One of the Best Food Halls in Colorado, This Spot Is a Must-Visit

Pearl Street draws swarms of Boulderites and visitors alike with its pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall and the nearly 100 restaurants, cafes, and breweries that dot it and the immediately surrounding streets. As wonderful as it is to have so many options, sometimes, it can lead to a hint of decision fatigue. On those days—and any day when you’re looking for stellar rooftop views with a craft cocktail to boot—Avanti F&B, a contender for the best food hall in Colorado, is worth beelining toward. 

Located on the corner of 14th and Pearl, Avanti F&B is an indoor-outdoor food hall that operates across the first and fourth floors of the building. The 13,000-square-foot space is home to seven vendors and a bar, catering to a variety of palates. As tasty as the food is and as vast as the bar menu is, the real star of the show at Avanti F&B is the spectacular panoramic view of the Flatirons, which makes visitors feel immersed in the mountains without feeling winded by actually hiking them (though, that’s very worthwhile, too). 

Keep reading to learn why Avanti F&B is one of the best places to eat in Boulder, Colorado. 

Where This Food Hall Is and What Makes It Special

Located at the far eastern end of the Pearl Street Mall, Avanti F&B is an incredibly convenient place to start or end a day trip to downtown Boulder, or to simply pop in for lunch, happy hour, or a break with epic views. It’s within a short walking distance of many of Boulder’s most prominent shops and attractions, including Boulder Theater, Peppercorn (the coolest, most comprehensive gourmet kitchen and gift store), Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and more. 

The popular collective eatery opened in 2020, following the success of its Lower Highland Denver location, which debuted in 2015. It replaced the Cheesecake Factory that had been in operation there for nearly 25 years. While both eateries feature mega menus, there’s no denying that Avanti F&B brings a certain local flair that Cheesecake Factory could never. 

The Vendors and Dishes You Cannot Miss

The beauty of Avanti F&B is that it’s open all day long, so it’s there to serve you from breakfast to dinner, with plenty of sip and snack options in between. If you’re just starting your day, grab a java concoction from Bona Coffee Roasters, where rich espressos, cortados, macchiatos, and frothy matcha lattes are served alongside flaky croissants, flavorful scones, and colorful superfood acai bowls. When lunch and dinner roll around, consider your cravings. 

Boychik is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant dishing up traditional Greek dips and spreads, salads, pita wraps, and hummus bowls, as well as larger classic Blue Zone dishes, like falafel. 

If Italian is more your thing, but you’re still hoping for something light and refreshing, check out Mangia Panino, where housemade focaccia sandwiches fill the menu along with hoagie roll subs and classic Italian entrees like chicken parm, spaghetti and meatballs, pasta alla vodka, and pasta carbonara. Sticking to the Italian theme, New Yorkese is one of the most popular places in Boulder to grab a slice of New York-style pizza elevated with unique flavor profiles. The Fuego is chef’s kiss if pickled jalapeño, chili flake, and calabrian chili oil are your thing. 

Avanti F&B doesn’t solely stick to European flavors, though. Peko Peko is a great option if Japanese food is your cuisine of choice. Offering a mix of traditional and non-traditional Japanese dishes, from ramen and hand rolls to rice bowls and snacks, Peko Peko caters to small and large appetites alike. (Chili garlic edamame? Yum!)

Meanwhile, Rooted Craft Kitchen appeals to all the American food-loving patrons, as well as those looking for something green. With a comfort-food offering of artisan-craft mac and cheese, wagyu burgers, and chicken sandwiches, plus a handful of veg-forward dishes and sides, Rooted elevates one of the country’s most classic cuisines with Colorado farm-to-table ingredients that will leave you in awe. 

Lastly, Quiero Arepas satisfies cravings for South American cuisine with their Venezuelan-style arepas. Visitors can look forward to meat, fish, and vegetarian options. Don't forget to get a side of plantains!

All the vendors at Avanti F&B pride themselves on using the highest-quality ingredients, most of which are locally sourced. Still, the price points across the board are pretty affordable, averaging $10 to $20 per entree. 

What It’s Like to Visit

Here’s the thing about Avanti F&B: It’s capital-B busy. Located in the predominant CU Boulder hotspot, this popular Colorado food hall draws large crowds of college students and their families. That said, many local Boulderites and visitors also frequent the indoor-outdoor eatery, as the variety of food and spacious rooftop are hard to beat. 

Even if it’s busy, thanks to a variety of seating options, including standard tables, high tops, couches, lounge chairs, and bench seating, there’s typically plenty of room to sit, lounge, sip, eat, and mill about. If you’re going on the weekend or a game day, just be sure to go early to secure your spot. 

Tips for Visiting

Given just how busy and bustling Pearl Street is, parking can feel like a challenge. Generally, you have to be willing to walk a couple of blocks. That said, there are tons of street parking and garage options in the area.

All that is left is planning when to go. Avanti F&B is open seven days a week with hours that vary by day and floor. Bona Coffee Roasters opens between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. all week long, with all other food vendors opening at 11 a.m. While coffee service wraps up between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Bona Coffee Roasters, the other downstairs vendors remain open through 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., while the rooftop vendors and bar stay open until between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

All this to say, the next time you find yourself in Boulder or the surrounding area, remember Avanti F&B is a bucket-list Colorado restaurant waiting to wow you with top-tier dishes and drinks, plus mountain views that might just inspire you to go on a hike while you’re here.