Romantic Boulder

Our Local Expert Says:

Dine-in as often as possible and never feel guilty! The home-cooked delicacies contain organic ingredients purchased from local markets, food wastes are composted on-site and even the washing machines are energy-efficient. The Briar rose exemplifies eco-responsible luxury.

Description:

Find your sanctuary in the heart of Boulder at the foot of the Flatiron mountains. Discover the brilliant subtlety of sencha green tea as our innkeepers enrich your stay with quiet attention and lively conversation. Green hotel. Private baths. WIFI internet. Welcome home to the Briar Rose.

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Our Local Expert Says:

See the local flair and fare at the Boulder County Farmers’ Market and check out the website to find dates for the Farmers’ Market Arts & Crafts Fair.

Description:

A local treasure, this is one of the best farmers' markets around. Almost everything can be found here, from freshly roasted green chilies, to gourmet cheeses and wines, to flowers and plants. Much of the food is organic, and all of it is grown by the people selling it. The Farmers' Market also has a food court with delicious prepared foods, picnic tables, and music. Grab some breakfast or lunch and take it over to Central Park to sit in the grass and watch the people. The Market hosts thousands of Boulderites and visitors every week, some who are there to see the sights and take in the smells, and others who are just there to do their weekly grocery shopping.

Our Local Expert Says:

A drive up Flagstaff Mountain is the easiest way to get an aerial view of Boulder and to have a secluded mountain picnic.

Description:

Just west of downtown, the winding road up the mountain provides stunning panoramic views of Boulder, Denver, and the eastern plains after a beautiful drive or a strenuous bike ride. There are many picnic tables just off the road where you can park and walk for a few minutes and find yourself in a relatively quiet and secluded area. Flagstaff Mountain also has mountain bike trails and popular climbing routes, as well as the Summit Nature Center (open weekends in the summer) and an outdoor amphitheater. The Flagstaff House, one of Boulder's most upscale restaurants, is also situated on Flagstaff Mountain, which affords it incredible views and quite a romantic atmosphere.

Our Local Expert Says:

Chautauqua Park is the best place to get a stunning view of the Flatirons. Take a picnic and enjoy the park, or explore the Chautauqua Community; eat at the community dining hall and catch a concert at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium.

Description:

This picturesque park located at the base of the Flatirons has many trailheads that are the gateways to the Rocky Mountains. The park is a wonderful place for walking, picnicking, and people-watching. The park is part of the Chautauqua community, an idea built from the Chautauqua movement popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that was based around adult education that attempted to provide entertainment and culture for the whole community. The Boulder Chautauqua community opened in 1898 and contains a public dining hall, lodging, a community house for local events, and the beautiful Chautauqua Auditorium, which houses the esteemed Colorado Music Festival in the summer, as well as other concerts throughout the year.

Description:

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse was given to Boulder by our sister city of Dushanbe. Built between 1987 and 1990, more than 40 artisans from cities across Tajikistan created the elaborate, creative elements of the Teahouse, including its hand-carved and hand-painted ceilings, columns, and ceramic panels. The Teahouse serves a delicious international cuisine, including dishes such as Tanzanian Dagaa Seafood Stew, Malaysian Tofu, and Argentinean Skirt Steak. The Teahouse is in central Boulder, just next to Central Park and the Boulder Farmers' Market, making it a perfect place to stop for a midday tea.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Flagstaff House dining area is the epitome of sophistication and mountain elegance, highlighted by a greenhouse-like glass dining pavilion that provides stunning views.

Description:

If romance is on the agenda, head up into the hills to the Flagstaff House for a dining experience like no other. Built in 1929 as a retreat cabin, the spot resides on the side of Flagstaff Mountain, overlooking Boulder and the surrounding foothills. The main courses include grilled Alaskan King Salmon and Buffalo Filet Mignon. Its wine cellar hives over 20,000 bottles.

Our Local Expert Says:

Help to preserve the annual Bike Shorts short film festival simply by attending! If the edgy films inspire a need for critical discussion, herd your friends into the neighboring Dushanbe Teahouse for some maté and movie criticism.

Description:

The Boulder Outdoor Cinema redefines going to the movies. Once a week during summer months, viewers set up lawn chairs and blankets on the green behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and prepare to make noise. Yes, moviegoers are encouraged to sing along and call out lines from the film. The Applause-O-meter and contests like "Best Film Related Costume" promote audience participation and a lot of fun. A different classic or cult favorite runs each week. Past features have included The Wizard of Oz, War of the Worlds, and Pee Wee's Big Adventure. All shows are suitable for family entertainment.

Description:

The Greenbriar Inn has received numerous fine dining awards during the past 36 years. This restaurant is a Mobil Three Star Rated Restaurant. In 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 was awarded the Wine Spectator's "Best of Award of Excellence" for Wine List, and "Rated Excellent" and "The Best Sunday Brunch Deal" by the Zagat Survey. The staff is happy to provide those special touches to make your dinner or event a personal and memorable occasion.

Our Local Expert Says:

Not only does the Pearl Street Mall have the best shopping in Boulder, but you could spend all day there listening to musicians, watching street performers, and having drinks and people-watching on an outdoor patio.

Description:

This four-block pedestrian mall is a unique and essential part of Boulder. With a wide selection of shops and restaurants, this mall is sure to keep you entertained as you stroll in and out of art galleries, listen to musicians playing free live music, enjoy the shows of buskers (such as the famous Derek Derek), and have a bite to eat on one of Pearl Street's many outdoor patios. It's also a great place for kids, with water spouts that come out of the bricks by 14th street, street performers making balloon art, and big animal statues on which to climb on the east side of the walking mall. In the summer, Pearl Street is host to many events such as Band on the Bricks and the Downtown Boulder Art Fair. The stores also extend both east and west of the walking portion of the Pearl Street Mall, so be sure to continue on to find more interesting stores and restaurants.

Our Local Expert Says:

Located just off the Pearl Street Mall, Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop is a real hidden gem that is the perfect place to stop in and take a break from shopping.

Description:

This local, wind-powered chocolate shop offers delicious chocolates made by their Belgian Master Chocolatier, using only the highest quality ingredients. In addition to the regular chocolates, they also offer liquor chocolates, and chocolate beverages. They are an independent, family-run business, and give back to many local nonprofit organizations.

Our Local Expert Says:

This winery is not old, but it has some very popular wines that are served in local restaurants.

Description:

From its modern laboratory to its traditional oak barrels, Boulder Creek Winery blends new world technology with old world artistry in handcrafting a line of class-style wines that include traditional varietals such as Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, as well as a Private Reserve blend of premium red varieties.

Our Local Expert Says:

Leaf has some of the best food Boulder has to offer, so don't be scared by some of its unusual ingredients. Who knows, you might discover an entirely new food you love!

Description:

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant creates delicious meals that vegetarians and omnivores alike will enjoy, although omnivores may not recognize everything on the menu. Leaf uses organic, seasonal ingredients and provides an international cuisine with menu items such as Oaxacan Mole, Jamaican Jerk Tempeh, and Matar Panir. One of Boulder's best health-conscious dining options, Leaf also provides a full bar highlighted by an environmentally-friendly wine list and Boulder's own organic Vodka 14 martinis.

Our Local Expert Says:

Like the historically found Frascas found throughout Friuli, Italy, this restaurant is full of local farm cuisine, wine, and warm hospitality.

Description:

Winning raves since its 2004 opening, Frasca is the critical darling in Boulder for its upscale atmosphere, impeccable service, and peerless cuisine, drawn exclusively from the culinary traditions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a subalpine region in northeastern Italy. Using fresh ingredients, with a special emphasis on terrific seafood, cheese, and wine, the masterful kitchen delivers some of the best fare in the West. The menu changes daily, but always includes a vast selection of small plates leading up to pasta, seafood, pork loin, and other specialties of the region. Every year the staff takes a trip to Italy for a refresher course in Italian culinary appreciation, and it shows.

Our Local Expert Says:

Pack your own picnic for an instant dinner theater on the green, or purchase "Falstaff's Fare" in advance—check online for details. Literature and theater buffs will love the talkback discussions, held after most shows, with the director and crew. Take a free tour of Shakespeare Gardens, which grow herbs mentioned in the plays.

Description:

Considered one of the top three Shakespearean festivals in the United States, this 2-month annual event attracts more than 40,000 theatergoers between late June and late August. Held since 1958 in the University of Colorado's Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, and indoors at the University Theatre Main Stage, it offers more than a dozen performances of each of four plays. Actors, directors, designers, and everyone associated with the productions are fully schooled Shakespearean professionals. Tickets run from $7 to $54 for single performances, with series packages also available.

Description:

Since 1977, Boulder's Dinner Theatre has been committed to providing live, Broadway-quality entertainment with fine dining to create a unique experience for groups, families and discerning theatre-goers. Members of our company have performed on stages all over the country, from New York and Chicago to Hollywood. They've been cast in sitcoms and feature films. Some have been nominated for Academy Awards. But they all call Boulder's Dinner Theatre "home."