Where to Drink in Boulder, Colorado
With 300-plus days of sunshine each year, it’s no surprise that many residents of Boulder, Colorado, are passionate about the great outdoors. Those same conditions give the city what Jake Novotny, owner of rum-centric bar Jungle and newly opened tavern Siren, calls “a green belt with really great produce all around us.” The proximity to agricultural bounty plays a role in the city’s bar and cocktail scenes, too.
“We have a lot of bartenders working closely with chefs and with farmers,” Novotny says, noting how some of his colleagues will make an oleo syrup out of the super sweet, limited-run Palisades peaches each summer. “That way, you can turn a really short season into a longer season, and have peaches all the way into Christmas or the New Year.”
Between the seasonal arrivals of snowboard-toting travelers and the academic calendar of the University of Colorado at Boulder, the city’s population is often in flux, though tourism officials estimate it’s around 105,000. There are also 300 miles of trails, 46,000 acres of open space, and no shortage of excellent cocktail bars, breweries, coffee roasteries, and bottle shops to visit. Here are a few of Novotny’s favorites.
The Bitter Bar
For more than 10 years, James Lee, often called Colorado’s godfather of cocktails, has helmed this downtown spot. “It has awesome drinks and sultry, loungey vibes,” Novotny says. “I’m always getting a shot and a beer, but they make the classics really well.” The space has low-slung red couches, high tops surrounded by bistro chairs, and a bar beneath mod pendant lamps. Daily happy hours feature longtime favorites like That Pink Drink (vodka, Aperol, cucumber, and fresh lemon) and Boulder v 2.0 (bourbon, rhubarb aperitivo, sweet vermouth). Other menu highlights include craft beer and global wines, plus signature drinks like a root beer float–inspired cocktail with vanilla ice cream–washed, root-infused rye with sherry, allspice liqueur, and Galliano; and Gin & Tonics with their house-made tonic water.
C Bar
With its tufted leather seating, garnet-colored banquettes, and marbled floors, this elegant spot is “a classy place to get a Martini,” says Novotny. The drinks list spans classic and inventive cocktails like Thyme in Andalucía (amontillado sherry, peach, thyme, and grapefruit) and the silky Queen’s Elixir (añejo tequila, palo santo, hibiscus, and egg white). Haute bar fare includes burgers and tartares made from Colorado beef, Mikan crudo with tomato ponzu, and the West Side Dog, a luxe hot dog topped with velvety ribbons of prosciutto, brie, and sun-dried tomatoes. On Fridays, Denver-based electronica duo Moose & Bear curate late-night DJ sets. “If someone were visiting Boulder for the first time, I would take them here,” Novotny says.
Fritz Family Brewers
Less than 10 miles from downtown Boulder, husband-wife duo Cory and Kelly Buening operate this family-friendly pub and brewery. Cory worked for decades as a brewer at Wyoming’s Snake River and Gravely in Kentucky before he and Kelly opened this spot named for their son, Fritz, in 2021. The indoor-outdoor space spans a stylishly industrial taproom with brick-and wood-paneled walls, and a twinkling, spacious patio. House specialties include the Dortmunder Export, a German-style pale lager; a crisp Czech Yourself pilsner; and kölsch service every Wednesday during the summer months. It’s worth the short trip to Niwot, Novotny says. “They’re making some of the best beer in Colorado.”
Jungle
“We’re a bunch of cocktail nerds with a love for rum,” Novotny says of his tropical oasis in downtown Boulder. Opened in 2019, Jungle serves classics like Painkillers and frozen Banana Daiquiris as well as original creations like Cool Intentions (Japanese whisky, Haitian rum, sesame, soy sauce, and cucumbers) and Vice & Virtue (rum, Campari, coconut, pineapple, strawberry amaro, and fresh lime). The food menu includes snacks like plantain fritters or garlicky Caribbean fries, and an array of burgers, from vegan black bean patties with crunchy slaw and poblano mayo, to the beefy Jungle Burger topped with onion rings and pineapple. The space hosts drag performances, tattoo art exhibitions, an annual après-ski party, and benefits to raise money forsuch local charitable organizations as Conscious Alliance, a nonprofit hunger relief organization.
Sundry Goods
Opened in November 2023, this neighborhood market and bottle shop stocks small-batch amari, alcohol-free and adaptogenic spirits, and more. There’s a selection of craft and commercial beers from cult Colorado and far-flung breweries, and wines span everything from $6.50 chilled cans to $350 jeroboams of Champagne. “It’s all put together by our bartenders and cocktail team, and the kind of stuff you wouldn’t find at big-box stores,” says Novotny, whose wife owns the shop while he helped build its sleek wooden shelving. “We see it as a grocer, too—we just want to serve the community,” he says. To that end, Sundry sells dry goods like paper towels, tinned fish, and other pantry items, and has a wine club with monthly or one-off subscriptions.
Verb Coffee Roasters
With their original roastery in North Boulder, Verb opened a new café in central Boulder in 2023 that highlights their rare, single-origin coffees. The sunny space has tall windows, colorful murals, and a sleek counter lit by pendant lamps. Popular with locals, and skiers and snowboarders en route to the mountains, Verb serves cold brews, pourovers made with natural heirloom Morke Ethiopian beans, and chai and cascara teas. “Their coffee is incredible,” Novotny says. “It’s such a great spot in Boulder.” The pastry case features a rotating cast of cinnamon buns or lemon curd–filled lavender croissants from Colorado’s La Belle French Bakery, and the cafe sells beans in custom-designed bags or via monthly coffee subscriptions.
From left: The Queen’s Elixer cocktail at C Bar | Photo by Maddy B Creates; Bottles at Sundry Goods | Photo by Kelsey Huffer
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