Weekend in 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:

The hotel's best kept secret is Salsa Night, with the best salsa group this side of the rockies---Quemando!. A $10 cover charge gets you a free lesson and one free cocktail-just enough to relax without losing coordination!

Description:

Named for the combination of Boulder and Colorado, this exquisite Victorian hotel, built in 1909, treats guests to a lavish stay. Historic rooms bedecked in a posh style provide business and leisure travelers the ultimate in refined luxury and comfort. Mammoth VIP rooms come complete with separate living areas and extra Victorian elegance. For a true visual awe-treat definitely check out the stained glass ceiling in the mezzanine. The hotel is usually booked nightly, especially in the summer, so reservations should be made well in advance.

Our Local Expert Says:

Living up to their slogan, “The Cure for the Common Hotel,” The Boulder Outlook provides English classes for their non-English speaking staff, donates 2% of their profits to non-profits and charities, and is a pet-friendly hotel.

Description:

The Boulder Outlook is located across the street from the University of Colorado campus and a half-mile from Boulder Creek. The hotel's indoor recreation area brings a little bit of Boulder and the Foothills indoors with its 11-foot bouldering rock (with a smaller one for adventuresome youngsters), its chlorine-free indoor pool with a waterfall, and its flagstone spa tub. They also offer a fitness facility and dry saunas.

Located within the hotel is Blues & Greens, which is not your common hotel restaurant. Blues & Greens serves locally produced food that is sure to satisfy businesspeople to families traveling on a budget to those requiring special diet, including many vegetarian and vegan options.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

Their "Tapas Hour" everyday from 3:00 to 6:30 is one of the best happy hours in town.

Description:

This lively restaurant has all of the charm of a tiny European coastal café. Sunny paintings and brilliant colors bedeck the walls of "The Med". Lush foliage grows everywhere, and an imported Italian wood burning stove glows in the background. Known for its flavorful tapas, the menu celebrates the succulent entrees of Italy, Spain, Greece and France. The wood-oven-baked pizzas are popular, as is the Eggplant Parmigiana. For dinner, the family style Paella de Mariso is divine. Order a dessert if just to observe the masterful designs created by the pastry chef.

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:

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

With its charming ambiance and its delicious Louisiana Creole-inspired breakfasts, its no wonder that Lucile's wins the Boulder Weekly's Best Breakfast award time and time again.

Description:

Lucile's is a quaint restaurant near the Pearl Street Mall is nestled in a Victorian house complete with a large porch and deck. The staff is friendly, and the food is wonderful. Make sure to get here early on weekends, as the place is always packed. Children are welcome. The chef creates delicious Louisiana-style cuisine. Breakfast selections include fresh baked biscuits, waffles, and Eggs Sardou-a Creole specialty. Fresh fruit and cereal is also available. The lunch menu offers salads, Creole and Po'Boy sandwiches. No alcohol is served, but there are plenty of coffee drinks.

Our Local Expert Says:

Foolish Craig’s is said to have the best Bloody Marys in town. We think you will agree.

Description:

This adorable café, bedecked in a menagerie of colors, sits one block east of the Pearl Street Mall. Its lively atmosphere and cluttered tables promote conversation. Most of the menu items come with creative names, such as the Altitude Adjustment crepe and the It was Sam Andreas Fault omelet. Vegetarian dishes are plentiful. A full espresso bar offers a multitude of caffeine fixations, and a range of beers and wines. Live music plays Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

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:

Great happy hour deals on appetizers and its dark, tavern atmosphere make The West End an ideal restaurant for almost any occasion.

Description:

Be sure to request a table upstairs and get a seat facing the magnificent view of the Flatirons! The West End Tavern even has misting pipes to cool you in the summer as you sit alfresco and soak in the beauty of the mountains. Feel free to ask for recommendations when trying to decide on a bourbon choice--their bourbon menu alone is quite overwhelming.

Description:

Located in one of Boulder's beautiful historic buildings in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, The Kitchen brings a fresh perspective on ingredients, preparation & guest comfort. Enjoy the relaxing neighborhood atmosphere complimented by superior food & exceptional service.

Our Local Expert Says:

Even if you’re not looking for any art, chances are you’ll find something to take home from this wide selection of arts and crafts.

Description:

With tents lined up and down the walking mall of Pearl Street, the Boulder Art Fair is an event not to be missed. Local and regional artists converge to showcase their arts, crafts, and musical talents during this mid-summer event. Whether you're in the market for a piece of art or whether you're just interested in browsing from tent to tent, the Boulder Art Fair is a great way to spend the day. The Boulder Art Fair also has plenty of children's activities prepared to keep the kids happy and busy.

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.

Description:

Just off the Pearl Street Mall, Sherpa's Adventurers is, at first glance, just a house. However, inside the house are a bar, an authentic Tandoor clay oven, and a Traveler's Library and Lounge, where you can peruse Sherpa history and photos. Another unique aspect of Sherpa's is that you can book Himalayan treks and volunteer opportunities. With its delicious, well-priced food, its interesting atmosphere, its outdoor seating area, and its proximity to the Pearl Street Mall, Sherpa's is a real Boulder gem.

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.