Stella's Cucina

Name: Stella's Cucina
Address: 1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO, United States, 80302-5116
Telephone: (303) 943-1000
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (768)

$50 and over

Italian

1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 30, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Great for creative cocktails

The restaurant was founded in 2023 by owner Stella Spanu, a Boulder local. Honoring her Italian heritage and embracing her passion for food and hospitality, Spanu’s philosophy is to have a dining experience that stimulates all senses by incorporating visual art, design, music, premier service, comfortable seating and fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. The space, an Art Deco inspiration, was conceptualized and built by architect Miguel Quismondo.

Stella's is showcasing a world-class menu, highlighting traditions from all over Italy, with house-made pastas with imported ingredients directly from Italy, and locally sourced ingredients from Colorado farms. The menu is accompanied by an extensive selection of Italian wines and specialty cocktails.

Friday and Saturday, after dinner service, the space will transform into a lounge with a dance floor with a state-of-the-art sound system, while guests are encouraged to enjoy beverages, the dance floor, and a wide variety of music.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am
Phone number
(303) 943-1000
Website
https://www.stellascucina.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116
Neighborhood
Boulder
Cross street
11th and Walnut
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Cellar Series - Nebbiolo & Summer Preview
$90.00 per person
Jun 30, 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner one will focus on Nebbiolo and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!
Cellar Series - Brunello
$90.00 per person
Aug 4, 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner two will focus on Brunello and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!
Cellar Series - Sicilia
$90.00 per person
Sep 8, 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner three will focus on Sicilia and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!

Popular dishes

Perra Cotta$16.00
Red wine-poached D’Anjou pear, chocolate ganache, pistachio crumble
Crema Cotta al Pistacchio$16.00
House pistachio crème brûlée, seasonal berries, pistachio praline
‘Terra’ Misù$16.00
Lady Fingers, mascarpone cream, coffee, orange liqueur, chocolate crumble
Crostata al Cioccolato$18.00
Chocolate tart, salted caramel, Dulcey ganache, banana gelato
Affogato$14.00
House-made Madagascar vanilla gelato, Ambrosiano espresso

Contorni

Patate al Forno$8.00
Roasted marble potatoes
Vegetali alla Griglia$9.00
Eggplant, zucchini, red bell pepper, mint oil
Broccolini$10.00
Local broccolini, crispy onion, parsley-pine oil
Zucca$10.00
Roasted Red Kuri squash, tarragon-honey oil
Funghi$12.00
Colorado mushroom medley, garlic, parsley, chili flake

Antipasti

Insalata Stella$14.00
Organic mixed greens, aromatic herbs, grapefruit, bee pollen, honey vinaigrette
Barbabietola e Burrata$17.00
Local heirloom beet, burrata, organic mixed greens, candied walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette
Insalata a la Mano$18.00
Romaine heart, Levanto anchovy, 3yr aged Parmigiano Reggiano, house-made cesare foam, croutons
Uovo Croccante$24.00
Wild local mushroom, crispy egg yolk, Parmigiano Reggiano fonduta
Minestrone$19.00
Seasonal vegetable medley, butternut squash broth
Tartare di Manzo$25.00
Angus beef tartare, millefoglie potato, bechamel, Parmigiano Reggiano, quail egg
Affettati Miste$34.00
Chef selected assortment of meats, cheeses, & accompaniments

Primi Piatti

Caramella alla Vaccinara$34.00
Oxtail ragu-stuffed pasta, pecorino fonduta, tomato emulsion, fried sage
Risotto allo Zafferano$32.00
Saffron, porcini powder, Parmigiano Reggiano, toasted hazelnut
Cavatelli e Tartufo Nero$48.00
House-made cavatelli di ricotta, freshly foraged black truffle, Pecorino Romano
Pappardelle al Maiale$32.00
House-made pappardelle, peach & pork ragu, Pecorino Romano, oregano
Risotto ai Frutti di Mare$42.00
Icy Blue mussels, Littleneck clams, red shrimp, squid ink, shrimp bisque, Acquerello rice

Secondi Piatti

Cavolfiore alla Milanese$26.00
Breaded cauliflower steak, grilled seasonal vegetables, romesco
Brasato al Barolo$42.00
Red wine-braised local short rib, caramelized baby fennel, smoked potato purée, seasonal demi-glace
Spigola al Forno$50.00
Wild-caught Mediterranean sea bass, roasted romanesco, marble potato, butternut squash purée, blood orange aioli
Medaglioni di Cervo$48.00
Venison medallions, truffle & celery root emulsion, romanesco purée, onion cracker, port reduction
Bistecca alla Fiorentina$180.00
32oz custom cut Porterhouse steak, seasonal demi-glace

What 768 people are saying

Stella's Cucina reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Boulder Area
Best Ambiance
Boulder Area
Innovative
Boulder Area
Hot spot
Boulder Area
Great for fine wines
Boulder Area
Romantic
Boulder Area
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Stella's Cucina in Boulder offers a unique "speakeasy" atmosphere, praised for its "authentic Italian cuisine" and "awesome vibe." Diners love the "beautiful ambiance" and "excellent service." While some note the food can be "underwhelming" or "pricey," standout dishes and a "great wine list" earn high marks.

768 Reviews

D
Daniel
Denver / Colorado1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of the finest meals we have had in a long, long while.
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P
Peter
Denver / Colorado32 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This dinner was for our belated anniversary with our out of state son and his girlfriend. We have dined at Stella's before, and consider it for special occasions, as it is higher priced. The atmosphere is different than any other Boulder restaurant; elegant but not stuffy. Stella definitely learned the restaurant business from her father who owned John's. The staff is attentive and well trained. I only wish guests dressed up a little more for an expensive night out. My main entree of risotto was not great, but our octopus appetizer and the other entrees were good. Our two desserts were unique and utterly delicious; tiramisu in a flower pot and pistachio creme Brule. Yum!
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A
Andra VIP
Denver / Colorado104 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Stella's is an unexpectedly gorgeous restaurant, a semi-secret sort-of speakeasy in the heart of Boulder. As always, the place was hopping by early evening. Though the food is expertly prepared, I don't find it particularly surprizing or interesting. Most dishes are straightforward despite a few that are a bit gimmicky. For instance, a "deconstructed" Ceasar's salad was composed of several pale romane lettuce leaves radiating from a mound of very lightly whipped dressing. The dressing was fun, not memorable, and there were hardly any other flavors to the dish (except a few teeth-destroying croutons). More typically, a $48 sea bass entree consisted of fish perfectly cooked with a crunchy exterior and buttery soft flesh, but a less-than-teaspoon amount of accompanying flavors. From the contorni section of the menu, we ordered very good crunchy potatoes and sauteed mixed mushrooms that were lovely but not particularly interesting. The wine list is excellent as is the service. Clearly, Stella's wants you to love the main ingredient without the distraction of supplemental flavors.
Stella's CucinaResponded 1 day ago
Hi Andra, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us feedback regarding your recent experience with us! We're overjoyed that you loved the ambiance and service. We're constantly looking for ways to improve, and will definitely review your input regarding our food with the team. We hope to take care of you again soon! Regards, Stella's Management
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K
Kimberly
Denver / Colorado1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this place!!! Hard to find but I’ve been back 3 times since discovering and they never fail to impress. 5 star treatment and great atmosphere. The staff manages to keep it unstuffy while maintaining high caliber service and food.
Is this helpful?
E
Einav VIP
London2 reviews
3.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
The service was good Did not like the food so much
Is this helpful?
M
Marisol
Caribbean3 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing! Everything, everyone, all of it. We are still talking about how delicious it was no matter what we ordered, wines and prosecco included. Our favorite and best restaurant in Boulder.
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P
Peter VIP
Baltimore / Maryland11 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Interesting cuisine, beautifully plated, and served in a comfortable, stylish setting.
Is this helpful?
J
Joe VIP
Southwest Florida102 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was excellent and the service was fantastic. You can't beat dining in such a beautiful ambiance. Our waitress was excellent and really made our dining experience extremely enjoyable.
Is this helpful?
J
Jackson VIP
Washington, D.C. Area24 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 2
Food is delicious and inventive. Service is superb. Interesting selection of wine and cocktails. Music is much too loud and destroys pleasure of the evening.
Is this helpful?
H
Holly
Denver / Colorado12 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of the best meals we've ever had together. Our family went for Father's Day with our two teens and it was a perfect night.
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FAQs

Stella's Cucina is rated 4.7 stars by 768 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 30, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116

Additional information

Cross street
11th and Walnut
Neighborhood
Boulder
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–1:00 am
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access

Website
https://www.stellascucina.com/
Phone number
(303) 943-1000

Stella's Cucina

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Cellar Series - Nebbiolo & Summer Preview

Cellar Series - Brunello

Cellar Series - Sicilia

Pappardelle al Maiale

Bicchierini

Cavatelli e Tartufo Nero

Dolci

Perra Cotta$16.00

Crema Cotta al Pistacchio$16.00

‘Terra’ Misù$16.00

Crostata al Cioccolato$18.00

Affogato$14.00

Contorni

Patate al Forno$8.00

Vegetali alla Griglia$9.00

Broccolini$10.00

Zucca$10.00

Funghi$12.00

Antipasti

Insalata Stella$14.00

Barbabietola e Burrata$17.00

Insalata a la Mano$18.00

Uovo Croccante$24.00

Minestrone$19.00

Tartare di Manzo$25.00

Affettati Miste$34.00

Primi Piatti

Caramella alla Vaccinara$34.00

Risotto allo Zafferano$32.00

Cavatelli e Tartufo Nero$48.00

Pappardelle al Maiale$32.00

Risotto ai Frutti di Mare$42.00

Secondi Piatti

Cavolfiore alla Milanese$26.00

Brasato al Barolo$42.00

Spigola al Forno$50.00

Medaglioni di Cervo$48.00

Bistecca alla Fiorentina$180.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Stella's Cucina restaurant rated?

Is Stella's Cucina currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information