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The Buff Restaurant

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A legendary Boulder brunch spot known for hearty American grub, creative dishes, extensive dietary options, and unbeatable $0.99 drink specials.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Indoor decor

The Buff Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A legendary Boulder brunch spot known for hearty American grub, creative dishes, extensive dietary options, and unbeatable $0.99 drink specials.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The Buff is Boulder's legendary go-to spot for brunch with amazing choices and a special drink deal you can't miss."

TIP

Beat the Weekend Rush

Visit on weekdays to avoid long waits, as weekends can be very busy.

Generous Portions

Consider half-size portions if you prefer smaller servings, as portions are quite generous.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 7AM

Cuisine

American

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(303) 442-9150

Address

2600 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Legendary $0.99 Drink Special

The Legendary $0.99 Drink Special

Enjoy incredible value with $0.99 mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Tequila Sunrises when ordered with an entrée. A must-try!

Boulder's 13 Best Restaurants & BarsBest Restaurants in Boulder, COGoogle Review
Dietary Inclusivity

Dietary Inclusivity

Offers extensive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, ensuring everyone can enjoy a delicious meal without compromise.

TikTokBoulder’s Best Fried Chicken: Top 10 Rated Spots Announced | About Boulder County ColoradoGoogle Review
Creative Pancakes & French Toast

Creative Pancakes & French Toast

Indulge in unique creations like cinnamon roll French toast and white chocolate chip pancakes that are a flavor explosion.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

My favorite breakfast place in Boulder, Colorado📍 The Buff Restaurant ☕️🍳🥞🧇 #bouldercolorado #colorado #coloradofoodie #denverfoodscene #foodie
@mariimar22
33 likes • 1.2K views

Beat the Weekend Rush

Visit on weekdays to avoid long waits, as weekends can be very busy.

Generous Portions

Consider half-size portions if you prefer smaller servings, as portions are quite generous.

Definitely needed that coffee ☕️#thebuffrestaurant #bloudercolorado #colorado #breakfast #fyp #parati #cowgirlboots
@jam_rea
15 likes • 826 views
So many DELICIOUS GF options at this brunch spot! 📍The Buff - Boulder, Colorado 📍 They ruined brunch at every other location for me! So good! #colorado #coloradobrunch #glutenfree #bouldercolorado #brunc
@coloradomamalife
27 likes • 639 views

Cozy Side Room

For a more intimate and quieter dining experience, request a table in the side room.

Plan for Crowds

It can get crowded, especially on weekends. Arrive early to minimize your wait time.

The community is showing a lot of love and welcoming their new Coach. The local review is set! #deionsanders #boulder #thecommunity #showinglove #colorado #coachprime #buffrestaurant #gobuffs #denver #saturday
@cuprimetime
68.6K likes • 936.5K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Beat the Weekend Rush

Visit on weekdays to avoid long waits, as weekends can be very busy.

Generous Portions

Consider half-size portions if you prefer smaller servings, as portions are quite generous.

Cozy Side Room

For a more intimate and quieter dining experience, request a table in the side room.

Plan for Crowds

It can get crowded, especially on weekends. Arrive early to minimize your wait time.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

The Buff is a beloved Boulder institution praised for its consistently delicious breakfast and brunch fare, including standout pancakes and French toast. Diners rave about the friendly and prompt service, as well as the welcoming atmosphere. While some find the biscuits and gravy a bit salty, the overall experience is highly recommended for its quality, variety, and value, especially with the incredible drink specials.

"Relaxed atmosphere. Great variety in menu - breakfast and lunch for options of all kinds of diets… including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Service fast and friendly. Food is exceptional - there were three of us and we all remarked on how delicious it was. Highly recommended."

Greg Wright

"Some of the best breakfast food we have had in the US! Coffees were delicious, fresh squeezed orange juice and sourdough with a side of avocado was so yummy! We split the fruit platter and it was so yummy and fresh! The bacon and French toast were also divine! Good vibes and great service! A wonderful breakfast date or family outing!"

Abby Penner

"We have been coming to this place for years, and it has yet to disappoint! Hands down the best breakfast spot in Boulder! Not a coffee drinker but this mocha changes that. I even grab a bag of grinds to take back home! The breakfast sandwich is flavorful and filling. Always a good portion of the eggs and potatoes. Staff is always friendly, we love this place and can’t wait to return to Boulder and have breakfast each day we’re out there!"

K P

What People Like

Delicious pancakes and French toast
Friendly and fast service
Great value drink specials

What People Dislike

Biscuits and gravy can be salty
Long wait times on weekends

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular items include the cinnamon roll French toast, white chocolate chip pancakes, skillets, and huevos rancheros.

Google Review

Yes, The Buff offers a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices on its menu.

TikTokBoulder’s Best Fried Chicken: Top 10 Rated Spots Announced | About Boulder County Colorado

Yes, The Buff offers a fantastic deal with $0.99 mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Tequila Sunrises when ordered with an entrée.

Boulder's 13 Best Restaurants & BarsBest Restaurants in Boulder, COGoogle Review

The restaurant can be quite busy, especially on weekends. Weekdays are generally less crowded.

Google Review

Yes, the portion sizes at The Buff are known to be generous. You can ask about half-size portions.

For a quieter dining experience, request a table in the side room, which offers a more intimate feel.

Google Review

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The Buff is Boulder’s legendary go-to spot for brunch (so legendary that it had to relocate across the street to bigger digs). Enter to find hoards of college kids and natives alike chowin’ down on fresh skillets and omelets. Aside from the food, they have their very own dollar menu, which includes (very importantly) Bloody Marys and mimosas.

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The Buff is one of the most popular spots for natives and students to dig in to any kind of meal – but brunch is the Buff’s specialty. For those looking for a simple eggs-and-bacon breakfast, there are several combinations to be had. These range from breakfast sandwiches to scrambles that can be washed down with fresh squeezed lemonade.

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Boulder’s Best Fried Chicken: Top 10 Rated Spots Announced | About Boulder County Colorado

The Buff Restaurant shines as a beacon for breakfast and brunch enthusiasts, offering a wide range of dishes with a special focus on dietary inclusivity. Its fried chicken, noted for being both gluten-free and exceptionally tasty, represents the restaurant’s dedication to accommodating various dietary needs without compromising on flavor. The Buff’s friendly, inviting atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for morning gatherings and leisurely brunches, where every dish is served with a side of warmth and hospitality.

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If you're craving a homestyle breakfast head to The Buff Restaurant for dishes the kids and you will love, as well as plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Avery Brewing Company offers a kids' menu with items like grilled cheese and veggie tacos for just $6 a pop. Or check out Rayback Collective, Boulder's indoor/outdoor gourmet food truck park, adorned with twinkle lights, fire pits and wooden recliners, plus space for the kids to play and stretch their legs.

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Best Breakfast in Boulder CO

If you’ve been around Boulder for a while, you know The Buff is really The Buff 2.0, a delicious re-envisioning of the original family-owned breakfast and lunch joint. Steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, a half-pound breakfast burger, these heaping plates will fill you for the day, as will the too-good-to-be-true Buffaquiles (homemade tortillas heaped with chili con carne, eggs, cheese and green chili).

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The happiest happy hours in Boulder

Welcome to The Buff, home of the all-day, $0.99 adult breakfast beverage. Starting the day here is always a good idea, but starting it with Saddlebags -- pancakes stuffed with bacon, sausage or ham and topped with two eggs -- is an even better one. For something (a little) less likely to give you a heart attack, you cannot go wrong with the skillets, eggs Benedict or huevos rancheros.

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The Top Boulder Breakfast Restaurants

The Buff Restaurant is an iconic breakfast restaurant in Boulder that has long been offering those hearty breakfast meals that native Coloradans both need and want. Its menu includes a variety of items, including a basic breakfast, a breakfast burger, skillets and griddle creations. There also are unique omelets available each day as well as flavorful southwest breakfast specialties.

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12 Coolest Places to Eat

The Buff Restaurant, started by Jacquie and Chris Meyer in March 1995, quickly became a favorite spot in Boulder. Known for its delicious food and warm atmosphere, it moved to a new location at 2600 Canyon Boulevard in 2014. The Meyers focused on keeping the original charm while using sustainable practices, like reusing materials from the old site to create a cozy, “homey” feel.

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This breakfast and lunch hot spot in the University of Colorado neighborhood has been turning out good food at a fair price since 1995. Choices are plentiful and portions hearty—which makes it the perfect place to get some great hangover-helper fare. And if you need extra help, Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, and Tequila Sunrises are only 99¢ when ordered alongside an entrée.

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The Absolute Best Brunch in Boulder [Updated 2024]

The morning I decided to visit The Buff, I expected the usual long line of hungry brunch-goers, but to my delight, there was no wait on that snowy Saturday morning. I was immediately greeted by the friendly wait staff who made me feel right at home. As a true coffee lover, I couldn't resist trying their delicious White Buffalo Coffee.

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Amazing Southern cuisine, the Lucile’s in Denver doesn’t hold a candle to the original Boulder outpost. Known for their coffee and beignets, the Shrimp and Grits are a personal favorite. For a more American breakfast, the Buff is a Boulder institution that has housed everyone including Obama when he’s in town.

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This family-owned restaurant with a down-to-earth feeling has been serving breakfast and lunch since 1995. The original location was replaced by the current restaurant adjacent to the Marriott Hotel on Canyon Boulevard. Efforts were made to repurpose the wood from the original location to maintain continuity.

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This popular restaurant offers some of the best breakfast fare in Boulder. The menu features traditional options such as egg and omelet combos, including The Swiss, pancakes, and waffles, along with a specialty breakfast chimichanga. The delicious whole grain nut toast is almost an inch thick.

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The Buff – This restaurant is a landmark diner known for its whimsical decor and gourmet breakfasts and lunch sandwiches. It is also family-owned and extremely popular. As I’ve written in previous articles, The Buff has awesome on-tap mimosas, bloody marys and tequila sunrises!

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A photo posted by bestofboulder (@bestofboulder) on Aug 1, 2016 at 1:55pm PDT. You have not experienced all the glory that is breakfast at CU Boulder until you have been to The Buff. Let me tell you, I am a brunch fanatic and The Buff is at the very top of my list.

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The Buff Restaurant ($$): If you’re looking for one of the best brunch restaurants in Boulder, then look no further. This place gets packed quick, so make sure you stop by early to grab a table (and they recently moved so make sure your visit their new location).

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I like greasier, divier breakfast places, like the Village Coffee Shop or Foolish Craig’s. If you want a really good weekend brunch, go to The Kitchen—they used to have a great English breakfast. Other than that, I like Walnut Café, which serves Boxcar coffee.

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To start your day, head to The Buff Restaurant, one of the most popular breakfast spots in the city. If you're looking for a more eclectic menu coupled with delicious tea, head to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. On the hunt for cheap eats?.

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The Buff Restaurant: A Boulder institution, The Buff has a welcoming, neighborly vibe. The menu is large and more on the traditional side with a Southwestern flair and some do not miss items like the pecan caramel quesadillas.

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Located across from the Twenty Ninth Street Mall, visit The Buff for skillets, benedicts, sweet breakfasts and even some lunch options like burgers and soups. There is also a plethora of coffee options and spiked drinks.

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Established in 1995, The Buff Restaurant quickly became an institution among Boulder restaurants. Known for its hot-and-ready breakfasts and its bold, boozy bar, it is no wonder The Buff is so popular with the locals.

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In operation since 1995, this family-owned restaurant is one of the best breakfast places in Boulder for its delicious burgers and omelets, served in a rustic space.

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2600 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302Phone: (303) 442-9150 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by The Buff Restaurant (@buffrestaurant)

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If you have celiac and miss eating delicious carb-filled breakfasts, then you HAVE to go to The Buff for breakfast.

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