We called Boulder County, Colorado home for six years. When we first arrived we were immediately amazed at how much of a gluten-free haven Boulder is. There are gluten-free Boulder restaurant recommendations scattered on this blog, but we thought it would be good to gather them all into one up-to-date post. If you’re in Boulder you can be sure nearly every restaurant has a gluten-free menu, but here are the best.

Gluten-Free Boulder

Alfalfas : 1651 Broadway, Boulder, Co 80302

Alfalfas is an independent health food grocery store that has been in Boulder (off an on) for decades. Their Broadway location opened in 2010 has a deli/cafeteria area with great atmosphere. The large stone fireplace makes you feel like you’re in a ski lodge.

Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza : 2690 Baseline, Boulder, CO 80305

Beau Jo’s is a great family place. They’ve had gluten-free pizzas on the menu for year and years, so the staff is very knowledgeable about celiac disease. I can’t say precisely how good their gluten-free pizza crust is. I remember it was excellent during our early visits, but then a few years back they changed suppliers and it just wasn’t as good. That said, I’m sure it’s still a safe bet. There are locations in Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and other Colorado towns.

Blooming Beets, Boulder

Bloomin Beets : 3303 30th street, Boulder, CO 80301

Last summer (2013) Kelly and Elana went to Bloomin Beets. Kelly was ecstatic about everything she ate there. The entire restaurant is organic, gluten-free, and grain-free. (They are closed on Mondays). You can find the founder Iva on Twitter talking about what’s new at her restaurant, and you can see photos of their fantastic dishes on Instagram.

Boulder Farmers’ Market

Boulder County Farmers’ Market : 13th Street between Arapahoe and Canyon, next to Central Park

If you are in Boulder between May and October you must check out the Farmers’ Market. You can grab a gluten-free lunch from one of the many food vendors and have a little picnic in the grass along Boulder Creek. My favorite was the fresh and fantastic Vietnamese food of Savory Saigon. We always got the “Asian slaw” with grilled chicken. Among the stalls of local produce are also gluten-free baked goods.

We like how careful Lark Burger is about identifying the burgers as gluten-free

Lark Burger : 2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302

This local burger chain is just amazing. Amazing. We made sure to eat lunch there when we visited this past fall. Lark Burger’s burgers are all natural Black Angus, the gluten-free buns taste great, and the french fries are gluten-free too (they don’t batter anything in the frier). Their whole operation is built on having a low environmental impact. In the past few years more Lark Burger locations have been opening all around Colorado. (check out my 2011 review)

Modmarket : 1600 28th St, #1212 Boulder, CO

Modmarket is a sleekly-designed pizza place (lots of white walls, glass, reclaimed wood, and polished concrete). When we first started eating at Modmarket there was only one—in Boulder’s Twenty Ninth Street mall. Now there are locations in Longmont and elsewhere in Colorado. Their gluten-free pizza comes in modern flavors (BBQ was always my favorite), and they have quality GF soups and salads.

Shine : 2027 13th Street, Boulder CO 80302

Shine is a cozy 100% gluten-free restaurant and bar just off Pearl Street pedestrian mall. An excellent spot for brunch!

Whole Foods, Pearl Street : 2905 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80301

Of course you already know about Whole Foods, but the Boulder location is particularly good for a quick sit-down gluten-free meal. In 2011 they completed a large renovation, adding an extensive buffet and salad bar with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area is one of my favorite lunch spots. You have a nice view of the Rocky Mountains in the distance, and the colorful mural on display was painted by our illustrator friend Steve.

Ashley at the Boulder Whole Foods

Before leaving Boulder you’ve got to look inside Peppercorn on the Pearl Street pedestrian mall. It’s an independently-owned kitchen supply store, which has a large cookbook section (including Kelly’s books and other gluten-free cookbooks).

Gluten-Free Lafayette

Martinos Pizzeria : 1389 Forest Park Circle, Lafayette, CO 80026

Just east of Boulder is the city of Lafayette. Martino’s Pizzeria has awesome gluten-free pizza. The excellent crust is made by the local Sweet Escape Pastries. The sauce is great, and the toppings they offer make for the perfect pizza. (check out my 2011 review)

Martino’s, Lafayette, CO.

Gluten-Free Longmont

We lived in Longmont, which is just 25 minutes north of Boulder. If find yourself up there (maybe on your way to Fort Collins) you can eat at one of our old regular spots:

Le Peep, Longmont

Le Peep : 1225 Ken Pratt Boulevard, Longmont, CO 80501

Le Peep is a breakfast chain with locations across the US, but the Longmont Le Peep is special because its manager Jeff made sure they include plenty for the gluten-free crowd: gluten-free waffles, pancakes, french toast, etc. These are all made by the Boulder gluten-free baker Outrageous Baking. Le Peep is real comfort food. Be sure to get there early. They close at 2:30 pm. (see my 2010 review)

Mary’s Market in nearby Hygiene

Mary’s Market : 11809 North 75th Street, Hygiene, CO 80503

This charming little market has been there since 1944, and just a couple years ago it was purchased by Mary Magdalena. Her deli features some very “Western” natural meats (beef, bison, elk). Her phenomenal chili is always bubbling away, ready to eat. The baked goods are all gluten-free because Mary herself has celiac disease. (Apparently, the previous owner had an unexplained hatred of the cyclists who rode up and down the street. When Mary reopened the place she had to stand outside and wave them in to let them know about the new bike-friedly owner!)

Modmarket : 700 Ken Pratt Blvd,Suite 100, Longmont, CO 80501

(see my description of Modmarket above)

At The Rib House in 2008.

The Rib House : 1920 South Coffman St, Longmont, Colorado 80504

This fantastic barbecue spot is tucked away in the middle of Prospect, a residential neighborhood just south of Longmont (worth visiting just for it’s architecture). Their sauces and meat are all gluten-free, and they serve gluten-free buns. The owners brought their Kansas City barbecue know-how to Longmont in 2001, and they later added a Boulder location but we’ve never been there.

Zoe at the Sun Rose counter 2009.

Sun Rose Cafe : 379 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501

For the most charming gluten-free lunch in downtown Longmont, visit Sun Rose on Main Street. This high-quality cafe is housed in a 100-year-old building, furnished with sustainable beetle-kill pine tables and counters. Their meats are free of nitrates and preservatives, and their gluten-free bread is baked the local Sweet Escape Pastries. (also se my review from 2009)

—Andrew