It's undeniable - Boulder is a happy hour town. With so many restaurants and businesses condensed to downtown, on any given night between approximately 3 and 7 p.m., you can find people flocking to restaurants and bars to enjoy the special - discounted food and libations. Eater has compiled 12 of the best happy hour deals, food and locations in Boulder. From farm-to-table bistros to high-end restaurants and iconic hotels, this list has something for everyone.
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Arguably Boulder's best spot for craft cocktails, The Bitter Bar offers a lengthy happy hour from 5-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday to start your evening right. The menu showcases cocktails, beer, and wine and rotating small bites between $5-7. Don't miss the shot of whiskey and beer for $6 or their Kiss the Sky cocktail with local caprock gin, domaine de canton, lavender and fresh lemon juice for $6.
The French Brasserie TenTen is a longtime Boulder favorite that has happy hour everyday, from 3-6:30 p.m. Their happy hour hors d'oeuvres are plentiful and quite the bang for your buck, ranging from $2-6.50. You can find the likes of fresh oysters, bone marrow, charcuterie and courge frites of tempura fried acorn squash with aioli. Beers are $3.25, wines are $3.75, and well cocktails are $3.75. In warmer months, try to sit outside on their small patio.
From Big Red F Group, Centro offers happy hour all day on Monday and from Tuesday-Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m. You can find $3 tacos, appetizers for under $4, house margaritas for $4, Modelos and Cuba Libres for $2 and $5 shots. With a lively atmosphere, their patio is open year-round on Pearl Street making for the perfect spot to enjoy your guac and marg.
From The Kitchen Community, [NEXT DOOR], the community-centric, casual bistro offers Community Hour everyday from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. From their Colorado-only beer and wine list, they offer $1 off all draft beers, Kitchen wine on tap for $4.95 and well liquor for $2.95. All their food items are $6 or less and small snacks like their infamous garlic smashers are $1.95. If you're in on Wednesday or Sunday, they have live music in the evenings.
It's hard to talk about happy hour in Boulder without mentioning The Med. The tapas restaurant has been open for 20 years and they serve happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. The menu offers a plethora of Mediterranean shared dishes that are all under $5! The large space is great for groups and sharing the small plates. Their drinks are $3.5 for drafts, $3 red or white sangria and well cocktails, and $5 featured wines.
Cafe Aion's tapas happy hour is everyday from 3-6 p.m. and lasts all night on Monday and Tuesday. You can find savory, small bites like fried cauliflower with saffron yogurt, mussels, and Moroccan spiced pork sliders between $2-7. An added bonus? They have dessert on happy hour whether it be their house-made cupcake du Jour or their "plate of treats". Drinks are between $3-6 such as sangria, house wine, and a few specialty, rotating cocktails like their fresno and vodka lemonade.
In North Boulder, the Tuscan restaurant Radda, offers Italian Aperitivo from 3-6 p.m. everyday. Beers are $2, Italian wine is $5 and their six happy hour dishes range from $3-7. Try the bruschetta, piccolo fritto or fried rock shrimp with fennel and aioli. Their patio faces the Flatirons, so snag a spot outside and enjoy the view.
Nestled in Boulder's most elegant hotel and spa, The St. Julien, Jill's Restaurant offers happy hour everyday from 4-6:30 p.m. which includes half off appetizers like escargot, truffle fries, and tuna tartare. The standout from their happy hour drink menu are their $5 martinis. They also offer $5 house wine, $5 seasonal Bellinis, $4 bubbles, and $3 draft beers. After happy hour head to The St. Julien's lobby for live music facing Boulder's Flatirons or pop into the suave T Bar in the hotel.
Another favorite of The Kitchen Community is their [Upstairs] lounge and sleek bar that overlooks Pearl Street from their 2nd floor location. Community Hour is everyday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Their beer and wine on tap are collectively $5 with "nibbles" like their infamous garlic fries, hummus and bruschetta or oysters between $4-5. If you're looking for something different, order the Wisdom & Wine: wood roasted rotisserie chicken and a bottle of house wine for $29.
Located in the historic Hotel Boulderado, Q's has been independently owned and operated for 20+ years. Their happy hour is 5-7 p.m. everyday and they offer an impressive deal of 40% off appetizers and wines, as well as $5 well cocktails, and $3 draft beers.
The sister restaurant to Black Cat, Bramble & Hare is a farm-to-table, bistro-pub that serves happy hour everyday from 4-5:30 p.m. Their happy hour menu is simple and a great deal: all food and drinks are $5! The menu will rotate to reflect seasonal food, largely coming from The Black Cat farm, only miles from the restaurant. An added bonus to the discounted menu are the games they have for guests like cribbage, cards and a daily community crossword puzzle.
Salt, a farm-to-fork restaurant on Pearl Street offers "The Salty Hour" from 3-6 p.m. everyday. They showcase their food by price from $1 to $5 plates, with almost 20 local food inspired dishes to choose from. Beers are $3-4, wine is $4 and featured cocktails are $4-5. If there's no room upstairs, head downstairs to their second bar for additional lounge seating.
Arguably Boulder's best spot for craft cocktails, The Bitter Bar offers a lengthy happy hour from 5-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday to start your evening right. The menu showcases cocktails, beer, and wine and rotating small bites between $5-7. Don't miss the shot of whiskey and beer for $6 or their Kiss the Sky cocktail with local caprock gin, domaine de canton, lavender and fresh lemon juice for $6.
The French Brasserie TenTen is a longtime Boulder favorite that has happy hour everyday, from 3-6:30 p.m. Their happy hour hors d'oeuvres are plentiful and quite the bang for your buck, ranging from $2-6.50. You can find the likes of fresh oysters, bone marrow, charcuterie and courge frites of tempura fried acorn squash with aioli. Beers are $3.25, wines are $3.75, and well cocktails are $3.75. In warmer months, try to sit outside on their small patio.
From Big Red F Group, Centro offers happy hour all day on Monday and from Tuesday-Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m. You can find $3 tacos, appetizers for under $4, house margaritas for $4, Modelos and Cuba Libres for $2 and $5 shots. With a lively atmosphere, their patio is open year-round on Pearl Street making for the perfect spot to enjoy your guac and marg.
From The Kitchen Community, [NEXT DOOR], the community-centric, casual bistro offers Community Hour everyday from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. From their Colorado-only beer and wine list, they offer $1 off all draft beers, Kitchen wine on tap for $4.95 and well liquor for $2.95. All their food items are $6 or less and small snacks like their infamous garlic smashers are $1.95. If you're in on Wednesday or Sunday, they have live music in the evenings.
It's hard to talk about happy hour in Boulder without mentioning The Med. The tapas restaurant has been open for 20 years and they serve happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. The menu offers a plethora of Mediterranean shared dishes that are all under $5! The large space is great for groups and sharing the small plates. Their drinks are $3.5 for drafts, $3 red or white sangria and well cocktails, and $5 featured wines.
Cafe Aion's tapas happy hour is everyday from 3-6 p.m. and lasts all night on Monday and Tuesday. You can find savory, small bites like fried cauliflower with saffron yogurt, mussels, and Moroccan spiced pork sliders between $2-7. An added bonus? They have dessert on happy hour whether it be their house-made cupcake du Jour or their "plate of treats". Drinks are between $3-6 such as sangria, house wine, and a few specialty, rotating cocktails like their fresno and vodka lemonade.
In North Boulder, the Tuscan restaurant Radda, offers Italian Aperitivo from 3-6 p.m. everyday. Beers are $2, Italian wine is $5 and their six happy hour dishes range from $3-7. Try the bruschetta, piccolo fritto or fried rock shrimp with fennel and aioli. Their patio faces the Flatirons, so snag a spot outside and enjoy the view.
Nestled in Boulder's most elegant hotel and spa, The St. Julien, Jill's Restaurant offers happy hour everyday from 4-6:30 p.m. which includes half off appetizers like escargot, truffle fries, and tuna tartare. The standout from their happy hour drink menu are their $5 martinis. They also offer $5 house wine, $5 seasonal Bellinis, $4 bubbles, and $3 draft beers. After happy hour head to The St. Julien's lobby for live music facing Boulder's Flatirons or pop into the suave T Bar in the hotel.
Another favorite of The Kitchen Community is their [Upstairs] lounge and sleek bar that overlooks Pearl Street from their 2nd floor location. Community Hour is everyday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Their beer and wine on tap are collectively $5 with "nibbles" like their infamous garlic fries, hummus and bruschetta or oysters between $4-5. If you're looking for something different, order the Wisdom & Wine: wood roasted rotisserie chicken and a bottle of house wine for $29.
Located in the historic Hotel Boulderado, Q's has been independently owned and operated for 20+ years. Their happy hour is 5-7 p.m. everyday and they offer an impressive deal of 40% off appetizers and wines, as well as $5 well cocktails, and $3 draft beers.
The sister restaurant to Black Cat, Bramble & Hare is a farm-to-table, bistro-pub that serves happy hour everyday from 4-5:30 p.m. Their happy hour menu is simple and a great deal: all food and drinks are $5! The menu will rotate to reflect seasonal food, largely coming from The Black Cat farm, only miles from the restaurant. An added bonus to the discounted menu are the games they have for guests like cribbage, cards and a daily community crossword puzzle.
Salt, a farm-to-fork restaurant on Pearl Street offers "The Salty Hour" from 3-6 p.m. everyday. They showcase their food by price from $1 to $5 plates, with almost 20 local food inspired dishes to choose from. Beers are $3-4, wine is $4 and featured cocktails are $4-5. If there's no room upstairs, head downstairs to their second bar for additional lounge seating.
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