For Boulder, its residents and its visitors, the Hotel Boulderado is more than a relic of an era gone by – it’s a still very relevant institution. It’s been an important cornerstone since it first opened in 1909. Designed by local architects, William Redding & Son, it was largely funded by the town in part to provide both Boulder with its first luxury hotel as well as families with an upscale option when visiting their children at the University of Colorado, which itself began operations in 1877. Although the town around it has evolved tremendously in the 116 years since it opened its doors, the hotel’s bones have remained largely unchanged. Its unmistakable red brick façade has stood the test of time, as has its stained-glass canopy, its dark woodwork and its antique furniture. Now in 2025 – in the wake of a renovation that followed a springtime sale from Frank Day, who had owned it for more than four decades, to a Hilton subsidiary that operates properties in college towns – there has been some understandable local concern for the historic appeal and sensible antiquity that have always defined the hotel. But, with renovations now complete the Hotel Boulderado lives on, a landmark, a snapshot of Colorado history and a hospitable, charming experience.
Guests who drive themselves to the hotel’s unbeatable location – one block up 13th from Pearl Street – are greeted by the valet, who will take on the nearly impossible task of parking a car in Boulder for the extent of a stay. One step into the warmly lit lobby is a step a century back in time. On its far wall from the entrance, original woodwork frames the concierge desk, where a warm greeting from the Boulderado staff reinforces the upscale ethos emanating – along with the fine woodwork – throughout the rest of the atrium, up towards the golden stained glass.
To the South side of the lobby, and a few steps down, The Corner Bar – a curio watering hole with a wrap-around patio, serving up classic Americana fare to the kind of caliber expected even of the simplest details. Stop in at lunch for Fish and Chips or a Caesar Salad, order a local pour off the well-curated draft list and enjoy the spectacle of Boulder passing by from a table under an umbrella, or from the bar through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Better yet, head to The Corner daily from 3:00 – 6:00p.m. for Happy Hour. Get the Firecracker Wings for some subtle spice and wash them back with the tangy refresh of a Passionfruit Margarita.
To the Northeast side of the lobby, Spruce Farm & Fish – a classic dining room plating, as the name would suggest, a seasonally rotating menu of dishes born from high-quality seafood and locally sourced ingredients. Roll out of bed in the morning, walk downstairs to the bistro, and indulge in an expansive brunch menu, served from 7:00a.m. – 2:00p.m. Come back for dinner between 5:00 and 10:00p.m. for Steak Frites, Sea Scallops Grenobloise or English Pea Chitarra Pasta. Begin with a classic martini to fit into the timeless atmosphere before examining the capacious wine list.
Underneath the lobby’s floorboards, License No.1 which, as its tagline – serving since 1909, legally since 1969 – would suggest, has perhaps been a Boulder go-to for drinks since even before it was allowed. The Boulderado was founded amidst a dry order beginning in 1907. And though there’s no way to know for sure what happened in the Boulderado’s basement in those early years, the restaurant that eventually inhabited it in 1969 obtained one of the city’s first legal licenses to serve hard liquor. Now, as then, its identity has been unbreakably tethered to the Hotel Boulderado’s turn of the century mythos, serving prohibition-style cocktails and neat pours in a moody speakeasy setting. In a town populated by loveable dives and outdoor tables, stepping down into License No.1 is breathtaking step up.
If you’re staying overnight, The Boulderado opens even more doors into historic Colorado and more tastes of comfortable luxury than its three haunts already do for hotel guests and non-hotel guests alike. Its original extents still house classic rooms which can be accessed via an antique Otis elevator or the serpentine staircase, carpeted in nostalgic red and open on one side to the timeless foyer.
Its annexed expanse of a great amount of additional square footage is accessed via a skybridge. After crossing, a remarkably cohesive design sensibility – one detailed by fine, dark woodwork and cavernous yet quiet vestibules and hallways – defines the throughlines between old and older, without ever feeling outdated. The rooms in the annexed wing – just as with the originals – are likewise nostalgic for an era gone by, without giving up any of the modern comforts that a hotel of the Boulderado’s caliber of course fold into the experience. Not to worry visiting college parents – you’ll have a mini-fridge for your emotional support wine bottles, and your room-specific temperature control. You also likely have a great view, with much of the annex opening up to the lush courtyard gardens
And not to worry dog parents, the Hotel Boulderado also offers pet-friendly rooms, because what better town than Boulder to bring your furry friends along for the adventure? Whether it’s a hike up Mount Sanitas or a boozy drip down Pearl Street; whether it’s a drive into Rocky Mountain National Park or a visit to surprise a CU student with their best friend in tow, Boulder has always been a dog lover’s paradise. The Boulderado will even set up every pooch with a set of bowls, a bag of treats and a comfortable, stylish dog bed.
Whether you’re looking to drink, dine or stay in Boulder, the Hotel Boulderado has emerged from its renovation as a polished version of what it’s always been: a comfortably upscale, timelessly designed step into the history of the city and the state. With delicious food, fun drinks, attentive service, elegant atmosphere, dog-friendly decorum and the best location in town, the Hotel Boulderado remains a landmark exhibition of what is best about Boulder, Colorado.
