It’s officially patio season, that magical time of year when every meal should be taken al fresco and every drink should be sipped under the sun. Luckily, Boulder County has loads of spots in which to soak up the glorious summer weather Colorado is known for. Here, some of the best patios and rooftops for all that outdoor eating and drinking.
Rayback Collective
With its twinkling fairy lights, near-constant entertainment and stellar food truck line-up, the Rayback Collective is an enchanting place. Whether you go for the music, the food truck park, the beer, the live trivia or just to meet up with friends, it’s the community’s backyard gathering spot. Go forth and gather. 2775 Valmont Rd., Boulder therayback.com
Avanti Boulder
Overlooking Pearl Street, this food hall is one of our favorite spots for eating and drinking outside. The wraparound rooftop patio has so many nooks and crannies to relax in, not to mention a plethora of great food options. (New York pizza! Taiwanese buns! Costa Rican chicken!) The 20 draft beers, affordable wine list and tasty cocktails and mocktails make relaxing on the patio even more enjoyable. 1401 Pearl St., Boulder; boulder.avantifandb.com
Corrida
If your al fresco wish list includes a. incredible views of the Flatirons, b. top-notch dining and c. a roving gin-tonic cart, then boy do we have the spot for you! Corrida serves upscale Spanish cuisine out of a jaw-dropping setting atop the Pearl West building in downtown Boulder. Whether you opt for a seat inside the glassed-in fourth-floor dining room or go full-on open-air on the expansive patio, there’s not a bad seat to be had. 1023 Walnut St., Boulder; corridaboulder.com
Southern Sun Pub & Brewery
Like the beloved Mountain Sun only bigger, this south Boulder taproom boasts a 10-barrel brewery, books and board games aplenty and a substantial patio upon which to enjoy said beer and board games. Order a burger and a Colorado Kind Ale for the quintessential Sun experience. Also check out the spacious patio of sister restaurant Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse in downtown Longmont. 627 S. Broadway, Boulder; mountainsunpub.com/location/southern-sun-pub-brewery/
Acreage by Stem Ciders
This isn’t just the best patio in Lafayette, this might be the best patio in all of Boulder County. The crew at Acreage by Stem Ciders picked its 12-acre location atop a Lafayette hilltop for the panoramic mountain views and, well, they picked mighty finely. Their wraparound deck is the place to be at sunset, and the solid menu, plus all the cider flights, just add to its appeal. Bonus: it’s open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday. 1380 Horizon Ave., Lafayette; acreageco.com
The Waterloo
Heading atop the Waterloo is basically a Louisville rite of passage. Since 2007, the Waterloo has been a Main Street mainstay. (Although it did move two doors down in the summer of 2018.) Its second-story patio is the place to order fiery bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers and towering plates of nachos and, of course, to wash it all down with a gin-spiked cucumber lemonade. 817 Main St., Louisville; waterloolouisville.com
Centro
For prime Pearl Street people-watching, head to Centro’s classic patio, where even the dreariest of days feel like a trip to the Yucatan. The Colorado-inspired Mexican restaurant has been quenching Boulderites’ thirst for fresh-squeezed margaritas and palomas for more than 15 years, so yeah, it can be trusted to deliciously wet your whistle. 950 Pearl St., Boulder; centromexican.com
Farow
Sometimes you just need to eat a great meal on a great patio. Husband and wife chef/owners Patrick and Lisa Balcom aim for 90 percent of their ingredients to come from within 10 miles of their Niwot restaurant, which means that pretty much any of the small plates you pick are going to be hyperlocal. And you know the saying: parsnip latkes just taste better when eaten on a sunny patio with friends and family. (Or at least we think that should be a saying.) 7916 Niwot Rd., Niwot; farowrestaurant.com
The Roost
When The Roost opens its rooftop patio each season, it’s pretty much Longmont’s unofficial start to summer. And for good reason: both the mountain views and the menu offerings are hard to beat. Coconut daiquiris and margaritas go down easy, as do snacks like blistered shishito peppers, banging’ cauliflower, Thai pork tostadas and polenta bites. 526 Main St., Longmont; theroostlongmont.com
Chautauqua Dining Hall
For charm, it’s hard to beat the Chautauqua Dining Hall. The 1898 Victorian house is nestled at the foot of the Flatirons, with a downright delightful wraparound porch that makes an ideal setting for sipping away an afternoon with a Sunshine Canyon cosmo or bluebell spritz. Or go early for brunch and feast on churro sopapillas and lamb benedict while gazing upon more natural beauty than you can shake a stick at. 900 Baseline Rd., Boulder; chautauqua.com
