Italian Restaurants in Boulder (2025)
This sleek restaurant is set in the heart of downtown Boulder on a charming street lined with shops and restaurants. The refined, thoughtful cooking here is laser-focused on the cuisine of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region in the northeast of Italy. Prix fixe and tasting menus span the typical gamut of pasta, seafood and meat, but Slavic and Alpine elements add a distinctive touch. The menu might showcase a lesser-known part of Italy, but carefully sourced Coloradan ingredients are also celebrated. The plates are beguiling, with a clean, straightforward approach, as in cjalson, half-moon fresh spinach pasta pockets filled with an English pea and potato purée. Save room for dessert, like a well-balanced composition of anisette ice cream with cherries and rhubarb granita.
From the Frasca team, this downtown favorite leans Southern Italian: fritti, pastas, and balanced Napoletana pies. Frequently recommended by Eater Denver and local critics for casual dates, family lunches, and aperitivo hour.
Chef Kelly Whitaker’s wood-fired hub turns out soulful pizzas, piada bread, and Italian-leaning plates with Colorado sourcing. Recognized by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand and praised by 5280 for bold flavors.
The entrance flies a bit under the radar (hint: look for the "S" on the door), but once inside owner Stella Spanu's Italian gem, nothing is held back. The place is utterly stunning with a discernible 1930s sexy speakeasy ambience. Chef Filippo Piccini impresses with a focused menu of pan-regional Italian dishes. If comfort is what you need, start with ribollita, that traditional, thick Tuscan soup brimming with vegetables, beans and silky bread. Limone e uova di mare offers a dramatic presentation with a nest of spaghettone alla chitarra, while Milanese di vitello, with a properly thick chop of satiny Limousin veal, is a special for good reason. Finally, babà al rum is an elegant ode to one of Naples' best-known desserts.
A tiny pasta factory turned weekday restaurant where owners Marta and Giuseppe serve fresh, hand-cut shapes with classic sauces. Celebrated by Boulder Weekly readers in 2025 and beloved by locals for unfussy, flavorful plates.
A Boulder staple since 1991, known for white-tablecloth comfort, a deep wine list, and Northern–Southern Italian classics. Frequently cited in local awards and guides, it’s a go-to for family celebrations and date nights.
In North Boulder’s NoBo Art District, this neighborhood spot serves antipasti, house mozzarella, pastas, and pizza in a relaxed setting. A husband-and-wife–run original that locals rely on for weeknight Italian comfort.
A Pearl Street slice institution for over two decades, turning out New York–style pies, calzones, and cannoli. Fast, friendly, and locally owned, it’s the dependable downtown option before a show or after a hike.
Family-run and proudly Boulder, this shop delivers big-flavor New York–style pies and Sicilian slabs. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and covered by Westword after wins at an Italian pizza competition.
