Intentional, comfortable, and transportive – the dining experience at Corrida is incomparable. Self described as a Spanish-inspired steakhouse located in Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, sitting in the restaurant itself feels as though you’ve left Boulder entirely and have been whisked away to a quiet open-aired rooftop in the Northern countryside of Spain - but the views of the Flatirons and modern interiors gently bring you back to the foothills.
Immediately greeted with warm lighting, light hues, and white linens, the unobstructed view of the Flatirons is striking and the ambiance is set. Even when sitting inside, you feel as though you’re sitting outside. The Spain influences are seen and felt at this sophisticated steak and tapas restaurant, as owner Bryan Dayton pulled from his travels to the Basque Country of Northern Spain for inspiration. Their menu, just recently updated for the season as we move into warmer summer days, draws from Spanish traditions, both old and new, and aims to celebrate the offerings from land, sea and earth.
The emphasis on steak remains for Bryan and Executive Chef Samuel McCandless. Their focus on regenerative beef ranching was a topic revisited throughout our meal, as our waiter Lucien explained to us where their beef is sourced from in the U.S. The staff at Corrida share the same reverence for the Toro as they do in Spain and aim to pay homage to our western cattle culture that’s deeply rooted in Spanish history.
As their food rotates seasonally, so do their drinks. Known for their extensive Spanish wine list tailored to perfection to pair with menu items, Corrida’s beverage program offers a variety of creative, hand-crafted cocktails. We watched as the roaming gin & tonic cart made its way throughout the restaurant, creating seasonal and unique spins on the drink as one of their signature offerings crafted tableside. Another signature cocktail, and Lucien’s current favorite, is the Los Isleños - a Spanish take on the Old Fashioned with A5 fat-washed Jura 10 year old whisky. Safe to say it had our taste buds tingling. The insignia of the restaurant imprinted on the large ice cube furthers the common thread of intentionality weaved throughout everything in the steakhouse.
While the space brings an air of elegance to the Boulder dining scene, it’s important to note that Corrida’s rooftop patio is the perfect setting to, well, just hang out. Walking out from the in-door dining area and onto the patio feels like you have entered another restaurant entirely, with the same ambiance and service level, yet somehow added comfort. The sprawling patio takes up two-thirds of the restaurant and is filled with couches and fire pits to create the perfect elevated happy hour, or as they call it, Hora de Salon. Everything about it, from the comfort to the views to the tapas, makes the rooftop the ultimate summer vibe.
Considered finer-dining across the board, Corrida is unique in that you have the option to dictate which way your experience will go (with their help, of course). Whether you sit and dine to enjoy the exquisitely detail-oriented menu with wine pairings to match, or decide to lounge outside and soak in the Boulder views with tapas at your request, Corrida has created something rare in that they are one restaurant with multiple ways to experience it. And that itself will keep us coming back every time.
Corrida
1023 Walnut St STE 400, Boulder, CO 80302
corridaboulder.com
