Izakaya Amu

Izakaya Amu is the yin to the yang of the rest of the restaurants in this small empire. It shares a wall with the raucous Sushi Zanmai, but it’s a tiny oasis, an authentic izakaya. You won’t find sushi here; instead, the gracious staff serves you classic Japanese country food and shabu shabu, which you […]

Japango

Japango flies in fish daily to ensure that your meal includes the freshest catch available. The gorgeously decorated, lush interior and rich, delicious food are reflected in the price tag — but all things considered, you get what you pay for at Japango. The wine and sake lists are dynamic and affordable (and the sake […]

Jax Fish House

Sip, slurp and shuck your way to shellfish bliss at Jax, the fish house and oyster bar that Dave Query launched in Boulder in the ’90s. Query launched the concept in Denver soon after, and it’s since gone beyond Colorado. Built around seafood and specializing in shells, each Jax offers grilled and fried oysters in […]

Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

It may be located inside the luxurious building that houses the St Julien Hotel + Spa, but Jill’s Restaurant does much more than cater to business travelers on expense accounts and vacationers with cash to blow. The cozy bar and dining room attract plenty of locals at lunch and dinner, and Jill’s is particularly popular […]

Karing Kind

Karing Kind sits just outside of Boulder in a metal warehouse that, at first glance, might make you wonder if the drive was really worth it. But if you’re a fan of potent vape pens, it definitely was. Karing Kind is one of the few Colorado dispensaries that makes pre-

The Kitchen American Bistro

When it opened its doors on the west end of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall in 2004, the Kitchen had ambitions. Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson envisioned creating a gathering place that would draw from local farms to give diners well-executed but simple dishes – comfort food, but lighter, healthier and better sourced. Musk and Matheson […]

L’Atelier

Radek Cerny, the man behind legendary hot spots Papillon Cafe and Radex, has returned with French-inspired L’Atelier. The place is almost ludicrous in its excesses, with giant plates, fawning service, bright, spartan decor, and a nine-course tasting menu. But what saves it from going totally over the edge is the firm hand with which Cerny […]

Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill

This multi-roomed, multi-level sports bar seems perpetually packed, especially on game days, trivia nights or any weekend. A true cross-section of Boulder’s population frequents the place, with University of Colorado students rubbing elbows with downtown residents and Boulder lifers at the bar. Even with all the crowds, Lazy Dog usually has a jovial, mellow vibe, […]

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

Vibrant vegetarian cooking is about far more than tofu and seitan. Boulderites have long been focused on meat-free dining, so they’re a tough lot to impress. Leave it to Leaf to rise above the competition and provide modern, international and inventive dishes that folks actually crave. The restaurant has its own farm, so produce is […]

License No. 1

In 2014, the Boulderado Hotel became home to two bars, one new and one old. The Corner Bar, which has been around for decades, providing drinks and food in a lodge setting for hotel guests and locals alike, got a facelift. It was joined by License No. 1, which replaced the Catacombs, a longstanding college-bar […]