Creative and tasty cocktails, and an intimate and dark Ambiance highlight Bitter Bar. The service was also amazing. We stopped on New Year's Eve and they were busy but not crowded. We were greeted almost immediately and presented with drink menus. Our server answered questions about what the drinks tasted like to help us decide as well. The drinks were VERY good and reasonably priced while not cheap, I didn't feel gouged either. This will definitely be on the return list on our next trip to Boulder. read more

The Bitter Bar - Blue Velvet - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I totally dug the bitter bar! I came for a happy hour drink before my dinner reservation after a day of hiking in the Rocky Mountains nearby, and I wasn't disappointed. The inside is a little bit divey in feel but more upscale than your typical dive bar. They had tons of seating, and I saw next to a fireplace because it looked cozy (it was). The server was quick to take my order even though it was pretty busy in there (was rush weekend I think for the university?). I had the tin man HH cocktail because my server said it would be the most floral (has elderflower in it) and I quite liked it! Was very refreshing, not too strong. Aside notes: the bathrooms were quite clean. Parking was a little chaotic, some is paid parking and some is free 2 hour. There are only a couple spots right in front, I had to park a few blocks down but it was in 2hr free park by another small business that was closed for the day. I didn't have any issues there. Overall thought this was a fun little bar in Boulder with good happy hour drinks, I would def come back :) read more

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Went here for drinks before dinner/concert and it was a super enjoyable time! It was a Wednesday and pretty quiet around 5, so the two of us sat at the bar. It was HH time (HH goes from 5-7 whhhaaatt?!) so we started with a Kiss the Sky and Italian Job. I'm a sucker for lavender so I enjoyed the Kiss the Sky (although a little sweet). We had time for one more round and I got the Boulder v 2.0, which had a rhubarb aperitivo - I'd never heard of it before, so the bartender was nice enough to pour us a taste of it and try it on its own. For the price and quality of the cocktails, can't go wrong stopping here for a cocktail (or two!). read more

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You go here for the ambiance. Inside it's all dark red light and outside is nice in the summer. The draft cocktails were great. Wish there was a bit more options for draft beer instead of canned beer but they are known for their awesome cocktails. Pricing was mid! read more

Service us warm and welcoming. Comfy lounges inside with outdoor seating when it's nice. Music is soft in the background. Love the drinks! Just a lovely spot read more

Good cocktail selection and a nice place to be outdoors...The service was attentive, but perhaps too attentive. About every two minutes one or another of the four servers who seemed to be working the outdoor space asked us if we needed anything. Still, too much attention is vastly preferable to too little read more

Update: the Gin & BB Tonic 100% wins a Grammy!!! read more

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Went to the bitter bar for my best friend's birthday. We came here very respectful and polite. The blonde bartender girl was incredibly INCREDIBLY rude and disrespectful to us immediately. She repeatedly snapped at us, rolled her eyes and made unwarranted rude comments. It was honestly appalling killed the vibe. Whoever that girl is needs to learn some costumer service skills and get a reality check. Will NEVER be coming back to bitter bar and would never recommend to a friend. I wish I could give 0 stars. read more

Fun & lively! Not bitter at all ***giggle*** Great place to grab a drink after dinner! Loved the cocktails! read more

The Bitter Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Came in for happy hour and was not disappointed! Bartenders are friendly, ambiance is swanky/relaxed. Can definitely recommend the tin man and Boulder v 2.0. Even outside of HH, drinks are reasonably priced. A good place to go with a group of friends or dress it up for grils' night or date night. Fun spot- I'll definitely be back! read more

The Bitter Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Overall: Well-mixed and tasty cocktails, attentive employees, and hip unpretentious vibe. Reasonable prices for the area. Drinks: -That Pink Drink: Not syrupy sweet. Light refreshing. Simple three ingredients that I can taste, cucumber gin, aperol, lemon. -The Italian Job: Light, citrusy shooter. Leans more sour. I like how they sugar half the rim instead of the whole rim. -The demon slayer: Not into sake but a couple of friends gave it a thumbs up. Green tea syrup balanced the acidic rice alcohol. -Gin & BB Tonic: Love gin and tonic, but I usually don't like cinnamon flavored drinks since it tends to taste overpowering. This had a subtle cinnamon infused flavor. The lemon and ginger may have balanced it out to give a light yet cozy feel at the same time. Service: Fast, considering how busy it was on a Friday night and the number of staff. Our female server was doing very well keeping up with us and everyone, considering we moved seats twice to move away from the speakers. Vibe: Great hangout spot with friends. Not so much for meeting new people unless you're at the bar. Most people were sticking to their own groups. Loungey music and cool ambiance lighting. Indoor and outdoor seating. Price: Very reasonable prices. You don't feel guilty ordering just one more... read more

Best gin and tonic ever ... their in house tonic is delicious great atmosphere cool locals hang out read more

The Bitter Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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The guys were so helpful to us and the ambiance was not at all what we expected but in the best way. Super chill and laid back but darker and intimate compared to a lot of other bars. Would definitely make this a regular spot if we lived in the area! read more

The Bitter Bar - a bar with red lighting - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Cool bar in a convenient area. Just by the free parking near Pearl Street. Nice ambiance and good drinks. Can get crowded and service can be slow. Would recommend, but it's just your average bar in Boulder. The red lighting is cool but can be distracting. They have a nice outdoor patio though. read more

The Bitter Bar - Kiss The Sky - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

James Lee makes the best God Damn cocktails west of the Mississippi, and if you disagree you can eat my shorts! The vibes? Excellent! The ambience? Great! The happy hour? Incredible! The service? Amazing! I am a ride or die bitterite, and I have drank enough Tin Men (the best thing on their menu) to kill a horse. read more

The Bitter Bar - Another Tim Man - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Outstanding bartender and service! Unique cocktails made well, with great suggestions that are on point to taste. First time I've had a Pisco sour and it was PERFECTION. Nice, warm ambiance. Definitely recommend this spot for a more relaxed high-end or elevated bar experience. read more

Walked into the Bitter Bar and my first Vibe was a Speakeasy. Awesome Craft Cocktails served in a sultry sexy dark environment. The difference was they weren't trying too hard to be a speakeasy. Service was super friendly and inviting. Guests were made to feel comfortable. Staff recommended drinks. In Boulder and you enjoy your Cocktails then Bitter Bar is the place for you. I'm from Minneapolis and I was made to feel so welcomed. Great job Staff!! read more

The Bitter Bar was a fun little stop to visit the day of our visit to Boulder! After checking out the shops, we decided we needed a drink before our trek back to Denver. The Bitter Bar won. Stopped in during HH. Great little menu, even snacks were available! They did a great job at keeping their staff masked and the patrons socially distanced. We tried quite a few of the HH drinks, all were lovely... ...if in Boulder and in need of something to take the edge off a crazy day or just want to raise a glass and toast to good times, let the Bitter Bar help! We certainly enjoyed our time there and would go back in a heartbeat! read more

We made a trip to Boulder and read a few blogs that recommended The Bitter Bar so we decided to check it out. Y'all, the HH here is fantastic! Blue Velvet tastes like candy. It literally tastes just like candy so if you're into sweet drinks this is the one! The lavender flavor in Kiss the Sky was overpowering all the other flavors but I like lavender so it was good!! Tin Man was definitely my favorite! The flavors in it were mixed together perfectly. We also got an Old Fashioned (not pictured) and we felt as if it maybe had *too* many bitters. It didn't taste bad, it just was a little more bittery than we are used t. The space is so relaxing and chill. Music is on point. Staff is very friendly + knowledgeable. We went during happy hour so total for 4 drinks was ~$38, 3 HH cocktails, one normal. Would definitely come here again!! read more

The Bitter Bar - Kiss The Sky + Happy Hour menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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This is a really fun bar! They have great drinks at a reasonable price. I recommend the La La Land if you like something a little sweeter The service is great and the bartenders are so kind. read more

The cocktails here are perfect, every single one of them delicious, prices are pretty good too for the quality of the drinks! Speakeasy vibes, kind of low key, ask a server for recs if you are unsure what you want they are all helpful and knowledgeable(: read more

Wow. What an awesome spot on the outskirts of the hippest part of Boulder! The whiskey selection is impressive. You have to see it for yourself. Outdoor seating in the summer (I can't speak for the winter as I haven't seen it), low lit inside decor, and knowledgeable bartenders. We stumbled upon this place on accident and it was a very happy one. They serve small bites and charcuterie. Happy hour drinks are $7 and made with good alcohol. Highly recommend a visit. We capped our night here and it was an excellent decision! read more

The Bitter Bar - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Cocktails were great! Get "that pink drink" , HH till 8pm and you can't really find that anywhere anymore. Ambiance was great, most likely better for late night cocktails! read more

A great vibe. Fun patio and good happy hour. Laureal was absolutely awesome and a great vibe - made us stay longer just to hang with her. read more

One of the best bars on the Front Range. I discovered bartender James Lee back in 2009 or 10 at a cocktail competition in Denver. I loved his drink, and he was cordial and fun to talk with. So my husband and I made the trek up to Boulder to enjoy his cocktails at Bitter Bar, then home to Happy Noodle as well. We continue to visit any time we are in Boulder, and it continues to serve up excellent drinks in a beautiful atmosphere. All of the bartenders are skilled, both at mixing drinks and in customer service. On my most recent visit (last week), we were able to enjoy happy hour and some delicious bar snacks. Their old fashioned is great, as are their custom concoctions. read more

The best cocktail bar in Boulder. Bartenders are awesome. Really well informed and into their craft. Happy hour cocktail list changes with the seasons. Something for everyone. Fun front porch area when the weather is nice. Inside vibe is Boulder odd, which is a good thing. Not a crazy amount of variety in the booze they stock but by no means is it shabby and generally well thought out. Always bringing in new bottles you might not find elsewhere. My go to spot! read more

This place is awesome!!! The happy hour is amazing and available until 8pm. Let's start with $5 great rose, olives and $6 cocktails. The HH menu is just so good and I'm a total whiskey drinker so this place was perfect. Seating can be hard to find but we found some at the communal tables. People were also sitting outside which was much too cold for me. I will def be back. The bartenders know their drinks and are super nice. There can be a student scene but also some business. It's a must stop shop. read more

First time going to bitter bar in Boulder last Wednesday. Nice spot that isn't super crowded. Staff were friendly and the atmosphere was nice sitting outside on the patio. Shot of well whiskey was 9.50$ though which is craaazy. read more

really cute date spot!! unique drinks and friendly service plus the vibe is intimate but not toooooo fancy

Best bar in Boulder, hands down. Kim and Laurielle are the most fabulous cocktail conjurers of all.

Being a newcomer to Boulder, it has taken some time to find the places that suit my needs. And Bitter Bar definitely fulfills my need to visit a speakeasy regularly. We stumbled in here one night a few weeks ago on a weeknight and found the place littered with a few people and seats available at the bar. This venue is very spacious with plenty of space for groups and couples. There are various types of seating arrangements including comfy couches and outdoor space. As Sara M. mentions in her review, the place is fairly dark inside, so be prepared for a dimly lit environment. What is notable to mention is that their drinks are very well made. They have true mixologists on hand and every drink I had was excellent. I like tin man ($9) and rosa's cantina ($12). And what's really great about this place is that they have happy hour every weekday from 5pm-8pm. Happy hour ends at 6pm or 7pm at most other places in the area. One thing to note is that there aren't any food items on the happy hour menu, so make sure to eat prior as their drinks are fairly strong. Staff are very helpful here and service is on point. Once while I was waiting in line for the single bathroom in the back, a staff member let me know there was another bathroom with multiple stalls in the front. Sweet, thanks for the useful tip. Overall, this place is excellent. It can be great for dates and also groups (make sure you arrive early before 6pm to snag a table for your group). I'll definitely be back with more friends! read more

This spot has the coolest bar ambiance in Boulder whether you choose the outdoor seating area with clear views of the Flatirons, or the dimly-lit Roxanne-esque lounge. There's lots of different seating configurations so you can cozy up to your lover in a private corner or round up friends for a party party party. The craft cocktails are ALL fantastic although the Birds and the Bees and The Mademoiselle are standouts. The Sazerac is classic and epitomized here with all the swank and class that should forever accompany any Sazerac. Say that fast three times. I dare you. The staff here are super attentive and whip-smart. They recognize you even after one visit, and they'll know what you're drinking and offer suggestions if you want to mix it up. I don't know how they do it, but I tried cocktails that contain ingredients that I did not think I liked...but somehow they perform their magical alcohol alchemy here and magically * POOF! * it is the best damn cocktail you've ever tasted. Or, you've been sampling so many that they all start to taste magical? Whatever -- the net result is the same: awesome cocktails. Noteworthy is their Happy Hour because it runs from 5-8 pm, Monday through Friday. So, long after other happy hours have ended, you've got a great excuse to pop into this awesome spot at the west end of Pearl (just one block off Pearl, on Walnut) before heading onto dinner or whatever groovy plans you're onto next. If you're more of a beer or wine lover, there's still a few nice options - and thankfully not the same old pours as other spots. I'd skip the happy hour white, though. If you're choosing between the happy hour wines, go for the rose. It's crisp, clean with little fruit up front. Magical alcohol alchemy - that's the bottom line. And an awesome backdrop. It's a perfect representation of Boulder's best. read more

The Bitter Bar - Yes, they have a huge happy hour from 5-8, long after others have ended! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I don't go to "actual" bars very often, just special events or on vacation or meeting friends who have chosen it. Not to say I don't like a nice drink occasionally, but it's usually in more of a restaurant setting. I had an occasion to meet some friends at this chosen location and was pleased to have the opportunity to try it since I'd been hearing good things about it for years. It's in an easy to access location and if you need to use a car, there are nearby garage options that are easier than finding on street spaces in general. The building is a quaint old stone historic location that I have been to over the decades in its various previous restaurant incarnations which were very popular in their days. I was sorry to see both go but times change. We were greeted by very friendly staff who were happy to help us find seating at an evening time that was before dinner for some and after for some. The indoor seating was very dark (yes, I know it's a bar) but for my eye situation it was bit dark to see well while conversing. It was great that on a pleasant fall evening, after sunset but still only early dusk we were able to get a nice casual and comfortable spot outside. My drink, a Tin Man, was very tasty. No complaints. And I saw other drinks on the menu that I would try. I'd come back again under a similar situation though I don't know how likely that will be. It would be nice to at least try a few more things, especially some snack option to go with the drinks before raising the rating to what I am guessing it's probably worth. But I'm happy to recommend it as a worthy casual bar option in Boulder. read more

Dark, funky, casual vibe, attractive bartenders, and tasty cocktails. While the menu looks interesting, Inwent in for a Sazerac (my fave classic cocktail). They served it up PERFECT! read more

Lauren was absolutely amazing! The drinks were incredible, I am picky AF and was delighted to actually be blown away by such delicious, creative, well-paired drinks. Sooo impressed. read more

Found this place due to great reviews online. It held up in person. Shared Friday night date night there and loved the ambiance. It was lit well, super friendly staff and great prices. read more

Decent bar away from the touristy parts. They have really awesome happy hour specials.

Great Drinks and Great Staff! This place is a favorite from our trip to Boulder!

Best stop during my recent visit to the Denver area. They make such a memorable cocktail. Top 5 Iv ever had at a bar. And the ambience is second to none. Love the red lights and dark atmosphere. Like being on a David lynch set, minus the psychopaths and unsettling plot. read more

First let me say I would definitely recommend this place to others. It had a really nice feel to it, the music was fun, and it was clearly very popular, for good reason. My partner and I stopped in here on the way back to our hotel in Boulder. We're visiting from Florida so we hadn't even realized that being in a college town and having out of state, vertical IDS meant that every restaurant and bar would need to check them extra thoroughly. No biggie, we totally get it. They didn't really seem like they believed mine was real because they asked for a second form of ID before they accepted that it must be real (which it is, lol.) I only mention that because both drinks I ordered, which were both totally delicious, I don't think had any alcohol in it at all. I obviously can't prove this and I thought they tasted really good regardless but I'm a bit of a lightweight and I drank two full glasses and felt absolutely nothing. My partner also ordered two drinks and you could very much taste the liquor in his. Also, when they gave me back my ID, they had snapped it. I kind of would have rather they just didn't serve me at all than breaking my license and serving me extremely watered down drinks. The atmosphere is great and the drinks were tasty but I don't think this place was for us. read more