Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in the Boulder Area by Diners

Javier Volcan // Shutterstock

Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Boulder area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all 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 and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, 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 chefs' 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, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Boulder area using data from . 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 June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#30. T/ACO an Urban Taqueria

- Rating: 4.0/5 (695 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1175 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
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#29. Steakhouse No. 316

- Rating: 4.0/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1922 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars
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#28. Flagstaff House Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (566 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1138 Flagstaff Road Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: French, New American
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#27. The Kitchen American Bistro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1084 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1039 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Bars, American
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#26. Corrida

- Rating: 4.1/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1023 Walnut St. Ste 400 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses, Spanish, Cocktail Bars
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#25. Zucca Italian Ristorante

- Rating: 4.1/5 (378 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 808 Main St. Louisville, Colorado
- Categories: Italian
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#24. Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1980 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1770 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Tea Rooms, Breakfast & Brunch
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#23. Basta

- Rating: 4.1/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3601 Arapahoe Ave. Ste D155 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Pizza, Desserts, Seafood
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#22. Oak at Fourteenth

- Rating: 4.2/5 (790 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1400 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New American
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#21. Jaipur Indian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1214 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian
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#20. Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (690 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1710 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Vegetarian, Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
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#19. Tandoori Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 619 South Broadway Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian, Soup, Chicken Wings
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#18. Frasca Food and Wine

- Rating: 4.2/5 (628 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1738 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
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#17. Southern Sun Pub & Brewery

- Rating: 4.2/5 (547 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 627 South Broadway Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Pubs, Burgers, Breweries
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#16. Blackbelly Market

- Rating: 4.2/5 (702 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1606 Conestoga St. Ste 3 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Butcher, New American
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#15. Brasserie Ten Ten

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1135 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1011 Walnut St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: French
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#14. Azafran Indian Cuisine - Azitra

- Rating: 4.2/5 (662 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 535 Zang St. Broomfield, Colorado
- Categories: Indian, Vegetarian, Wine Bars
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#13. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (553 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 928 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Live/Raw Food
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#12. Black Cat Bistro

- Rating: 4.3/5 (323 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1964 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: New American, French, Wine Bars
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#11. Parma Trattoria & Mozzarella Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1174 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1132 West Dillon Road Louisville, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Pizza
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#10. The Buff Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2015 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2600 Canyon Blvd. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, Soup
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#9. Il Pastaio

- Rating: 4.4/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3075 Arapahoe Ave. Ste B Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Italian
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#8. Flower Child

- Rating: 4.4/5 (365 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2580 Arapahoe Ave. Ste 110 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Salad, New American, Vegetarian
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#7. Shamane's Bake Shoppe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2825 Wilderness Place Ste 800 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
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#6. Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1794 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1535 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Pubs, Burgers, Breweries
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#5. Village Coffee Shop

- Rating: 4.5/5 (467 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1605 Folsom St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#4. Izakaya Amu

- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1221 Spruce St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Japanese
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#3. Ado's Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1143 13th St. Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Italian, Steakhouses
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#2. Mt Everest Cuisine

- Rating: 4.6/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 Baseline Road Ste A 107 Ste A 107 Boulder, Colorado
- Categories: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese
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