Inside Boulder’s Chic Spa Retreat Just Steps From Pearl Street

Guest rooms serving “earthy but elegant” diplomatic vibes

There are 201 recently transformed guest rooms and six two-room suites on-site, with winter prices starting around $289 per night. When I got to my room, the first thing I did was let out a deep and profound exhaling breath. The airy space was adorned with an impressive four-poster bed, making me feel like a wealthy diplomat. My large window overlooked the property’s expansive lawn below, and the jagged peaks of the Flatirons stood in the distance. The room decor felt earthy, outfitted in shades of caramel, walnut, clean white, and bronze, accented by rich, grainy-textured wood and solid stone. The bathroom boasted a luxuriously deep soaking tub, slate flooring, and granite counters with a lovely set of toiletries by Canyon Mint.

Little details in the amenities—like the fully stocked minibar with local snacks and beverage brands and the Nespresso machine enhanced my stay experience (I liked knowing I’d never need to venture out to procure coffee or a bite to eat if I didn’t want to). This made me feel like I could really settle in and relax or focus on getting work done.

On-Site dining and drinking at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa

The on-site restaurant, Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The space features a full bar, an outdoor patio and a private dining room called “The Onyx Room.” Jill’s focuses on using sustainable, organic farming practices to offer diners a menu of fresh, dynamic scratch-made food made with ingredients that are as locally-sourced as possible via Boulder’s seasonal Farmers’ Market and partnerships with local farms, creameries, and ranches—as well as its very own on-site garden.

The inside of the restaurant feels like a blend of trendy farmhouse chic and an elegant home kitchen—it’s bright and airy, with generously-sized windows that let in plenty of natural light and brick walls that lend an air of coziness to the room. Vibrant and tasteful live flower arrangements, glowing in clear vases, stood atop sturdy wooden tables, adding a touch of life to the space.

As someone with a gluten-free dietary restriction, I found it neat how accommodating the restaurant could be regarding allergies and dining requests, given the unique nature of their scratch-kitchen cooking style. Diners with dietary restrictions will find a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes to indulge in.

Those seeking an impressive craft beverage can enjoy T-Zero Lounge, which sits just off the lobby. Here, visitors can peruse a carefully curated wine menu, handmade signature cocktails, and Colorado-made beers and liquors. After I settled into the property, I stopped back into T-Zero and perused the wine list for a glass of something I could treat myself to, while getting ready for the evening in my guest room. I was impressed with the wide variety of vino sourced from across the country, and beyond—it’s definitely one of the most robust wine programs I’ve come across at any Colorado hotel, thus far. Since I’m someone who loves wine, it was exciting for me to encounter it and I know I’ll be back to explore the menu in greater depth.

T-Zero hosts a lively entertainment program, with popular local musicians playing in the evenings, Wednesday through Saturday nights. It can be a fun place to hang out, whether you’re a hotel guest or a local who just wants a good glass of wine and a night of live beats, among good company and community.

There’s also an outdoor patio space out back dubbed “The Terrace,” which can serve as a lovely spot to sit and soak in some sunshine and fresh air when the weather is nice. While I was visiting the property, Colorado was experiencing an unusually wet late-summer weekend, so I didn’t spend much time on the terrace, but it looked like a nice place to lounge on a pleasant morning, afternoon, or evening. Happy hour takes place on The Terrace from 3 PM to 5 PM Monday to Friday, as well as lunch from 11 AM. to 2 PM Monday to Friday. There’s even brunch service from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, those who desire a bite without leaving the warmth and comfort of their bed’s top-tier linens, or who are in a rush to get out the door for an in-person appointment, can take advantage of St. Julien’s in-room dining services from 7 AM to 10 PM. I ordered breakfast in my room since I was in a rush to get to a meeting and didn’t have time to sit down and dine.

Spa serenity to soothe and surrender outside stresses

 

 

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St. Julien’s tranquil 10,000-square-foot spa features 12 treatment rooms and an extensive menu of ever-updated cutting-edge remedies, ranging from immersive bodywork experiences to aesthetic offerings including salon services and beauty therapies. Many of the handcrafted treatments even incorporate snippets from the hotel’s fresh herb garden and its rooftop bee colony. At the full-service salon, visitors can experience the latest and greatest in personal care, including hair, makeup, and nail styling (as well as special-event preparation for those hosting on-site).

Or, guests can invest in one of the spa’s signature facial therapies, which aim to assist with maintaining healthy, balanced skin. The signature scrubs treatments exfoliate, hydrate, and promote circulation—and there is a wide range of massage offerings, from standard relaxation to targeted therapeutic massages designed to complement Boulder’s abundance of outdoor adventures, such as hiking, climbing, cycling, and skiing. Plus, those indulging in any spa or salon treatment are welcome to enjoy the facility’s upscale amenities for the day, including saunas, steam rooms and steam showers in the locker rooms, and the 55-foot indoor pool, waterfall Jacuzzi, and fitness center.

Going green continues to “bee” great

One standout feature of the property I enjoyed learning about is the team’s commitment to sustainability. St. Julien Hotel & Spa has a dedicated, in-house “Green Team” that regularly sets and achieves specific environmental goals, ranging from minimizing overall waste to using eco-friendly products and practices as much as possible throughout the hotel, including in its spa and dining outlets. Each year, the property publishes a detailed report that anyone can read, showcasing these efforts. For example, one of 2024’s key initiatives involved replacing plastic key cards with “sustainably harvested wooden keycards,” which is expected to reduce plastic use by 500 pounds annually moving forward.

The on-site garden and beekeeping program are also a fun way the property is making moves toward a greener future, as the bees produced the largest honey harvest to date in 2024. The bees and honey are cared for and harvested by a local beekeeper with Boulder Valley Honey. The honey is then bottled, sold, and can be shared as a gift with visitors during special events on the property.

An ideal destination for soaking in the lively surroundings of downtown Boulder

All hotel guests are welcome to take advantage of access to the Spa at St Julien’s 50-foot indoor lap pool, hot tub facilities, and the fitness center with its majestic views of Boulder’s Flatirons. Although the property is in an exceptionally accessible downtown location within walking distance of many local restaurants and hangouts, there’s a shuttle service taking guests to destinations within a two-mile radius of the hotel. So, between walking and using the St. Julien shuttle, visitors won’t ever really need a car if they just want to explore the local haunts.

To me, this property feels like a polished, contemporary retreat in a great location, just steps from the bustle of Pearl Street, with a relaxing atmosphere, warm and genuine hospitality, and down-to-earth design. The soothing and nourishing amenities and exceptional on-site dining offerings make it a reliable destination for out-of-town visitors and locals alike.

Whether exploring the area on a relaxing retreat for the week, indulging in a staycation, setting a comfortable home base for a corporate work trip, or diving into a lunch date or happy hour meetup, it’s an escape much appreciated by all guests in the heart of this timeless, dynamic, and bustling Colorado college town.

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