Well, here it is: a local guide to some of the best breakfast restaurants Boulder has to offer- whether you are a traveler passing through, a new college student at CU, or just visiting friends and family, I am sure that you will find at least one restaurant to your liking here. It is always nice to have an insiders guide to a good breakfast so you don’t have to waste your time or your money on a dismal place when there are the following famous Boulder restaurants out there! There are so many great places to eat breakfast in Boulder but I have narrowed it down to my top four absolute favorite spots. Don’t bother going anywhere else while you are in town. Please also note that I have not discriminated according to any sort of socioeconomic status, as these are not only the best places to eat breakfast, but also easy on your wallet. Enjoy!
The Village Coffee Shop
This is one of those little hole-in-the-wall restaurants that you truly have to experience if you are traveling through the Boulder area. It is very well known to the locals as a great spot to catch a hearty, greasy spoon breakfast. They serve a classic American breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and the like. What makes the Village Coffee Shop truly worth going to is a Mom ‘n Pop restaurant atmosphere combined with Boulder locals from every walk of life eating around you. Sometimes it is great to just go by yourself and sit up at the “bar,” eat, drink your coffee, and read the paper. Be aware- if you are a first timer and you don’t want to be embarrassed, don’t let on that you haven’t been there before. You may quickly find yourself at the center of attention as the Village Coffee Shop loves to clap for newcomers. It is located at:
1605 Folsom St
Boulder, CO 80302-6717
(303) 442-9689
They don’t take reservations, and you must seat yourself as you come on in. The Village Coffee Shop is definitely a Boulder breakfast restaurant must-see.
Dot’s Diner
You may see the bumper stickers as you drive around town: “Dot’s Diner: Where Folks Get Their Yolks,” and it is true. Dot’s is one of the cult classic breakfast restaurants in Boulder. It has a throwback to the 1950’s diner atmosphere, yet the wait staff definitely makes you realize that you are in a college town. Dot’s has two locations at:
2716 28th Street
Boulder, CO
80301
(303) 449-1323
1333 Broadway
Boulder, CO
80301
Dot’s Diner serves a classic American breakfast too, but less greasy than the Village Coffee Shop. It is great breakfast food and the only downside may be the mood your waiter or waitress is in. My advice is to write that off to the character of the place, and enjoy a great breakfast. If it is not too busy when you visit, it is also a great place to sit around and drink as much coffee as possible before lumbering out to start the day.
The Buff
Hidden away in the Golden Buff Hotel, The Buff Restaurant offers another excellent Boulder breakfast option for you travelers in search of that perfect breakfast, or simply a nice place to relax soak in the local Boulder atmosphere. The inside of the Buff Restaurant makes you feels like home, and you can always count on encountering the local college life, as the secret of The Buff is out at CU. The Buff Restaurant is located at:
1725 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone 303-442-9150
www.buffrestaurant.com
I would recommend any of the basic breakfasts, and especially the homemade skillets. If the owners are there, be sure to ask Mrs. Sproul how her sons are doing in their up and coming Rosehill Drive band. The Buff fits the definition of a local Boulder breakfast spot to a tee, and you won’t regret taking the time to search it out.
Deli Zone
This is by far the best restaurant to get a fast breakfast in Boulder, and I believe that they serve the most excellent breakfast sandwich out there. It is not necessarily a classic sit down place, but if you are in a rush and don’t have time for the above places, Deli Zone is a sure bet for a great breakfast. Deli Zone has 3 restaurant locations that I know of in Boulder, and they are growing too:
2900 Valmont Road
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 447-9349
4800 Baseline Road
Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: (303) 499-9213
1300 College Avenue
Boulder, CO
Phone: (303) 449-6952
I recommend a 2 Egg Kong- eggs, hash browns, cheese, and bacon on a French Roll. Hard to beat for $6 and change. Or if you want, you can customize your breakfast sandwich to your heart’s desire. They are also getting coffee from a new provider now, and I am pretty excited about that too. Deli Zone’s founders are from Brooklyn, and the restaurant has great New York atmosphere on the inside. They also serve lunch and dinner sandwiches, but I never bother because breakfast is served all day.
That about does it! I hope that you will take the time to enjoy at least one of Boulder’s best breakfast spots while you are in our town.
