Published: March 1, 2014

Boulder's Best Bar None

From the end of Prohibition in 1933 until 1967, Boulder only allowed 3.2 beer to be served within city limits. Students鈥 early favorites included Timber Tavern, Lucky Inn, Tulagi (formerly the Anchorage), Tom鈥檚 Tavern and The Sink, according to historian聽Silvia Pettem聽(Psych鈥69). Catacombs, below the Hotel Boulderado, was one of the first to receive a liquor license after the 1967 repeal of the city鈥檚 liquor ban. It will close to be remodeled and renamed.

Nominated by聽USA Today聽as one of the 鈥減laces to eat a burger聽worthy of paradise,鈥 the Dark Horse Bar and Grill on Baseline near聽Williams Village has been a Boulder landmark since 1975. True to its slogan 鈥渃asual, convenient, cheap,鈥 the Walrus on Walnut is exactly how you remember it. Across the street lies the longtime Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant. Its famous three-margarita limit is still in effect.

Dark Horse signthe Walrus Saloon signRio Grande Mexican Restaurant signCatacombs Bar sign

The signs adorning some of Boulder鈥檚 most popular college pubs: Dark Horse Bar and Grill, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, the Walrus Saloon and Catacombs Bar.

Photography by Peter Burke