Stella's Cucina

4.7 (757)

$50 and over

Italian

1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116

Make a booking

2 people

14 Jun 2025

19:00

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails
Great for fine wines

The restaurant was founded in 2023 by owner Stella Spanu, a Boulder local. Honoring her Italian heritage and embracing her passion for food and hospitality, Spanu’s philosophy is to have a dining experience that stimulates all senses by incorporating visual art, design, music, premier service, comfortable seating and fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. The space, an Art Deco inspiration, was conceptualized and built by architect Miguel Quismondo.

Stella's is showcasing a world-class menu, highlighting traditions from all over Italy, with house-made pastas with imported ingredients directly from Italy, and locally sourced ingredients from Colorado farms. The menu is accompanied by an extensive selection of Italian wines and specialty cocktails.

Friday and Saturday, after dinner service, the space will transform into a lounge with a dance floor with a state-of-the-art sound system, while guests are encouraged to enjoy beverages, the dance floor, and a wide variety of music.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 16:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–01:00
Phone number
(303) 943-1000
Website
https://www.stellascucina.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116
Area
Boulder
Cross Street
11th and Walnut
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Cellar Series - Nebbiolo & Summer Preview
US$90.00 per person
30 Jun 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner one will focus on Nebbiolo and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!
Cellar Series - Brunello
US$90.00 per person
4 Aug 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner two will focus on Brunello and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!
Cellar Series - Sicilia
US$90.00 per person
8 Sept 2025 only
Join Stella's as we debut our Cellar Wine Series! With a curated 5-course menu for each dinner as well as an opportunity to try rare & unique wines from our cellar, this series is one you won't want to miss! Dinner three will focus on Sicilia and include an opportunity to chat with our team about our amazing offerings. Book all 3 dinners in the series (6/30, 8/4, & 9/8) for a special bottle to take home on September 8th! *Limit 1 per household. 21+ only.* Book your table now - $90/person (not including tax & gratuity) and be sure to opt-in to the wine pairings!

Popular dishes

Perra CottaUS$16.00
Red wine-poached D’Anjou pear, chocolate ganache, pistachio crumble
Crema Cotta al PistacchioUS$16.00
House pistachio crème brûlée, seasonal berries, pistachio praline
‘Terra’ MisùUS$16.00
Lady Fingers, mascarpone cream, coffee, orange liqueur, chocolate crumble
Crostata al CioccolatoUS$18.00
Chocolate tart, salted caramel, Dulcey ganache, banana gelato
AffogatoUS$14.00
House-made Madagascar vanilla gelato, Ambrosiano espresso

Contorni

Patate al FornoUS$8.00
Roasted marble potatoes
Vegetali alla GrigliaUS$9.00
Eggplant, zucchini, red bell pepper, mint oil
BroccoliniUS$10.00
Local broccolini, crispy onion, parsley-pine oil
ZuccaUS$10.00
Roasted Red Kuri squash, tarragon-honey oil
FunghiUS$12.00
Colorado mushroom medley, garlic, parsley, chili flake

Antipasti

Insalata StellaUS$14.00
Organic mixed greens, aromatic herbs, grapefruit, bee pollen, honey vinaigrette
Barbabietola e BurrataUS$17.00
Local heirloom beet, burrata, organic mixed greens, candied walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette
Insalata a la ManoUS$18.00
Romaine heart, Levanto anchovy, 3yr aged Parmigiano Reggiano, house-made cesare foam, croutons
Uovo CroccanteUS$24.00
Wild local mushroom, crispy egg yolk, Parmigiano Reggiano fonduta
MinestroneUS$19.00
Seasonal vegetable medley, butternut squash broth
Tartare di ManzoUS$25.00
Angus beef tartare, millefoglie potato, bechamel, Parmigiano Reggiano, quail egg
Affettati MisteUS$34.00
Chef selected assortment of meats, cheeses, & accompaniments

Primi Piatti

Caramella alla VaccinaraUS$34.00
Oxtail ragu-stuffed pasta, pecorino fonduta, tomato emulsion, fried sage
Risotto allo ZafferanoUS$32.00
Saffron, porcini powder, Parmigiano Reggiano, toasted hazelnut
Cavatelli e Tartufo NeroUS$48.00
House-made cavatelli di ricotta, freshly foraged black truffle, Pecorino Romano
Pappardelle al MaialeUS$32.00
House-made pappardelle, peach & pork ragu, Pecorino Romano, oregano
Risotto ai Frutti di MareUS$42.00
Icy Blue mussels, Littleneck clams, red shrimp, squid ink, shrimp bisque, Acquerello rice

Secondi Piatti

Cavolfiore alla MilaneseUS$26.00
Breaded cauliflower steak, grilled seasonal vegetables, romesco
Brasato al BaroloUS$42.00
Red wine-braised local short rib, caramelized baby fennel, smoked potato purée, seasonal demi-glace
Spigola al FornoUS$50.00
Wild-caught Mediterranean sea bass, roasted romanesco, marble potato, butternut squash purée, blood orange aioli
Medaglioni di CervoUS$48.00
Venison medallions, truffle & celery root emulsion, romanesco purée, onion cracker, port reduction
Bistecca alla FiorentinaUS$180.00
32oz custom cut Porterhouse steak, seasonal demi-glace

What 757 people are saying

Stella's Cucina reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Boulder Area
Best Ambience
Boulder Area
Innovative
Boulder Area
Hot spot
Boulder Area
Great for fine wines
Boulder Area
Romantic
Boulder Area
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Stella's Cucina offers "authentic Italian cuisine" with an "elegant vibe" and "outstanding service." Guests rave about the "spectacular" food, highlighting dishes like their "pistachio crème brûlée" and "short ribs." The hidden venue features "beautiful decor" and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Ideal for special occasions in Boulder.

757 Reviews

C
Catherine VIP
Denver / Colorado15 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A lovely meal. Great service and delicious food. We shared plates and the kitchen was very accommodating re this. Noise level was good. Thank you!
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M
Marisol
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 5 June 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I reserved this place for my boss and it was a hit! They were very nice in accommodating a large group, nice small room/enclave together, very cool! Thank you.
Stella's CucinaResponded 2 days ago
Hi Marisol -- thank you so much for the kind words! We're ecstatic that it was hit, and cant wait to take care of your team next time! - Stella's Management
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G
Gabriela
Idaho2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 28 May 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went for my husband's birthday and had such a nice experience. Our waitress was lovely and had good recommendations. The food was really good and the restaurant in general had a very nice elegant vibe. Will come back!
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A
Andras VIP
Houston12 reviews
4.0
Dined on 25 May 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Nice venue hidden from Walnut street in Boulder, CO. Good ambience helped by live music. Our minestrone soup, lamb chops, octopus and creme brulee were very nice, but the pasta dish was bland. Definitely worth the try, but would recommend skipping the pasta. Service was attentive.
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C
Cosetta
Las Vegas2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 May 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful experience. Authentic Italian cuisine. Great value.
Is this helpful?
A
Alexis VIP
Denver / Colorado1 review
3.0
Dined on 25 May 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
We didn't get good service, our sides came out way after entrees, so we had to eat main then sides. We waited for drinks and had to ask multiple people before getting the drinks. The food was tasty, but way overpriced for what was served.
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R
Robert VIP
Denver / Colorado137 reviews
4.0
Dined on 25 May 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The duck order was a very tough piece of meat for 2 of us The octopus was great for all 4 of us I had a coffee and they do not offer a sugar substitute I had a Moscow mule and was expecting it to come in a copper cup but they did not offer it
Is this helpful?
A
Alison VIP
Los Angeles32 reviews
4.0
Dined on 16 May 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Love the vibe of this restaurant. The food was delicious and incredible. This was my fourth time dining at Stella’s and the service has always been great. But, tonight our service was subpar. The server never shared the specials, didn’t clear glasses and checked in at odd and irregular intervals. We will be back, but I hope the service will be more consistent.
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L
Leon VIP
Denver / Colorado10 reviews
5.0
Dined on 16 May 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food and service both outstanding. Noise level is higher than we would like. Interesting ambiance other than that.
Is this helpful?
S
Stephen
Denver / Colorado2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 14 May 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Stella's easily takes the top spot for Boulder dining! We took a close friend to Stella's for his 60th birthday and it was truly a magical evening. My new quest in life is to figure out how to duplicate their bread, it's crunchy outside and soft inside and absolutely wonderful. I love to cook and I usually judge restaurants by how their food compares with what I could make at home, usually I win! Not so with Stella's, everything they served me from the bread to the cauliflower soup, roasted beet salad, to the perfectly prepared fillet and the pistachio creme brulee were definitely above anything I could make at home. Hence my new quest to duplicate their bread, can't let them best me everywhere! The final comment I would add is the about the price. For an evening like this I would have expected a much higher bill, something in the region of $100 per person plus drinks. None of us ordered alcohol but we only spent $60 per person which felt like an incredible value for the dining experience they gave us.
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FAQs

Stella's Cucina is rated 4.7 stars by 757 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

14 Jun 2025

19:00

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

1123 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302-5116

Additional information

Cross Street
11th and Walnut
Area
Boulder
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 16:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–01:00
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Wheelchair Access

Website
https://www.stellascucina.com/
Phone number
(303) 943-1000

Stella's Cucina

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Additional information

Cellar Series - Nebbiolo & Summer Preview

Cellar Series - Brunello

Cellar Series - Sicilia

Pappardelle al Maiale

Cavatelli e Tartufo Nero

Bicchierini

Dolci

Perra CottaUS$16.00

Crema Cotta al PistacchioUS$16.00

‘Terra’ MisùUS$16.00

Crostata al CioccolatoUS$18.00

AffogatoUS$14.00

Contorni

Patate al FornoUS$8.00

Vegetali alla GrigliaUS$9.00

BroccoliniUS$10.00

ZuccaUS$10.00

FunghiUS$12.00

Antipasti

Insalata StellaUS$14.00

Barbabietola e BurrataUS$17.00

Insalata a la ManoUS$18.00

Uovo CroccanteUS$24.00

MinestroneUS$19.00

Tartare di ManzoUS$25.00

Affettati MisteUS$34.00

Primi Piatti

Caramella alla VaccinaraUS$34.00

Risotto allo ZafferanoUS$32.00

Cavatelli e Tartufo NeroUS$48.00

Pappardelle al MaialeUS$32.00

Risotto ai Frutti di MareUS$42.00

Secondi Piatti

Cavolfiore alla MilaneseUS$26.00

Brasato al BaroloUS$42.00

Spigola al FornoUS$50.00

Medaglioni di CervoUS$48.00

Bistecca alla FiorentinaUS$180.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Stella's Cucina restaurant rated?

Is Stella's Cucina currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information