As the winter months are beginning to roll in, we are all settling into our routines. Whether it’s that same dinner, the same night cap, or the same happy hour, it’s easy to sit on the couch all winter, reminiscing about warmer days. There are tons of reasons to stay in, but we have five that will help you branch out. It’s time to shut off Netflix, put on your party hat (beanie) and change up your usual.

Wild Standard

Wild Standard. Photo by Nora Philbin

Wild Standard. Photo by Nora Philbin

Where: 1043 Pearl St, Boulder

When: Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

The Low Down: The new restaurant from the owners of its neighbor, Salt, felt the need for more seafood in Boulder, but more importantly, responsibly sourced ingredients. Of the utmost importance is sustainably sourced fish, non-GMO and seasonal organic produce, which means that from one week to the next, the menu can change substantially, which is a fun challenge for the chefs, explained Eric Frisch, the chef de cuisine. The food is will take you on a trip around the world, staying authentic to each culture. The service, however, is anything but traditional. With servers walking around with carts and trays of the food, it saves you from having to ask the question, “What did they order?”

The Ghost BBQ + Spirits

Ghost BBQ. Photo by Nora Philbin.

Ghost BBQ. Photo by Nora Philbin.

Where: 2028 14th St, Boulder

When: Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The Low Down: If you’ve got tickets to see a show at the Boulder Theater, or even if you don’t, The Ghost BBQ + Spirits should be your next stop in Boulder. In partnership with the theater, the restaurant is intended and comes across as true Texas barbecue; low and slow with a simple recipe – something downtown Boulder was in desperate need of. Aside from the ketchup and mustard, everything is made from scratch. The Ghost gets its name from Boulder Theater proprietor, George Paper, who is said to still haunt the space. There haven’t been any serious sightings yet, but it hasn’t even been open a month, so we’ll give it time.

 

Alpine Modern

Alpine modern cafe, alpine modern, boulder cafes

Alpine Modern Cafe. Photo courtesy of Alpine Modern.

Where: 904 College Ave, Boulder

When: Daily, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Low Down: The café just past The Hill in Boulder is the latest branch of the newly minted lifestyle brand: Alpine Modern. Focused on elevated modern design in the mountains, the café shines with a simple barista bar and white tile and marble. The space is clean to allow customers to focus on the products and the people within.  Even with the coldest months coming up, the cold drip coffee ($3.60) is not to be missed and you can pair it with quinoa porridge ($5.90) with cinnamon, honey, almonds, and dried cranberries to warm yourself up.

 

Cured West

French Fig sandwich at Cured in Boulder, CO. © Brett Wilhelm

French Fig sandwich at Cured in Boulder, CO. © Brett Wilhelm

Where: 2019 10th St, Boulder

When: Monday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Low Down: All of the sandwiches and cheese that the east end of Pearl Street have come to love are now available on the west side as well. Though this time around  the shop is not sharing the space with Boxcar Coffee, but Cured  are still sharing its shelves. The cold brew is available on the west end as is the French Fig ($9.75), its  most popular sandwich (with good reason). One addition to Cured part two is the chocolate wall. Sourced from around the country, there is single origin chocolate to any guilty pleasure you can imagine in a beautiful display. Even if you only have three minutes, it’s well worth the lunchtime trip to 10th Street.

Wonder Press

Wonder Press. Photo by Kyle Cooper.

Wonder Press. Photo by Kyle Cooper.ond

Where: 946 Pearl St, Boulder

When: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Low Down: Three childhood friends from Boulder have come back to serve up healthy juices, nut-milks, and coffee to the community that they have felt so supported by. Wonder Press opened its permanent location just off of the Pearl Street Mall on June 20, and since its inception, the co-founders have been working to create fresh, daily-made juices people love and a space their community can rally behind.