Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Boulder Area

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Boulder Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar - Pearl St. Boulder

4.8

4.8 (1300)

$30 and under

Sushi

Boulder

About the restaurant

The name Hapa is derived from the Hawaiian term that describes a harmonious blend of Asian and American cultures. Like our name, our food reflects this dynamic combination. The menu is based on traditional Japanese cooking fundamentals which are then amplified, muted, or mixed with influences from many different styles of cooking until they are something completely new: they're Hapa. We have stretched the boundaries of creativity to develop dishes that defy all the rules while holding true to our roots. We hope that you will find our menu innovative, uninhibited, and distinctly fun! Incomplete parties will not be sat until complete.

Top review

McKenna

Dined 1 day ago

Always a favorite! Hapa is always in my top 3 when choosing a restaurant on Pearl. Amazing food and even better environment.

Japango Boulder

4.8

4.8 (1536)

$30 and under

Sushi

Boulder

About the restaurant

Japango, set in a historic building just west of Broadway on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, CO, offers a dynamic combination of traditional and contemporary Japanese cuisine. Guests will enjoy a relaxed experience in an award winning space designed by nationally acclaimed architect, Scott Rodwin. In many ways this wildly popular restaurant feels like a direct extension of Boulder itself—sophisticated, casual and healthy. // It’s is the perfect place for a first date, a family gathering, or a night out with friends. In addition to an elegant—yet intimate and unpretentious—dining room, Japango features a large sushi bar, a Pearl Street patio, a back patio with fireplace, an enclosed patio that seats up to 10, and a lively bar and lounge area. // The full bar offers unique house cocktails, an extensive sake menu and the largest Japanese whisky selection in Colorado.

Top review

Shannon

Dined 3 days ago

What a great night! Food was excellent! Our server, Meg was extraordinary! She was personable, got to know us and made great recommendations! Will definitely go again and highly recommend. Enjoy!

SALT - Boulder

4.7

4.7 (2118)

$30 and under

American

Boulder

About the restaurant

At SALT, our passionate commitment to sustainability inspires everything we do. We source quality ingredients from local farms and believe the shortest distance from the farm to the table is best. We only serve grass-finished beef, humanely raised chicken and pork, and we purchase Wisdom Farm eggs from Haxtun, Colorado. By sourcing locally, we know where our produce comes from and the person who grew it. Not only does this showcase what farmers in Colorado do so well, but it gives our guests the opportunity to support their neighbors and friends. Our food bridges the gap between healthy, delicious, and sustainable, creating a unique experience for our guests.

Top review

Meg

Dined 5 days ago

Great restaurant in the heart of Pearl Street. Variety of options for food and cocktails that were all good!!

The Post - Boulder

4.7

4.7 (425)

$30 and under

American

Boulder

About the restaurant

At The Post, we brew delicious, award-winning beers and fry up the crispiest, juiciest hot chicken around. We serve it with our kitchen's take on vegetarian and seafood dishes, fresh salads, farm fresh and innovative sides - classics remade for modern times and tastes. We make the traditional, uncommonly memorable

Top review

Tricia

Dined 1 day ago

This place delivers every time! Good food and fun! Has become a tradition for our visits to Colorado. Food is delicious and reasonably priced; drinks add up…

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Popular dish

Fried Chicken Tenders

Popular dish

Fried Chicken Biscuit

Popular dish

FRIED HALF CHICKEN gf

Pizzeria Alberico

4.7

4.7 (89)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Boulder

About the restaurant

Join us at our cozy spot on the East end of Pearl Street, right in the heart of downtown Boulder. Our menu features Southern Italian staples like fritti, fresh salads, savory salumi, artisanal pizzas, and delicious gelato, all made with ingredients from local farms to bring you a fresh take on the classics. Our wood-fired oven adds an authentic touch to our pizzas, creating a perfect, crispy crust every time.

Enjoy our sprawling, dog-friendly patio with a spritz in hand during our daily aperitivo hour. Come for the food, stay for the ambiance, and experience a slice of Italy right here in Boulder!

p.s. It's al-beh-REE-co (named after the Alberico family!)

A 2.5% Health and Wellness fee will be added to all guest checks. This initiative is designed to help us continue offering premium insurance benefits to our team members.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

All around great experience. Thanks PA. New pizza recipes where a hit!.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Boulder - 29th St

4.6

4.6 (111)

$30 and under

American

Boulder

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 6, 2025

The food was great and the service from Holly was spectacular. We would definitely visit this restaurant again when in Boulder.

My Neighbor Felix - Boulder

4.6

4.6 (13)

$30 and under

Mexican

Boulder

About the restaurant

Our food philosophy at My Neighbor Felix is the heartbeat of our menu & our commitment to serve mindfully sourced dishes whenever possible that are high quality, fresh, local, & natural. We are committed to serving high quality ingredients from dozens of Colorado farms & companies. My Neighbor Felix proudly offers NEVER EVER meat products containing no antibiotics, no hormones, & no by-products, in addition to dishes that are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 5 days ago

Overall, the experience was wonderful. We sat inside and found the music too loud to hear others talk. There is outdoor seating that is much quieter and it is in a covered area to keep people out of the sun. Next time we'll choose that area.

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Experience

Mother's Day Brunch

Acreage by Stem Ciders

4.5

4.5 (1639)

$31 to $50

American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Acreage, the first culinary venture from Stem Ciders, is a collaboration by Stem and Colorado Farmers, bringing you the freshest ingredients on the front range. Born from an inspiring landscape and dynamic team, Acreage brings the urban cider house experience found in Stem's RiNo restaurant and taproom, to the countryside with elevated dishes and views that are healthy for your soul.

Acreage is located about 5 minutes from downtown Lafayette with the best view in Colorado, with a huge outdoor space for all ages to enjoy. Playground, hammocks, mountain views and lots of Cider!

**Please review the descriptions for the different Seating Areas on our website before making a reservation**
If you are looking at an experience, and it's unavailable, it's likely that time is booked, try another time or give us a call! www.acreageco.com

Top review

Megan

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent first experience. We made reservations online, they were ready for us when we arrived. We sat inside due to the wind but loved how much outdoor seating was available. Perfect for groups of all sizes. Impressive menu is ciders and food options. A few items were sold out, but not surprised because they sounded delicious. Started with a flight of ciders - highly recommend! Kids meal was cute served on a metal tray. Everyone enjoyed their food and the atmosphere, we will be back again soon.

Ghost Box Pizza

4.5

4.5 (180)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Ghost Box Pizza by Stem Ciders is Colorado's newest pizza restaurant located in the heart of old town Lafayette, cooking up Detroit Style & wood fired pizzas, salads, and sandwiches paired with Colorado's best craft beverages. Enjoy lunch, dinner, drinks and good times daily out on the front patio by the fire pit, or Follow the Ghost... inside and downstairs to the lounge for games and more good times for the whole family.

Trivia Tuesdays * Reservations encouraged.
Happy Hours 4-6 M-Fri |
Dine in and earn POINTS!

Top review

Andrea

Dined on Mar 23, 2025

Best pizza, excellent service! Love going here with friends!

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Experience

Kids Eat Free on Mondays

Experience

Weekly Tuesday Trivia | Geeks Who Drink

Centro Mexican Kitchen

4.4

4.4 (575)

$30 and under

Mexican

Boulder

About the restaurant

We're a fun, Colorado-inspired Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown Boulder along the iconic Pearl Street Mall. Our bustling bar specializes in festive cocktails and our year-round covered patio offers some of Boulder's best people watching.

Top review

julie

Dined on Apr 23, 2025

Loved it! Excellent food and service, fun atmosphere. Terrific!!

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