Trident Booksellers and Cafe

Super cozy spot with a great book selection and a chill vibe. Most of the staff were really friendly, but when I went to order my second beer, a short-haired employee asked for my ID again in a rude way, even though I had just shown it to the first person. I get the rules, but the tone could’ve been a lot better, especially for someone visiting Boulder for the first time. Other than that, I loved the place. The live music in the back was great, and the overall atmosphere makes it worth stopping by if you’re into books, coffee, or just a relaxed hangout.

A perfect Boulder refuge. We ducked in from the rain, browsed and bought a couple of books, then sat on the covered patio with great coffee. The vibe is cozy and relaxed—part indie bookstore, part café, all charm. If you love books, good brews, and a place to linger while the weather does its thing, this spot is a must.

Cute and cozy place! Great place for meeting friends, grabbing a quick snack, or just have a place to study and relax. I love the outdoor patio and the pastries they have. I also love that there are lots of books for sale too.

Matcha was great! Lots of options for books. Lots of seating and they have happy hour too. There is live music and other events. I see why so many people were there.

Trident Booksellers and Cafe is the quintessential independent bookstore experience. Tucked away on Pearl Street, this spot is more than just a shop—it's a vibrant, cozy community hub. Walking in, you’re immediately enveloped in the classic bookstore smell of paper and rich coffee. The cafe offers delicious, high-quality coffee and a fantastic selection of teas, making it the perfect place to settle in. Whether you grab an outdoor table on their patio or find a quiet corner inside, it's an ideal spot for reading, studying, or catching up with a friend.

The famous Trident cafe and bookstore has a vibe that resonates with both a younger and older version of me. Tasty coffee and the friendly staff made the visit special. Thank you so much!

Truly an icon on pearl street. This coffee shop offers delicious drinks, great bites, and a one of a kind book store/cafe vibe. I have been here many times to shop, get a latte, study for a class or just hang out. They have ample seating and a nice back patio. Their coffee is delicious and they have some interesting flavor profiles. I also love the book store it has a lot of great book options. I took my family here when they came to visit and they also loved it !! Trident will always be in my regular rotation for coffee shops

A coffee shop with a hole bookstore in it. Very unique, great place to hang out with friends and chat. The coffee shop wait is a little long, but that's because it is a very popular place. Their coffee and tea is excellent, they also have little snacks. They do have indoor outdoor seating as well, they know how to get the vibes correct.

Love the music and, coffee, free internet. Service is very efficient and moderately friendly. Outdoor seating allows dogs.

TLDR: come for the books, don't stay for the coffee I love the bookstore part of this establishment! Super cute and a great selection of books. The cafe however... the workers are so rude I work in the service industry as well so I really try to be as understanding as possible but honestly it gets to a point. For example: I asked for my drink in a to-go cup and he said to me "sure if you hate the environment" I'm sorry man I'm just trying to get a drink. There have been other instances like this. There are better places in Boulder to get coffee.

I came here on a nice Fall Afternoon, expecting a nice time. I was disappointed by two things. The hot chocolate was more *warm* chocolate. This is frustrating because my brother came here earlier and said he received it burning. Next, the layout of the bookstore was very choppy and it was annoying to walk around. Additionally, there was a huge line to the bathroom which made it worse. I don't think this place is necessarily bad, but I wouldn't come here again.

Soooo cute!! Probably my favorite coffee shop on Pearl. We ordered a croissant and an iced mocha, both of which were super yummy. Walking outside to the back patio felt like walking into a little oasis! Can't wait to return.

This coffee shop is open the latest on Pearl street which is the biggest appeal. It's also very spacious and the bookstore is cool. They have a pretty nice drink menu. I had the golden milk latte. It was pretty spicy but I wasn't a huge fan of the ginger syrup flavor. There have great foam as well. Service is always nice but they make the drink on the spot after order so it can get busy with a line.

This book store & cafe is awesome! It's a small book store with a busy coffee house attached but tons and tons of seating. I wanted to talk about this super yummy focaccia that I bought there. OMG.... Totally loved it!

Great cafe with bookstore. Sessions place to study and enjoy the Boulder ambiance. Great matcha latte. Will be my Boulder cafe go to place.

Oh this place. This relic from a bygone era that still thrives as if bygone era is not a bygone era. I feel completely at home here when I go. Staff is always polite too.

More fun than most coffee shops. Good wifi. Juvenile music can be avoided on the back patio (until 6:00).

A good spot to share a pot of tea with someone. On of my favorite places on Pearl. Go see for yourself.

I nearly felt transported to my younger years in Boston, in the best of ways. You can feel the history of the building and the energy of the community within. The decaf oat cappuccino was so so good that I was sure it must have been caffeinated, and made with whole milk, but it was just as I ordered. Can't wait to come back and have another. I so enjoyed the vibe that I hope to make a trip weekly in the evening. It is hard to find coffee shops open late in this town. So lucky to have Trident!

This place is a Boulder landmark and is a testament to Boulder local culture in history. Service is always great atmosphere ambient and they have great books and coffee!

My favorite boulder establishment. Trident has it all: the coffee, the live music, late night hours!! I come here all the time to study, meet up with friends, or see a cool local band performance. Their matcha lattes are to die for and the cafe stays open until 9 which is usually unheard of. They also have chess boards and people are always playing chess on the tables outside. The staff is very friendly and always put a lot of love into their drinks. There isn't a place in Boulder that genuinely feels like a third space as much as Trident.

Really cool mom and pop bookstore located on Pearl Street in the heart of Boulder. Great that tourism and locals can keep local bookstores alive in the modern age. Interior is very chic and the attached coffee/tea/beer cafe is a good touch.

One of the last vestiges of old world Boulder in the best way possible. A place that straddles what made Boulder great "back in the day", and what makes our beloved town still one of the best places in the country. On any given morning, you'll meet classic Boulder: a tenured CU physics professor, a legendary rock climber & global adventurer, an amazing artist--or two--or three. In the afternoon, students from CU and surrounding high schools liven up the place with youthful energy. Since 1980, the "Dent" has been the unofficial cultural center of Boulder for nearly half a century, and may it remain that way for the next half century!!!

Cool place with great coffee and tea the London fog was great and I loved that they give you glassware

Got a latte yesterday and it was delicious!! Went back to get another one today and there's so many beans in there- every sip is textured and grainy. First coffee was a 10/10, this one is more a 3/10

Trident Bookstore and Cafe is a legit treasure of Boulder. I went in during a snowstorm around 8:30am and it was PACKED. It seemed like all the locals came in to warm up and get out of the house. The bookstore is really cool and has great books to choose from. I walked over to the cafe and ordered a Cafe Florentine. It was a little bizarre that they served it to me in a glass, but maybe they were out of mugs? I would love to visit this place in the summer because they have a large indoor/outdoor space that would be fun to work in. Interior space has beautiful classic brick, a cozy fireplace and creaky wooden floors. It's timeless. I've read a few things about the staff that weren't so nice, but I had a good experience and would recommend this place to a friend!

This gem of a place offers many facets to enjoy: great coffee and tea, a thoughtful bookstore, and ample space with a lot of character. My favorite is the employees. A, for example, is very present and kind, and has often made my day brighter. It's wonderful to have this pleasant, literary, and positive spot in the community.

I didn't have any food or drink here so this review is based just on the shop itself, but wow, I loved this place! Sooo many interesting sections and books that you don't see in a lot of bookstores (although I'm biased because I'm super into witchy stuff), great vinyl selection, and great cafe offerings. I loved the older, cozy vibe, and I loved that there was a huge outdoor patio. Wish we had this place in Jersey!

Good tea and a cute place, but the barista was rude. With a couple dozen other coffee places on Pearl St., I'll take my business elsewhere in the future.

Nice cozy spot towards the end of busy Pearl street. I always bring visiting friends here for a nice chill book & coffee

The Trident is one of the last vestiges of old Boulder and it's my favorite coffee shop hands down. It's changed a bit over the years, but it's still got the same spirit it had when I used to go there as a teenager. The house chai is amazing, the tea is amazing, and it just feels so good to be there. You'll see many regulars who have been going there for literally decades. I often run into cool people and old friends at the Trident. Also one of the only places I ever see people playing Go in the wild. The bookstore is great too, and has a lot of interesting material. They have lots of events and stay open later than most coffee shops in Boulder. Trident is a real treasure. Enjoy it!

Honestly this is the Worst coffee I've ever tasted! It sooooo bitter and just gross. One star because they did a little design on top but tasted like crap.

Had such a cool experience in down town Boulder at this neat little place with so much history to it. I loved the atmosphere the food was delicious and the drinks were divine! The service was the best part. A kind hearted barista Lauren ? I think the name was. Helped me with my dietary restrictions and made me the best drink. It was inviting, welcoming and I could feel the love from all the way down the street.

Lovely selection of books and teas. Just really nails it. Great smell from the chai and coffee or whatever it is you're smelling, too. I picked the tea over the books and jotted down the title for later.

Maybe people come for the vibe? Not sure. I won't be back, small, expensive, no selection. The patio/decking area looked cute, and it did seem like there was a line for coffee so maybe that is where it's at. It certainly isn't the books.

Great bookstore! Wonderful coffee and good cookies. Really lovely place. Easy access .

There are 3 bookstores on pearl street and this is the only one we bought books from! This store is small but mighty, with every cover and title drawing you in. There were just so many new authors and books we hadn't heard of, it made us want to explore. I'm already a quarter of the way through the book I bought and it's so intriguing. I would highly recommend this bookstore if you're looking for something new, fresh and interesting to read.

What a wonderful place! I love Trident's day and night scene. During the day, there are delicious pastries that pair great with any coffee beverage. My favorite is the poppyseed swirl! While you sip your morning or afternoon coffee, there's always something to look at or explore in the bookstore side of the coffee shop. At night, Trident transforms into a relaxed bar with beer and wine options. If you go Thursday, Friday, or Saturday- they have delicious local empanadas to snack on as well! Worried about COVID? no fears here. Trident staff wear masks and they have plenty outdoor seating. The back seating area is recently redone. I love how Trident used recycled doors as useful decor! It is exactly how you would picture an artsy and collectic bookstore/cafe/bar.

This is my favorite coffee spot in Boulder, my guy Dillion is just simply put, on point with the drinks he makes. The most consistent spot I have found in Boulder. Me and my family go at least 4 times a week. Appreciate the whole staff and everyone here :)

Quaint little café and connected bookstore. The kombucha on tap was delightful along side, the invitation to browse the in-store book shelves. Really nice ambiance!!

Trident is 100% my favorite place to hang out with a book or some homework. Their coffee is delicious (had the best cappuccino of my life here, and that is saying something because I work at a coffee shop) and I absolutely love the book store section; I have found some of my favorite reads here :) The back patio is adorable and has a really amazing ambience, and I love all of the events they host to engage the community.

Central coffee/teahouse connected to its bookstore in downtown Boulder. Great place to enjoy your beverage of choice and read a book for hours... that's what I ended up doing as they have a decent selection of loose leaf teas (I tried white peony, rooibos and the chai), with classic to contemporary literature on the shelves (I read and bought one of Anais Nin's diaries) . There's wifi if you want to work on your laptop, but I found the baristas and many locals who stop by to be plenty of fun talking to and meeting. There was a local band playing in the evening in their back garden too. Great place to hang out, a highly recommended local gem.

I think their selection of sci-fi and horror books is one of the best I've seen. Not necessarily the quantity, but the quality. The outdoor area in the back is very relaxing on a nice day. I'll be back.

Wonderful selection of teas; the very sweet barista guided me towards a nice oolong. Loved the seating options, the artisan chocolates, and overall feel of this place. Perfect for getting work done or catching up with a friend.

One of the best spots. A small-but-fabulously/curated selection of books, a cafe that serves both coffee and wine, a live music / performance stage, and back patio garden area! Heaven on earth!

Amazing coffee and drinks, love the energy and ambiance, been coming here for decades! A gem of Boulder

Beautiful coffee shop, but I am astounded at how rude the baristas were. While waiting in line, the baristas were actively making fun of multiple different people in the shop, constantly talking and taking a really long time to make drinks. Three people came to complain about the chai tea within 15 minutes and they just laughed in their faces and said "you don't know what a real chai is" and "you just couldn't handle the spice". I also got the chai and thought it was pretty watery and bland... I think it actually needed more flavor, which is what the other customers were saying as well. They also laughed at someone for ordering a sandwich, then said to the next person in line very audibly "who the fuck did that person think he was for ordering a sandwich here." Wouldn't recommend this place for these reasons. I really hope the owner sees this because their behavior was honestly disgusting, and I heard a lot of people in the shop complaining about their behavior as well. (I didn't get their names but it happened around 4:10 today).

What a gem this is! A bohemian bookshop/coffee shop that also serves beer and wine at a very affordable price (great red wine at $6-9 per glass). If I lived in Boulder, I would probably spend most of my evenings here. I can't comment on the book selection, but this is a wonderful place to read, work, and enjoy a drink (or two).

gentlemen who took our orders was kind and generous and the chai's we got were good. but when i asked a lady working at the desk if they had any drinking classes, she gave me a snarky, bratty look that completely changed my mind about this place.... hmmmmm..... guess she was having a bad day????!!!!

The decaf espresso in this place is so fantastic. That is pretty hard to find. Their morning pastries are also high quality with good choice. The service was impeccable: super friendly and extremely competent Thr ambience cannot be beat. Whether you are outside in the backyard or the front sidewalk, or inside with l high ceilings, Great windows, spacious tables, shelves in exposed brick The backyard is large. beautiful and shady ... and the front sidewalk café tables stretch all the way out into the middle of Pearl Street. Lots of social distancing as well as beautiful trees and interesting people to watch. The inside decor is Homey .., and feels intellectual. The book selection seems well curated. This local hang out is not to be missed.

I now officially LOVE the Trident. I have been coming here with friends, family, or independently about 5 evenings a week for the past few months.. I love the low-key and kind customer service, the consistently high quality coffee, tea, chai, and other offerings.. I also still love the bookstore and the publishing opportunity offered there.. Movies on Sunday evening and various musical events out back are well chosen, low cost, and enjoyable. Five stars for my dear Trident!

I love this bookstore and the cafe! It's a great place to get work done because of its quiet environment and they sell incredible pastries! The bookstore is an added bonus and as an avid reader I can say they have amazing used and new books in a wide variety

My brother FaceTimed me to wish me a happy birthday and the barista asked me to leave. I wasn't being loud at all. It's no different if someone was sitting next to me and we were chatting. So incredibly rude.

Books and coffee are a perfect combination in my mind. And when the coffee is good and the atmosphere relaxed and inviting, you have to enjoy it. You can sit at one of their tables on Pearl Street and have fun watching the action, or relax in the back patio. Inside, the coffee shop feels warm and cozy with pretty cool wood paneling. Trident seems frozen in time, and sometimes it's a very good thing.

Great bookstore and they often have some fun events!! I like the old school book vibes

You all! Trident is shifting its environmental energy. Check out what the new owner has do to the formerly rundown back yard. It's beautiful and quiet. If you're lucky you'll get to sit under a 20 year old rose bush (tree). Such a lovely bit of improvements and I'm hoping it succeeds

Trident has a great selection of books and records and the coffee shop gives it an even better track record for me. I also love the fact that it's a local venue as well and some of the shows i've been there I have been able to make wonderful friends and acquaintances. Everytime I've been there the staff has been great and very considerate and polite.