevelopment, get to this classic bar before it’s gone.

☕ Caffeine Dealers

January Coffee
1886 30th St Suite B, Boulder

January Coffee has quickly become a fan favorite among strength coaches and visiting staff who swing through Boulder. With a cozy yet lively atmosphere and a focus on high-quality coffee, it hits the sweet spot whether you’re grabbing an espresso shot before practice or settling in for a casual catch-up with your support staff crew. It’s a spot that both locals and out-of-town visitors keep returning to for its welcoming vibe and excellent brews.

Boxcar Coffee
1825 Pearl St. Suite B, Boulder
637 S. Broadway Suite R, Boulder

With the Reader’s Choice for Best Baristas, it’s no surprise that Boxcar is also the choice for best coffee shop. The bright, busy atmosphere is perfect for meeting up with your travel party, holding a business meeting, or trying to get some work done. Tables here are somewhat limited though. Their large menu of caffeinated options and small bites will get you through whatever type of day you’re having.

☕ Coffee Roaster

OZO Coffee Company
Multiple Locations

Feel good about your cup-a-day habit with the ethically sourced beans from OZO. The 18-year-old company a wide variety from single-sourced to seasonal. Their organic, fair trade and Rainforest Alliance certified blends are packaged in compostable and recyclable materials. Drop by their East Boulder roastery for a single bag or keep the caffeine coming with a subscription service, delivered to your home or office. 

Verb Coffee Roasters
2500 30th St Ste 100, Boulder

Verb Coffee Roasters has become one of Boulder’s go-to spots for coffee lovers and visiting strength coaches alike. What sets Verb apart isn’t just the excellent espresso and expertly brewed drinks; it’s their focus on roasting high-quality beans in house and offering them for you to take home. Whether you’re grabbing a meticulously crafted flat white before a morning meeting or picking up a bag of their beans to enjoy later, Verb’s commitment to flavor and craft shines through in every cup and roast they offer. Coaches frequently rave that bringing a bag back home is one of the best local souvenirs you can find here in Boulder, and it’s always a solid recommendation for anyone who appreciates great coffee.

đŸ” Teahouse

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th St., Boulder

It’s hard to compete with a handcrafted, handpainted, handbuilt authentic Tajik tea house, which is perhaps why Dushanbe has been our undisputed winner for the past decade.  

đŸ„€ Juice/Smoothie Bar

Wonder Press
946 Pearl St., Boulder

Normally, a $10 juice is something we might roll our eyes at. But the juices, smoothies, bone broths and baked goods at Wonder Press are above reproach. We love their bottle recycling program (less waste!) and house-made syrups and nut milks. Nab a juice in every color of the rainbow on West Pearl or their new Longmont location, opened just last year. 

Adam... We get it.

Tell us about some cool shit to do.

đŸ’ȘđŸŒ High Intensity Workouts

MECHA
2546 Spruce St., Boulder

MECHA is here to get you sweating and make you feel powerful along the way. With studios in Boulder and Louisville, owner Rebecca Baack and her spectacular team bring a fun, welcoming energy to your workout day in, day out, offering cardio and strength classes, resistance, hybrid and more. First time? Get your first three classes for just $35 as part of their new client offer. 

🧗Climbing Gym

The Spot
3240 Prairie Ave., Boulder

Boulder County’s premier climbing gym lives up to its name year after year — The Spot truly is the place to be for locals craving a vertical rush. From climbing to yoga and an open gym, there’s something for everyone, whether it’s your thousandth climb or your first. 

đŸ„‹ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Easton Training Center
2005 32nd St., Boulder

Since 1998, Easton Training Center has brought expert training in Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA to the Front Range. Training is available to all ages and skill levels — their instructors work with kids as young as 4 years old all the way up to professional UFC fighters. You’ll learn to push and progress your fighting skills in the 10,000-square-foot space with more than 5,000 square-feet of mats, 25 heavy bags and a dedicated Muay Thai training area. It’s a cardio and strength workout that may literally kick your butt. 

đŸ„Ÿ Picturesque Hiking

1st + 2nd Flatiron Loop
Chautauqua Park
900 Baseline Rd., Boulder

If you’ve never been to Boulder, this is the postcard hike. The First and Second Flatiron Loop at Chautauqua is equal parts iconic and humbling. You’re hiking directly underneath the massive sandstone slabs that define the town, with nonstop views of the city, the plains, and the Front Range. It’s a steady climb, nothing technical, but enough elevation to remind you that Boulder sits at 5,400 feet and doesn’t care where you’re from. Expect 2 hours depending on pace, solid calf and glute work, and the kind of fresh air that makes you rethink your life choices back at sea level. Go early if you can, parking fills up fast (there is free street parking). If the weather’s good, this one’s a no brainer.

Places to Eat (via Reddit)

The list of places to eat at Boulder is enormous and you're likely to find something to suit any palate. The restaurants on this list represent what's unique in Boulder. That in mind, here's a list of popular destinations

Breweries to Visit (via Reddit)

Boulder has several breweries of all sizes and several restaurants to sample some great beer. Again, this list is just a starting point - you'll find plenty more by asking around.

Caffeine Dealers (via Reddit)

If for some strange reason you don't want to check out the breweries, firstly don't tell the locals. Secondly, here's a list of coffee shops

Location of our Arena

If for whatever reason you need anything, whether at practice or during shootaround, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always more than willing to help. The basketball season can be hard enough as it is – we don't have to make it more difficult by being đŸ€Ź's to each other. Reach out if you need anything!