Welcome to Boulder, Colorado!

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 shootaround, a hearty post-game meal (with just your support staff), or a a post-evening spot to unwind after a long day, 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 your looking to get a lift in – or a infrared light sauna session – 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 the residents of Boulder, Colorado

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

McDevitt Taco Supply
4800 Baseline Road, Suite C 110, Boulder
3550 Frontier Ave. (Sanitas Brewing), 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 and a permanent stall on the patio at Sanitas Brewery. 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.

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.

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.

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, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and roasted garlic mayo.

Happy Hour (Drinks)

Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries
Multiple Locations (Pearl Street)

Mountain Sun et al. feels like your neighborhood bar. That’s because it is, with locations in Longmont, downtown Boulder and SoBo. (Denver’s Vine Street may be reopened by the time you read this!) Not content with their daily happy hour, Mountain Sun does late night happy hour daily at its Longs Peak location and Thursdays through Saturdays at Under the Sun, and all-day happy hour on Tuesdays at Southern Sun. $1 off pints from the place that birthed Stout Month? We’ll take two.

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.

Coffee Shop

Boxcar Coffee
1825 B Pearl St., Boulder

We were ever so pleased when Boxcar opened in Table Mesa Shopping Center after a year of staring into an empty space (RIP, Caffè Sole). It didn’t take long for it to become as packed as their original downtown spot. That’s probably due to their impeccable brews and friendly baristas.

Coffee Roaster

OZO Coffee Company
Multiple Locations

Spanning Boulder and Longmont, any one of OZO’s five shops is a solid choice. Our favorite is the roastery cafe in Flatiron Business Park, co-located with Upslope (another BoB winner). There’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the delicious aroma of fresh-roasted coffee wafting through the air (or, depending on the time of day, the scent of beer being brewed). What’s not to love?

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.

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.

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.

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

Dushanbe Tea House - a beautiful hand carved and painted work of art, from our sister city in Tajikistan
Flagstaff House | American | Yelp
Frasca | Italian | Yelp
Luciles | Breakast, Southern, Cajun | Yelp
Walnut Cafe | American Breakfast and Brunch | Yelp
Moe's Bagel | Yelp
The Sink | American | Yelp

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 season can be hard enough as it is – we don't have to make it more difficult by being 🤬🤬🤬🤬 to each other. Reach out if you need anything!