The Insider's Guide to Pearl Street

A street lined with restaurants, shops and people watching, Pearl Street is the heart and soul of Boulder — and has been for more than four decades! Here, in the center of historic downtown, locals and visitors stroll the brick-paved pedestrian walkway, linger on sun-dappled benches and restaurant patios, shop to their hearts' content, and stop to watch only-in-Boulder street performers. Four blocks of Pearl are closed to traffic, but the fun continues to stretch for blocks in either direction.

For Families

Whether you're perusing fun trinkets and games at Into the Wind, cooling off in the pop-jet fountain or playing in a rock garden with big boulders, Pearl Street is just the start of what do to in Boulder with kids.

For Shoppers

Shopping on Pearl Street rivals that of cities five times its size, with independent boutiques, specialty stores, bookstores, vintage shops, gift shops and a dazzling array of creative retailers. Called the "Rodeo Drive of outdoor apparel," Pearl Street has an outdoor gear shop or two on nearly every block from 8th to 23rd Street and is something of a mecca for hikers, climbers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

Not a shopper? No worries. There are plenty of sunny (or shady) places to sit and wait for your shopper. You won't be the only one! You'll see lots of people just hanging out, watching the locals and enjoying the sunshine.

For Art Seekers

A work of art in its own right, Pearl Street has many galleries, local artisan shops and outdoor works of art to entertain the eye. Bonus: Take this easy, inspiration-filled walking tour of downtown's public art.

Watch this inspiring PBS video featuring Pearl Street's street performers or this KUNC spot about Boulder's buskers.

For Foodies

Pearl Street was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the Ten Best Foodies Streets in America. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from, ranging from James Beard Award winners to MICHELIN-recommended eateries to innovative up-and-comers. Downtown is home to breweries, pizza joints, delis and Boulder's best restaurants. If you want to bring some of the foodie goodness back home with you, stop by Savory Spice Shop and pick up the Pearl Street Plank rub. Yum!

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, spring through fall, you'll also find the Boulder Farmers Market downtown. Pick up pre-made meals, fresh flowers, and just-picked produce or just take in the sights and smells of farm-fresh fare.

For History Buffs

Boulder's downtown is packed with history, much of which you can see simply by walking around and reading a series of plaques along Pearl Street. The Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and you can learn about several historic sites in our Historic Walking Tours Brochure.

For Live Music Fans

Pearl Street has been called a living stage, and for good reason. On Wednesday nights during the height of the summer, the free Bands on the Bricks live music performances light up the 1300 block of Pearl Street. Just up the road, you'll find the historic Boulder Theater. As Boulder's largest performance venue, the theater has a photo-worthy marquee and offers great live music, film and comedy performances.

As you walk along Pearl Street, you're sure to stumble upon a great street performance. Everything from high school kids playing violin to solo piano players to bluegrass bands are busking on Pearl Street. And you might hear live music wafting out a coffee shop as you walk along, too.

Winter on Pearl

Pearl Street is a magical place in winter. Musicians and street performers entertain crowds on sunny days, lights twinkle all up and down the street every evening, steamy coffee-shop windows beckon you in for a cup of hot cocoa, and independent retailers mean you could shop all day long. A string of special holiday events kick off in November with Switch on the Holidays and continue with St. Nick on the Bricks and the Lights of December Parade.