Lonny’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
Whittier is a central downtown Boulder neighborhood with many older Victorian era homes and shady streets. It is to the east of the Pearl Street Mall and has great walking access to the best of the Downtown Boulder area and the Boulder Creek Path. One can even walk from the bus station to your place so you can skip a car and just grab the convenient and inexpensive RTD AB bus to and from the airport. There are truly great coffee shops, brew pubs and restaurants within an easy stroll. People have lovely gardens and walk their dogs and are very friendly and welcome travelers. I feel lucky to live here every single day. Come visit and see what you think.
6 locals recommend
Whittier
Whittier is a central downtown Boulder neighborhood with many older Victorian era homes and shady streets. It is to the east of the Pearl Street Mall and has great walking access to the best of the Downtown Boulder area and the Boulder Creek Path. One can even walk from the bus station to your place so you can skip a car and just grab the convenient and inexpensive RTD AB bus to and from the airport. There are truly great coffee shops, brew pubs and restaurants within an easy stroll. People have lovely gardens and walk their dogs and are very friendly and welcome travelers. I feel lucky to live here every single day. Come visit and see what you think.
Food scene
Coffee is exquisitely brewed and of exceptional quality. The pastries are all made in house and are some of the best I have ever had.
In the same place excellent charcuterie can be had at Cure. They have wonderful cheeses, meats and a good selection of wine. Sandwiches and picnics to go, as well.
131 locals recommend
Boxcar Coffee Roasters
1825 Pearl StCoffee is exquisitely brewed and of exceptional quality. The pastries are all made in house and are some of the best I have ever had.
In the same place excellent charcuterie can be had at Cure. They have wonderful cheeses, meats and a good selection of wine. Sandwiches and picnics to go, as well.
I had a wonderful meal here and I am still thinking about it a week later and wanting to go back again. They have a good selection of house drinks and the food is incredible. Perfectly prepared and presented, the flavors and aromas will make your heart sing and your tummy growl. I do not know what is pricey these days, but you should be able to keep it under a $100 and be supremely satisfied.
139 locals recommend
Oak
1400 Pearl StI had a wonderful meal here and I am still thinking about it a week later and wanting to go back again. They have a good selection of house drinks and the food is incredible. Perfectly prepared and presented, the flavors and aromas will make your heart sing and your tummy growl. I do not know what is pricey these days, but you should be able to keep it under a $100 and be supremely satisfied.
My favorite restaurant! Now called Pizzeria Alberico. The best pizzas I have ever had. I love this place and I have never had anything that was not exceptional and first rate. The owner and the chef created Frasca next door, one of the best fine dining icons in the West, but then they wanted a place for the rest of us. Pizzas cook in under 2 minutes in the imported Italian wood fired oven in front of you while you finish your appetizers and salad. Ask for the chili olive oil for the crusty bits! Get a Budino for dessert.
They do everything right here and you have to experience it.
149 locals recommend
Pizzeria Locale
1730 Pearl StMy favorite restaurant! Now called Pizzeria Alberico. The best pizzas I have ever had. I love this place and I have never had anything that was not exceptional and first rate. The owner and the chef created Frasca next door, one of the best fine dining icons in the West, but then they wanted a place for the rest of us. Pizzas cook in under 2 minutes in the imported Italian wood fired oven in front of you while you finish your appetizers and salad. Ask for the chili olive oil for the crusty bits! Get a Budino for dessert.
They do everything right here and you have to experience it.
OZO is great coffee and nearby the house, bagels and burritos and other pastries and cakes. (They have more than one, even two on Pearl street, one on each side of the pedestrian mall, so if you are meeting someone, be sure to specify which one.) Easy in and out makes it perfect for grabbing a coffee to go and then a walk down the Pearl St Mall.
OZO Coffee | East Pearl
1521 Pearl StOZO is great coffee and nearby the house, bagels and burritos and other pastries and cakes. (They have more than one, even two on Pearl street, one on each side of the pedestrian mall, so if you are meeting someone, be sure to specify which one.) Easy in and out makes it perfect for grabbing a coffee to go and then a walk down the Pearl St Mall.
I have been going to breakfast here for several decades. Creole and New Orleans scrumptious yumminess! Charming little place and a Boulder tradition. Just a couple blocks down the alley to the west.
156 locals recommend
Lucile's
2124 14th StI have been going to breakfast here for several decades. Creole and New Orleans scrumptious yumminess! Charming little place and a Boulder tradition. Just a couple blocks down the alley to the west.
My favorite local pub with great IPA's, Stouts and other beers brewed on site. The food is awesome, staff friendly, comfortable decor and it can get noisy and busy. Cash Only!
154 locals recommend
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
1535 Pearl StMy favorite local pub with great IPA's, Stouts and other beers brewed on site. The food is awesome, staff friendly, comfortable decor and it can get noisy and busy. Cash Only!
Tasty pastries and coffee, homemade burritos and such. They have a great patio and outdoor seating that has live music on Sundays.
131 locals recommend
Spruce Confections
767 Pearl StTasty pastries and coffee, homemade burritos and such. They have a great patio and outdoor seating that has live music on Sundays.
One of the very first coffee houses and still an institution. Nice back patio with shade in the summer. Get a latte and sit and watch the locals who have been coming in for decades.
94 locals recommend
Trident Booksellers and Cafe
940 Pearl StOne of the very first coffee houses and still an institution. Nice back patio with shade in the summer. Get a latte and sit and watch the locals who have been coming in for decades.
Sightseeing
I like these puzzles, but I do get obsessed and end up staying up to 4 am feverishly finishing them up. Laser cut wood puzzles of exceeding beauty featuring vintage images and such. Go in the shop and look at them and buy one if they have it in stock.
7 locals recommend
Liberty Puzzles
1468 Pearl StI like these puzzles, but I do get obsessed and end up staying up to 4 am feverishly finishing them up. Laser cut wood puzzles of exceeding beauty featuring vintage images and such. Go in the shop and look at them and buy one if they have it in stock.
This is a masterpiece of workmanship. You have to go inside and marvel at the intricate details. Read the history and have a cuppa!
317 locals recommend
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th StThis is a masterpiece of workmanship. You have to go inside and marvel at the intricate details. Read the history and have a cuppa!
Impossible to ride without grinning from ear to ear. This is a unique vintage carousel all hand carved by a man with a mission. No matter what your age, you have to climb aboard and take a spin. Kids will love it. In Nederland up Boulder Canyon. Take a bus or drive.
104 locals recommend
Carousel of Happiness
20 Lakeview DrImpossible to ride without grinning from ear to ear. This is a unique vintage carousel all hand carved by a man with a mission. No matter what your age, you have to climb aboard and take a spin. Kids will love it. In Nederland up Boulder Canyon. Take a bus or drive.
Want to see the sunrise and get some early morning exercise? Try walking from the house to the top, or go to the trailhead, still strenuous, but the view....
146 locals recommend
Mount Sanitas Trailhead
Sunshine Canyon DriveWant to see the sunrise and get some early morning exercise? Try walking from the house to the top, or go to the trailhead, still strenuous, but the view....