Sundance’s New Home: Unbeatable Eats, Sleeps, and Slopes in Boulder

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Following a twelve-month quest, Boulder, Colorado was selected as the venue for the Sundance Film Festival from 2027 onwards. This selection was made official on March 27th. Longtime festival enthusiasts have been expressing their affection for familiar spots in Park City, yet it’s worth mentioning that there are several similarities between Sundance’s new location and its original home – aspects that probably contributed to Boulder being chosen initially.

In the center of Boulder lies Pearl Street, which is set to become the city’s primary thoroughfare. This bustling street is home to a variety of stores, eateries, and businesses that could easily be transformed into the Chase Sapphire Lounge. Here, you can stealthily avoid making eye contact with others while sipping on your diluted tequila soda. Similar to Park City, Boulder is encircled by the Rocky Mountains, but instead of gazing at Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, festival attendees will find themselves admiring the Flatirons as they queue for their watered-down tequila soda experience. The quaint Boulder Theater bears a resemblance to Park City’s Egyptian, as you’ll likely snap photos of its signage for social media without ever setting foot inside. And just like before, it will still take about an hour to travel from the airport to your hotel accommodation.

Of course, there are notable differences between Park City and Boulder.

Instead of Park City being a popular vacation spot known for luxury homes owned by the wealthy from Hollywood, tech, and business, Boulder is primarily a college town where students dominate the scene. (In February 2025, the average listing price for a home in Park City was $2.2 million, while in Boulder it was $800,000, according to Realtor.com.) This transformation would cater more to an audience outside of industries, moving from the rich and bored asking quietly “Is this a metaphor?”, to students seeking extra credit for general education requirements.

Below is an (extremely) early lay of the land for the 2027 festival.

Hardest Reservations for You (Your Assistant) to Get

Goodbye Riverhorse and Grappa, both boasting a Michelin star and James Beard Awards. It’s safe to say that Frasca Food and Wine is going to be in high demand with its Italian cuisine. Other popular spots that you may need to book well ahead include Bramble & Hare, a farm-to-table restaurant, Tomahawk Steakhouse No. 316, known for its steaks, Cozobi Fonda Fina with its elevated Mexican dishes, and Corrida, famous for its stunning views of the Flatirons and equally impressive Queso Asado.

Where You’ll Be Doing Back-to-Back Screenings

2027 Sundance Festival hasn’t revealed its official theater locations yet, but its new venue must accommodate more than 1,300 seats for grand premieres. Enter the Macky, an auditorium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus that can house over 2,000 attendees. Much like any building on a college campus, it’s conveniently close to a Chipotle and Panda Express.

Where to Ski When You Say You’re Taking Meetings

During breaks between screenings, the ski lift at Main Street’s base provided a swift escape, whereas Deer Valley was typically where elusive agents could be found when they weren’t returning your calls. Boulder usually offers Eldora as a fresh slope for skiers, approximately a 35-minute drive from downtown Boulder. For those without personal cars or support staff, there is a bus service directly from Boulder to the mountain. As of April 2025, Eldora charges $99 for a day pass (contrastingly, Deer Valley costs $289). Eldora boasts only 53 trails, but more renowned Colorado peaks such as Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, and Keystone will add a three-hour round trip drive to your schedule, while Vail is a two-hour one-way journey.

The ski lift near Main Street served as an efficient way to quickly leave during screenings; Deer Valley was the usual hangout for unresponsive agents. In Boulder, Eldora is often recommended for skiers, about 35 minutes away from downtown. For those without personal cars or support staff, a bus service connects Boulder to the mountain. As of April 2025, Eldora costs $99 per day pass compared to Deer Valley’s $289. Eldora has only 53 trails, but other popular Colorado ski resorts like Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, and Keystone will require a three-hour round trip drive, while Vail is a two-hour one-way ride.)

Hotels You’ll Be Booking for Your Client

For a Sundance regular, one significant shift to expect is the change in accommodations. Unlike Boulder, which offers a variety of affordable housing options including hotels with “suites” or “inn” suffixes, it lacks high-end choices similar to Park City’s St. Regis and Montage. This gap will likely lead to a surge in reservations. The most sought-after accommodations will be the locally owned boutique St. Julien Hotel, which has 201 guest rooms, followed by the Victorian-inspired Boulderado. For those less eager about this change, there’s always the Four Seasons in Denver available as an alternative.

Your New Night Cap(s)

In Boulder, being a college town, you’ll find an abundance of casual bars like No Name Saloon and High West might typically be part of your nightly routine. Instead, consider visiting Sundown Saloon (a basement hideaway with pool and pitchers), Jungle (serving tropical drinks in the Rockies), or Bohemian Biergarten (offering a European beer hall experience). Be prepared to navigate through some college students to reach the bar. Since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, there are numerous dispensaries available for your use. One of these is 14er, a locally owned and operated business that has been growing and processing cannabis since 2011. They offer a variety of products such as edibles, vapes, and more at their flagship store in Boulder.

Where to Get a Legitimately Quick Bite

At Sundance, aside from dehydration and unanswered messages from work, hunger poses the greatest danger to festival attendees. It appears that Boulder will cater better than Park City to those seeking a quick 30-minute meal during screenings. A longtime favorite, The Sink, offers burgers, beers, and more, just a short walk from the Macky. Alternatively, Avanti on Pearl Street provides a variety of options such as pizza and ramen in a food hall setting. For those craving hot dogs or subs, Mustard’s Last Stand and Cheba Hut could replace El Chubasco as go-to options.

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2025-04-04 23:55