A favorite in regular rotation. Terrific cocktails, cozy. Great staff. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

We found our new favorite Kitchen location. Not only was the food unbelievable but the cocktails were damn near a vibe. Being in your 40s means that you don't always know where to go out in Boulder, but this is the spot. We got a cozy seat by the fire and had the most lovely evening. Our must try list includes the carrots the lobster roll Apple Martini Can't wait for our next night out! read more

This place sits on Pearl St. in Boulder. We stopped in for dinner and to check out Pearl St. We actually ate in the Upstairs area, which we were advised the food came from the downstairs restaurant called the kitchen. The space serves better for its named intention as a cocktail bar than a restaurant, although a majority of folks in there were eating. The spacing is close quarters with unique seating styles. I ordered a flatbread and garlic fries. I enjoyed the fries; they were tasty. The flatbread was also good, but wasn't anything extraordinary. In was topped w/ pieces of prosciutto and a creamy base. Worth a stop if you want a hang-out Style environment. We didn't have drinks there, but it seemed like a good place for that w/ some friends read more

Upstairs Cocktail Lounge - New American Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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This place was so fantastic. My friend and I landed here after we drove up north from Denver for a hike that never happened. We were dressed a little sporty and opted to eat at the more casual upstairs. We sat at the bar and although we did not partake in the adult beverages, we watched the magic happen. The cocktails were crafted with such care and presented beautifully. At one point I saw a bartender spend an entire 2 minutes getting the salt rim on the glass just right. We ordered the Peaches and Burrata salad. It had a combo of grilled and not grilled peaches along with creamy burrata. They were perfectly in season and just the right balance of sweet and savory. We also ordered the half chicken which was pretty substantial. The chicken was so flavorful and juicy, we made sure to put a forkful of skin on each bite as it was dripping with flavor. Topped with the occasional bite of parsley, it was fantastic. It was served with fries that were the perfect thickness allowing them to be crispy but still substantial. We dipped it in the gravy of the chicken juices and it was perfect. The guy next to me was clearly a regular and informed us that downstairs the chicken came with couscous and veggies. So glad we came upstairs! read more

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Love this place and everything about it! The Kitchen's Upstairs lounge in Boulder is what Denver is missing: an elegant, upbeat, slightly quirky space that's constantly doing something fun and new. It's perfect for happy hour drinks with a friend, a first or 20th date, a group outing, or anything in-between. Earlier this summer they were going with a tiki theme, but now it's all Prohibition: mod lounges, lots of cool lights and mirrored surfaces, upbeat 20s style music, and fantastic cocktails. My favorite cocktail is the purple concoction that looks like it's straight out of Willy Wonka: called Giggle Water, it's made with Cap Rock gin, lemon, turbinado, cream, and soda. It's actually not as sweet as it might sound/look, but rather a perfect balance of herbal, citrusy, creamy, and sweet. And it's also 1/2 off on happy hour 5-6pm and the last hour of each night! I also loved the delicious Cup of Joe with cold brew (I don't usually like coffee but this was perfectly flavored) -- and the refreshing London Prohibition (cucumber, lime, tonic -- meant to be non-alcoholic but I asked for gin). And the food is fantastic as it always is at the Kitchen. You definitely won't regret ordering the lamb meatballs or the peach burrata! read more

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Great spot! Had a lovely girls' night here. A lot of couples as it is an intimate vibe, but definitely still a place you can go with friends. We enjoyed the shareable style menu and the drinks were great! The servers were really helpful and the food came out quickly. Definitely come here for an upscale, chill night. read more

Service great, ambience great. What I had was so so. Crab fried rice, too salty and without substance. Carrots were good. Not as great as everyone says. Good place for drinks for sure. Bartender made a nice martini. 3* if food alone review. read more

Really cute upstairs lounge on Pearl Street! I highly recommend reservations. We didn't have one so we were just going to get a drink and leave but thankfully a table opened up and we were able to enjoy drinks there. The bartenders are super knowledgeable and friendly. I showed my bartender a picture I saw here on Yelp and he was able to create something based on my liking. It was delicious and boozy. Would recommend if you're in the Boulder area! read more

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Lovely spot and good service. It's expensive for what you get based off of my meal. I ordered the oysters which were good. My issue is that the menu doesn't state how many oysters come with your meal. I've never been to a restaurant that served less than 6. I received 4 oysters for $18.50. Four, and the 4th oyster was the tiniest oyster I've ever seen in my life. It was honestly laughable and I didn't want to cause a fuss for the servers. The place has a good vibe and having tasted some of the other food, it's generally tasty. Drinks and food are overpriced. This specific experience makes it a 3 out of 4 in my book. I just can't get over the 4 oysters. read more

Fun spot with a small but tasty menu, upstairs from another very tasty place. We devoured the fried brussel sprouts and the burrata flat bread. My favorite, though, was the spicy, sweet seafood hush puppies - outstanding! We also enjoyed the addictive salt and vinegar Cicerones, the Moroccan spiced meatballs (great sauce), and the half chicken. The best part of the chicken was the fries, soaked in chicken juices. The white meat needed to be dipped in the juices/gravy, but the fried were double fried and salty goodness. I had high hopes for the squash dish but it needed something more... The toppings were all good and I liked the combo, but the squash itself was stubbornly flavorless. Could have used a dusting of the spice from the yogurt. We had great service and a great spot that felt semi private, almost stall-like. Would totally go back! read more

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We made a reservation on yelp to go for HH. happy hour 5-6pm + last hour of the night, select items 1/2 off. Got a happy hour cocktail and some apps. Really enjoyed my cocktail. Appetizers were really good- hush puppies, small salad, oysters! Cool tiki vibe. Bartender was friendly. We asked her to make us some shots- her choice. We made a delicious shot with gin and bourbon based on what we ordered for our cocktails- well played! read more

Upstairs Cocktail Lounge - Bartender made us some special shots. Really good - New American Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I knew going in that it was going to be expensive and pretentious, but I had no idea how bad it would be. First, the bartenders are awesome! They are swamped on a Friday night but once they know you're there, they take care of you well. Nothing that happened was their fault. Second, the food is from downstairs so it's excellent. Everything we ate was fantastic - absurdly overpriced, but delicious. Third, the wine by the glass is obscenely overpriced, and not that clearly marked on the menu. I will take some responsibility for mis-reading the menu and thinking I was ordering an $18 glass of wine (not unheard of on Pearl Street). It was the most visible number (it was actually the vintage), however, when the bill came it was $26.50! Seriously, $26.50 for a single glass of red wine! I did say to the bartender when I was ordering that I did not want to spend over $20 on a glass of wine, but she may have just thought I changed my mind. She offered me "a splash" of a dessert wine to make up for it. I asked for a splash of what I had been drinking, and got, well, an amount that did not make a splash when it hit the bottom of the glass. It was clear that she was doing all she was permitted to do... If you are prepared to spend $50+ on one appetizer (roasted squash) and one drink, this is the place for you. And you need a reservation even to sit at the bar. I was "lucky" that someone had left and there was a single seat available when I arrived. Oh, and don't expect to sit at the bar and chat with your neighbors as you would in any other bar, no one talks to anyone but who they arrived with, and, apparently, no one goes there alone. read more

Great cocktails and small plates. I love the info that the bartenders offer about each drink. It's also pretty cool when the bar tender tells you that ordered a cocktail they came up with, and they are rightly proud and flattered. Grrat, clean, sophisticated vibe, I really dig this place. read more

How in all these years that I have gone to The Kitchen and Next Door, from their inceptions, have I never been to the "upstairs" space? Because now it has a real identity of its own. As the Upstairs Lounge it has a terrific looking bar and a full drinks menu, beautiful decor and inventive seating, a mix of traditional bar seating, sofas and chairs with low tables scattered around and some clusters of dining tables and chairs by the large windows, looking out over a very lively block of Pearl. When we visited that special area was reserved for a private event. There is a separate entrance stairwell behind the orange door on the Pearl sidewalk just to the east of the entrance to The Kitchen. We went to the Happy Hour with friends who had been there before. Rather than a separate menu for this one hour option starting at 5pm, they have put a small symbol next to some of the items on the menu of starters and small plates that are eligible for the half price offer. A nice small selection and some of their more simple items but all very tasty. And the full price options we had were still reasonable. They vary seasonally so I'd suggest just ordering what suits your taste on a given night. I would say as a guideline, there was lots of flavor but some spicer that I would have predicted some less, so ask. Nothing was over salted or heavily fried. There were meat, fish and veggie options. It all tasted very healthy yet not overly so like some places that border on too raw and unadorned. There is also a full menu of large plates and desserts to stay and enjoy after Happy Hour and do check ahead for reservations for that if you need a guarantee as it is a small place. I am certainly returning, for Happy Hour and beyond. read more

This was such a great find. Our bartender was awesome, we had his twist on a Manhattan. Tiki AF, and a hazelnut drink that was really good. Highly Recommend! read more

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This was a great find from Yelp. We came in from Broomfield and I haven't been to Boulder in awhile. The service was great and I loved the chopped Greek salad. I had the half chicken with fries which was on point. Definitely a place to visit if you're in the area. read more

Some baseline perspective: I LOVE ramen, I eat it whenever I can. I don't mind overpaying for good food in well-designed restaurants. When I heard that Upstairs was doing a fall ramen special, my bf and I were really excited. Boulder has a real lack of ramen options and we regularly drive to Denver for an $18 bowl of ramen that we love. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The portion was half the size of a normal bowl of ramen, and almost twice the price at $19. We were hungry; we came in for dinner. Left, sorta still hungry. Broth and noodles aren't expensive -- a full bowl would have been greatly appreciated for the price tag. I found the flavor nicely complex and enjoyable, but WAY, WAY to dense and salty. Eventually (due to it's small size) I added about 1/2c of drinking water to mine and the broth was STILL very rich and flavorful, albeit, no longer hot. As far as I'm concerned, this bowl of ramen could have greatly benefited from being "watered-down". Good note was the soft boiled/cured egg: it was tasty. The sake was also good. We wanted a fall season of ramen nights -- but we agreed, we're not interested in returning. bumma. read more

This cute bar is NOT CLOSED!! We had a table with a nice view of Pearl Street. The place was hopping with people, music, a warm fireplace and lots of chatter. The staff was quick, professional and courteous. We were there for a glass of wine and we enjoyed the selections. I hope Yelp fixes this because the Upstairs Cocktail Lounge is most definitely open and running. read more

This cocktail lounge is simply excellent for drinks. The vibe is classy, sensual, and modern which makes it ideal for something like a first date or late nightcap. I completely love the interior and have not seen anything quite like it in Boulder. Request a table near the window for an even better experience. The food is OK, not bad but I wouldn't say 100% worth the price. Nevertheless, it's perfect for appetizers while you sip their elaborate mixology. read more

Great food. But absolutely amazing friendly service. I had the meatballs and the Greek salad. And then for desert I had the toffee pudding. All of it was on point. I definitely recommend ordering an extra scoop of ice cream with it though. read more

This review is for the Ramen night at Upstairs. The wait staff and atmosphere were wonderful, so this review does not reflect anything other than the food. We ordered the vegetarian ramen with mushrooms. We went expecting some authentic ramen however the taste was much closer to Vietnamese pho. The broth appeared to have Chinese Five Spice or anise which gave it the pho flavor. It tasted good however it was definitely not a classic shoyu (soy sauce) ramen broth taste. Also, if you order vegan, you actually get rice noodles instead of their locally made ramen noodles, which are made with egg. The ramen comes with a fair amount of veggies, which was great, the mushrooms were flavorful and the best part of the soup. The tofu was alright but would have preferred it marinated and pan friend on all sides, it was sliced and only seared on the outside. It would also benefit from a stronger marinade or flavor. I would love to come back and try it again if they change their recipe. As someone that has tried many vegetarian/vegan bowls of ramen all around the US and Japan here is what I would do to make this a more appealing bowl. Broth: Change the broth to miso, as you can get a much richer taste, a lot of vegetarian/vegan ramen has really weak broth, but miso can kick it up a notch. There are also some excellent vegan bouillons that taste quite similar to beef and chicken that could also be used to get the taste closer to a classic ramen broth. Noodles: Use spaghetti or find a brand of ramen noodles that are vegan instead of the rice noodles. Toppings: As a vegan/vegetarian, tofu can get a bit boring, so a slice of seitan charsu, mock chicken or a ground vegan meat like Beyond or Impossible would be fantastic. The radish and bok choy and mushrooms were fine. I would probably add menma (marinated bamboo shoots), green onion, bean sprouts and some roasted ground sesame seeds. Sorry for the long review, I would just love a great bowl of vegan ramen in Boulder and think the chefs here could do it :) read more

Awesome spot on Pearl street in Boulder. Great cocktail. I was told the food is too notch. Go "upstairs". read more

Upstairs Cocktail Lounge - New American Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

What a great space! I love any kind of stairs to enter a bar/restaurant. Wether it's going up or down, the procedure offers a bit of mystery when you enter for the first time. I loved the retro look and the lounge area. Great vibe all around. We sat at the bar and had amazing service from the bar staff. Super friendly and focused on guests instead of their phones. Had the tequila cocktail on the menu(spicy) and it was awesome and well made. It complimented our food choices perfectly. Tons of choices of tapas at Upstairs. We went for the tacos, lamb meatballs, and shrimp sliders. All were perfect portions and more than enough for the two of us. When dining in Boulder, I sometimes shudder with fear. Now that I have been to Upstairs, I have my "go to" and can relax a bit. read more

Good lounge atmosphere for afterwork or evening gatherings with friends. Overall the cocktails were well made and the biggest draw to this establishment. However, a major drawback was that the food was salty and overpriced, and their take on a traditional old fashioned was too sweet. I'd come back for an occasional cocktail but would not come back for the food. All in all a nice spot but it was also too noisy if you are looking to avoid that. read more

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When you're traveling alone, you want to find a place where you don't feel weird posting up at the bar and enjoying a few cocktails and a delicious meal. Kitchen upstairs is totally the place for this. I came to Boulder by myself because it was a place I've always wanted to explore. I was literally wearing yoga pants, hiking shoes and a nike long sleeved shirt and wasn't sure if this outfit was going to fly in a nice place like this. I was told Colorado in general was a pretty laid back, casual state but I didn't want to assume every place had that thought so I checked in with the hostess first who laughed and said I was totally fine and that Boulder was super casual. Awesome! The place was swanky and romantic, dim lighting, beautiful light fixtures and decor, I loved everything about the place and despite my casual get up, I felt totally comfortable and welcome. I took a seat at the bar, there were only 2 other tables occupied in the dining area, the main dining room was gorgeous, fancy seating and a fireplace. It was around 5:30 and I had planned to stop at a few places in downtown Boulder and grab an appetizer and head out, wanted to see as much as I could in the short amount of time I was visiting. I was here for happy hour so there were select items that were 1/2 off. They had a great wine and cocktail menu, I stuck with bubbles as per usual and ordered a glass of prosecco, which was delicious. Their menu indicated which items for vegan and gluten free and which items can be made gluten free if needed, which I appreciated tremendously! Their food was right up my alley, fish tacos, tuna ceviche, salads, hummus, vegetable side dishes and delicious sounding entrees. Lots of options for every kind of eater. I ordered a greek salad, it was more a spin on a greek salad, it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place, awesome. read more

This place is fabulous! Everything we ordered was exceptional...olives, almonds, flatbread, oysters, asparagus, drinks, and the butterscotch desert. The server was incredible. He memorized our entire order and the dishes were served on a timely basis. We have tried at least three other highly rated restaurants in the last several days. This one beats them all! Even the smallest details of bringing the proper utensils for each serving. So appreciative of the extra effort from the chef to the staff. read more

One of my favorite places in Boulder. An interesting cross between a quiet drink lounge and a trendy restaurant, it's an intimate space with straight from the farm amazing eats. My favorite thing to do is get the dinner special when they have it -- half a chicken, fries, and a bottle of wine. Also love any of the flatbreads, the tomato soup, the hummus, and all of the cocktails. Great place to hang out with great drinks and terrific eats. read more

(The Kitchen) Upstairs is part of The Kitchen Bistros restaurant group that includes The Kitchen, Next Door, and Upstairs in Boulder. Upstairs has a slightly more laid back feel than the main Kitchen restaurant, and the menu focuses on small and medium shared plates while still providing some excellent mains for those looking to settle in with a good-sized meal. The happy hour at upstairs is from 5:30-6:30 and is fantastic. Draft beers and a limited cocktail selection along with some shared plates can certainly make for a meal. Recently I had their 1039 daiquiri with Flor de Cana rum and a black pepper simple syrup that was classy and had a perfectly balanced profile. They also had some amazing prosciutto and fontina cheese that was shared with some delicious homemade bread that had cranberry and walnuts. Outside of HH the food stays at a reasonable price but the cocktails can get expensive (but are absolutely worth every penny and drop). They have a large window that overlooks the West end of Pearl and a somewhat prohibition-era style set-up with amazing lighting. Regular tables and lounge-style couches make for a speak-easy vibe as well. Service and staff are always excellent and can certainly provide some excellent recommendations. read more

Upstairs Cocktail Lounge - Daiquiris with prosciutto and fontina. - New American Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Came here the other night for dinner and was very underwhelmed. Let's start with making the reservation, I called and asked for a table at 9 and the hostess asked if we could come at 9:30 as they were very busy. We arrived at 9:30 with the entire place pretty much empty, aside from a few people at the bar and one couple sitting at a table... ???? Ok so moving onto the food, tapas style comfort bites to share is the vibe here but sadly the quality of the food is poor and everything is extremely over salted. The veggie paella felt like it had been sitting in the pan an re heated with pieces of rice that were as hard as rock. It's a shame as the place is very cute and well decorated, if they up the quality of the food it might be a nice spot but for as of now I would not return. read more

Food and decor is nice. Music is WAY to loud. People were shouting at each over and complaining about how loud music is. Don't go for a dinner. Drinks fine, but can't have a conversation with your table. read more

This place is such a gem! Excellent service, high quality and flavorful food, super cozy and classy atmosphere, and phenomenal cocktails! (Prices are a bit out of my range, personally, otherwise I'd be here more often!) read more

Upstairs Cocktail Lounge - Excellent lighting, variety of seating options! - New American Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Great Vibe, Great Food, Good drinks. We went there not really expecting anything. We did not had a reservation so we ended up at the community booth. Which is probably the best seat in the house because are able to enjoy the fire place on a Cold Winter night while enjoying your stay. We had the just a couple small plates, grilled Brussels sprouts, lamb meatballs, and the chicken Pate. My favorite was probably the lamb meatballs even thought it was may be 30 seconds undercooked, but the flavors were still amazing. read more

Finally visited, and Upstairs is now one of my favorite bars in Boulder. Loungy and kind of a throwback -- I can't wait to go back!

Loved this spot!!! We sat at the bar and the bartender was so great and accommodating. Ambience was perfect! We split the strip and fries and it was soooo tasty. Good food, good wine, good vibes... perfect evening! I would recommend to anyone! read more

Wonderful cozy atmosphere and lovely attentive staff! The lamb meatballs small plate was delicious. Only 3 small meatballs per serving so we got two orders! The mushroom risotto was simply sublime: creamy, and perfect texture! Enjoyed this restaurant very much! read more

Love this spot! The look and feel and menu and vibe and ... yum and fun!

Really great place for happy hour!!! Cute ambiance, great drinks, yummy snacks. The inside is really photogenic and the tables by the window have a great view of the mountains! read more

Loved our dinner last night at this charming restaurant. Loved the pizza, tacos and arugula salad. Excellent choice of wines and a special on Rosé wines. Lovely window seat over looking the flatirons. read more

Nice place! Service was very good and the flatbread I had was nice but nothing exceptional or to come back for. The ambience was nice but the room felt a bit dark for a summer evening (went there for happy hr around 6 pm). It might feel better later in the night as a nice place to have a drink. read more

We had dinner here about 3 weeks ago. Service was OK, nothing special. Smoked mussels were the best preparation I have ever had of this dish!! Prices seemed a little high. A good experience. Rog read more