Colorado is home to some pretty pawesome towns, and Boulder’s no exception. Whether this city (ruffly 45 minutes northwest of Denver) is your home turf or you’re simply looking for a day trip to get outta dog dodge next weekend, be puppared to do a little ‘splore and see everything downtown Boulder has to offer.
Remember: Dogs aren’t allowed on Pearl Street Mall, downtown Boulder’s main drag from 11th to 15th Street (pfft, must be cat people), but there are plenty of surrounding restos, shops, and trails to get your wag on.
The Kitchen and Next Door
We already loved these sustainable sister restaurants (that are literally next to each other) for their commitment to giving back to the community—but the fact that they allow doggos on the patios makes their Gulf shrimp hushpuppies and mac ’n’ cheese gratin taste even better.
Spruce Confections
Dog can’t stop whining for fresh ingredients? We’ve got you. At this bakery-and-cafe institution, everything’s made from scratch.
University Bicycles
If you and your pup ‘splore on two wheels, stop into University Bicycles for gear and belly scratches galore. Check out the in-store museum displaying bikes up to 130 years old. That’s, like, 910 in dog years. (Psst: Here are five ways to bike with your dog.)
Farfel’s Farm & Rescue
As Boulder’s only dog and cat boutique AND rescue, Farfel’s a one-stop shop for a rockin’ new collar, some tasty treatos, and even a fur sib for your fur kid.
Brasserie Ten Ten
You’ll feel as fancy as a French poodle at Brasserie Ten Ten, where eating escargot and macarons on the patio is the closest you’ll get to dining with your pooch in Paris (a dog can dream!).
Half Fast Subs on the Hill
This sammie-slinging shop is a local favorite cuz it has 100 different meat, vegetarian, cheesesteak, and stuffed subs to choose from—oh yeah, and because it’s extremely dog-friendly, with water bowls waiting on the patio.
Rush Bowls
All-natural, healthy smoothie bowls come in flavors like pumpkin spice, peanut butter and jelly, and chocolate-covered strawberry here, and they didn’t forget your bestie: a Bow Wow Bowl comes with banana, peanut butter, milk, and frozen yogurt, topped with a Milk-Bone.
Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Ranked one of the top restaurants in town, this Persian teahouse celebrates the sister-city relationship between Boulder and Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Order samosas, korma, and noodles at the bar, then make your way to the patio to snag a seat at one of the 15 dog-friendly tables.
The Laughing Goat
“You can always count on meeting a dog while sitting outside,” says one visitor of this coffee shop/wine and beer bar/music venue where the pastries are always fresh and the welcome is always warm (even for those non-goat patrons among us).
Central Park
No, it’s not *that* Central Park, but it’ll still get all the zoomies out of Fido’s system. The creek and walking paths will ensure you have one pooped pupper for the car ride home.
What’s your pupper’s fave Boulder chill spot? Woof at us in the comments and be sure to tag #SidewalkDog in all your adventures!
(Photo by Garfield Besa)
Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram, then join our Dog-Friendly Denver Facebook Group.