Have you ever stepped inside a space and instantly fell in love?

I have.

Maybe there was something about how the light peaked through windows or the warmth of the space, or maybe the design makes you feel like you’ve traveled somewhere completely new…

Whatever the reason, there’s just something extra special about it that makes you want to stay there all day long.

That is exactly what happened to me the moment I walked into Café Aion when visiting my brother in Boulder, Colorado over the weekend.

On a chilly Friday in February, we decided to get lunch and he suggested this wonderful spot for Paella on the Hill.

Now, if you’re a frequent visitor to Boulder, or even live up there, then most likely you’re finding your restaurants off of Pearl Street, but I encourage you to venture out and explore the many restaurants Boulder has to offer.

This takes us back to Café Aion, a true hidden gem that everyone should know about.

Situated on University Hill, known as The Hill, perfectly located across the street from the beautiful campus of the University of Colorado Boulder and within the historic University Hills neighborhood, Café Aion is easy to miss, but hard to forget.

It may seem like a simple establishment from the exterior, but as soon as you walk in, the warmth of the space invites you in and you can feel it say stay a while.

And my goodness, you’ll want to.

Three Words To Describe Café Aion

Warm, Inviting, Delicious

Three Things That I Loved Most

The small and intimate dining space, how I instantly felt excited to explore the menu, the server that seated us was a wonderfully kind woman with a very sweet smile.

Three Things You Must Try

Crispy Fried Cauliflower: Toasted Cumin and Saffron Yogurt, Brie Cheese: Soft-ripened, served with Apricot jelly and sliced baguette, and Iced ‘Tea Spot’ Tea: Black with lemon peel & Star Anise.

Let me tell you a little bit more about it…

The Wonder of Cafe Aion

So first off, our eyes were sparkling with excitement for the lunch menu.

Granted, we did come in for Paella which they weren’t serving at that time, but that was totally okay with us because the menu was filled with all sorts of excellent choices.

We are the type of people that prefer eating family style – simplifies the process of choosing and that means we get to try more plates overall.

It’s the best kind of sharing if you ask me.

Unfortunately, we weren’t going in with big appetites, otherwise we’d order even more off the menu. But, lucky for us, this inevitably means we have to go back to try more plates, which I’m very happy about.

The food was exceptional, every bite of every plate was simple, yet perfectly executed, and looked and tasted vibrant.

I often find that many restaurants offer similar plates like Fried Cauliflower, soups, salads, etc., but that does not mean it’s a quality dish at all.

There’s something about being and indulging at Café Aion that makes you feel like you’re at a family-owned restaurant in the middle of Spain or next to the Mediterranean Sea.

You’ll find all sorts of cuisines in Boulder, but not many restaurants that transport you to Europe.

Before I forget, here’s a list of everything we ordered:

• Crispy Fried Cauliflower with Toasted cumin and Saffron yogurt
• Niçoise Salmon Salad with Pan roast salmon, olives, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans and citrus vinaigrette
• Brie Cheese: Soft-ripened, served with Apricot jelly and sliced baguette
• French Onion Soup
• Iced ‘Tea Spot’ Tea: black with lemon peel & star anise

Next time, I will be sure to order:

• Truffles Fries: Crispy golden potatoes with truffle, parmesan, and parsley
• Croque Madame: Grilled ham and gruyere cheese topped w/ béchamel sauce & a fried egg
• Flan: Spanish-style custard with caramelized sugar sauce.

As you should too…

Exploring a city through cuisine is one of the most wonderful and immersive ways to get to know the people around you.

There are millions of people with millions of different stories who live among us, work around us, and bring joy to our cities.

There’s something so special about sharing a plate with the people you love while getting to know new people.

So next time you’re in Boulder, now you know exactly where you’re going to go for lunch.

Always and forever at Café Aion.

Love,

Anastasiya

P.S. You seem like you love to travel, have you been to Aspen recently? Perfect, here’s Your Winter Travel Guide To 48 Hours In Aspen to plan your next trip.