Fat Tuesday, also called Mardi Gras, occurs the day before Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 17th this year. It signifies the night before Lent, a 40-day period of reflection in Christianity leading up to Easter. While Lent is a time of self-discipline and penance, Fat Tuesday is a time for indulgence, celebration, and community gathering. It is most famous in New Orleans but is celebrated in many places beyond the Bayou. In Boulder, you can find plenty of spots to partake in this tradition following:

Lucile’s Creole Cafe

One of the most popular places in Boulder, Lucile’s is an obvious choice for Fat Tuesday. Known for Southern classics such as red beans and rice, po’boys, gumbo, and Creole omelets, it offers a delightful breakfast option or a relaxing lunch. 

The Post Chicken & Beer

True to its name, The Post Chicken & Beer is famous for its chicken dishes (including chicken and waffles). It also features several other comfort foods, including staples of the South. Some of the menu selections include deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, meatloaf, cheddar biscuits, macaroni and cheese, seared salmon, and vegetable bowls. 

License No. 1

Nestled beneath Hotel Boulderado, License No. 1 is a classic cocktail bar that fosters a cozy, celebratory, and relaxed atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to take a ride in a sidecar, enjoy an old-fashioned, or try an espresso martini, it’s the ideal place for a cocktail adventure this Mardi Gras. 

Press Play Bar

Press Play Bar offers a high-energy gaming experience for enthusiasts. Summoning the ghosts of Atari’s past, including Pac-Man, this bar transports guests back to the 80s with classics such as Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, and Tetris. If video games aren’t your thing, pinball, air hockey, ping pong, skee-ball, giant Jenga, and more help you celebrate Fat Tuesday in style. 

Boulder Bakeries

No Mardi Gras is complete without a king cake, a ring-shaped brioche-style pastry topped with purple, green, and gold icing and a plastic baby hidden inside. 

While king cakes aren’t usually sold year-round, many bakeries offer them in January and February; some also accept special orders. A few bakeries worth checking out include the following:

• Sweet Sisters Bake Shop
• Boulder Baked
• Moxie Bread, Co.
• Great Harvest Bread Company
• Lucky’s Bakehouse

You don’t have to be in Louisiana to enjoy Fat Tuesday; Boulder has everything you need. Party happily without hopping on a plane!