Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Boulder by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Boulder using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Chez Thuy Restaurant
- Rating: 3.7/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2655 28th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Attic Bar & Bistro
- Rating: 3.7/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 949 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Rosetta Hall
- Rating: 3.7/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1109 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Sherpa's Adventures Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.7/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 825 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese, Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Dragonfly Noodle
- Rating: 3.8/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2014 10th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Ramen, Dim Sum, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Spruce Farm & Fish
- Rating: 3.8/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2115 13th St. 2115 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ali Baba Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (273 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3054 28th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Syrian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Dagabi Cucina
- Rating: 3.9/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3970 Broadway St. Ste 101 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Mediterranean, Spanish, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Bohemian Biergarten
- Rating: 4.0/5 (374 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2017 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: German, Gastropubs, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp
#21. T/ACO an Urban Taqueria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (668 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1175 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Bartaco Boulder
- Rating: 4.1/5 (582 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1048 Pearl St. Ste 101 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Santo
- Rating: 4.1/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1265 Alpine Ave. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Steakhouse No. 316
- Rating: 4.1/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1922 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Corrida
- Rating: 4.1/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1023 Walnut St. Ste 400 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses, Spanish, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Kitchen American Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1039 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1039 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Flagstaff House Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1138 Flagstaff Road Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Tandoori Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 619 South Broadway Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian, Soup, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (659 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1710 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Vegetarian, Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Oak at Fourteenth
- Rating: 4.2/5 (762 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1400 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Basta
- Rating: 4.2/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3601 Arapahoe Ave. Ste D155 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Pizza, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Frasca Food and Wine
- Rating: 4.2/5 (597 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1738 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Blackbelly Market
- Rating: 4.2/5 (663 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1606 Conestoga St. Ste 3 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Butcher, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Brasserie Ten Ten
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1095 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (540 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 928 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Live/Raw Food
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Black Cat Bistro
- Rating: 4.3/5 (311 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1964 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New American, French, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Il Pastaio
- Rating: 4.4/5 (547 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3075 Arapahoe Ave. Ste B Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Flower Child
- Rating: 4.4/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2580 Arapahoe Ave. Ste 110 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Salad, New American, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Izakaya Amu
- Rating: 4.5/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1221 Spruce St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mt Everest Cuisine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 Baseline Road Ste A 107 Ste A 107 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Little Tibet
- Rating: 4.6/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4479 Bdwy Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
