Louisville and Lafayette: So much more than just the Boulder ‘burbs
One of my favorite parts of being a Realtor® is getting to know the Denver Metro’s many unique neighborhoods, and sharing that knowledge with my clients. So much of feeling at home in an area is finding your regular spots and knowing some neighborhood “secrets”! This is part of a monthly series highlighting some of my favorite neighborhoods – and featuring recommendations from the awesome folks who live there. I’m so lucky to know a number of longtime area residents who gave me the insider scoop on Louisville and Lafayette!
Louisville and Lafayette are smaller towns that lie east of Boulder and north of Highway 36. Both have extensive roots in coal mining. You’ll find Louisville just east of Boulder, north of 36, extending just above South Boulder Road and east to about 95th. Along that eastern edge, Lafayette starts where Louisville ends. It goes as far north as Arapahoe Road and east to the Boulder County Line.
THE ‘HOOD
Louisville and Lafayette both have lovely quiet neighborhoods and lively downtown areas, interspersed with stretches of open space and parks. Louisville’s downtown is just west of 95th and south of South Boulder Road, while Old Town Lafayette runs along Public Road just south of Baseline Road. More to come below on both of these hubs!
The average 6 month sales price for a home in Louisville is $705,000, and in Lafayette, $573,000 (these numbers include both attached and detached homes, and only those listed on REColorado, not IRES).
A Louisville home.
THE STYLE
Both towns have some older homes but lots of newer ones, and the architecture reflects that - there are many traditional/contemporary-style homes built in the 1980s and beyond (explained in part by the population jumps seen in the area in the 80s and 90s). In the older parts of town, you can still find some Victorian or cottage style!
Davidson Mesa View (AllTrails).
THE SPOTS
Parks: This area does not lack parks and trails! Waneka Lake Park, in Lafayette (south of Baseline and west of Highway 287), is a favorite of many! Jenny and her family love playing at the park, fishing, riding bikes, and looking for snakes, turtles, and other wildlife. Dedra and Joe love stand-up paddle boarding at Waneka Lake - they also mentioned that it’s great for finding wildlife, being in nature, enjoying the frisbee golf course, and so much more. Kelly recommends Davidson Mesa (in Louisville, off McCaslin just south of South Boulder Road) as a great area to get outside - it has a 3 mile, relatively flat loop with amazing views of the Flatirons, as well as a de facto dog park. Pro tip from Kelly: be aware that the dog area has no shade - and bring your own water! Kelly also recommends Coal Creek Trail, which runs from Superior to Erie - it follows the creek, and offers shade, as well as cow and golfer sightings. Lafayette also features Indian Peaks Golf Course, a beautiful, public, 18-hole course off of Baseline, east of 95th, with beautiful views, plus happy hour and live music in the summer. Another gathering spot is the YMCA (95th and Arapahoe) - Jenny loves the community and the many activities for kids and families.
Eats and Drinks: Folks in Louisville and Lafayette have such love for their local shops and restaurants! Everyone I talked to raved about their favorite places, and there were definitely some common threads throughout. Read on (and prepare to be tempted):
Moxie Bread Co.
For coffee, head to Brewing Market - a Boulder institution with a number of locations. There’s one in Lafayette, at the corner of Arapahoe and 95th, that Jenny visits frequently - if you’re in your car, they have a drive-thru, but it’s also a great place to bike to, and on the weekends they have live music. Dedra recommends Moxie Bread Company (in Louisville, right on Main Street at Pine), who offer high quality espresso drinks in addition to fresh baked breads, drool-worthy pastries, and delicious sandwiches. They also sell freshly milled flour to take home and do your own baking!
Kelly highly recommends the breakfast burritos at Locos Hermanos (Louisville, McCaslin and Cherry) - she says they grill the burritos so they get a little crispy on the outside… and with that, we all need a burrito! Another brunch-friendly stop is The Post (Lafayette, Public Road and Emma), a local brewery and restaurant with 4 locations (and featured in our Rosedale/University highlight as well). Everything is good, but the waffles are the best, topped with their famous fried chicken. Don’t limit yourself to brunch there, though - they serve food and their delicious beer all day!
Teocalli (image: REColorado).
In Lafayette, Dedra and Joe love Teocalli Cocina (Public Road and Simpson), a Mexican kitchen with a mouthwatering variety of tacos, salsas, enchiladas, and roasted meats.
Kelly is a frequent visitor to Thai Phuket in Louisville (just off McCaslin and 36) - she says it’s the best Thai food she’s had outside of Thailand, and incredibly affordable too! She recommends the Cashew Nut Stir Fry, Papaya Salad, Pad See Ew, Pineapple Fried Rice, or any of their curries.
Both Jenny and Dedra are big fans of Pica’s Taqueria (Louisville, just off Main Street at Front and South). Dedra loves their friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Jenny and her family go there every Friday (she recommends the Baja Shrimp burrito) and follow it with a trip to Sweet Cow (just two blocks south) for some of the tastiest ice cream in the metro area. Dedra also recommends Eats and Sweets in Lafayette (Public Road and Chester) for their ice cream, but also creative sandwiches and fresh salads.
Delicious beer (and Sophie!) at Gravity.
If you know me, you know I cannot and will not overlook delicious beer! Luckily, the Lafayette/Louisville area does not either. The Post, mentioned above, offers a number of awesome beers to accompany their fried chicken. Gravity Brewing (Louisville, Pine and Courtesy/95th) is a favorite of Kelly’s (and mine!) - their spacious and friendly taproom is matched by the wide variety of delicious and unique beers. If you get hungry, Gravity also has Gastronauts, their in-house food shop featuring pizza, wings, and tasty apps. Kelly also recommends Mother Tucker (Louisville, McCaslin at 36) - this recently opened second location (the first is in Thornton) features friendly staff and a great selection for any beer drinker. Dedra and Joe enjoy Liquid Mechanics (in Lafayette at Baseline and 287) - I am a big fan of their Hop Nectar Northeast Style Pale Ale. I can’t leave out Odd13 (Lafayette, Simpson and Gough) and their always-fantastic variety of IPAs (don’t worry, they have other styles too)!
The view from Acreage.
If you’re not a beer drinker, there are still some fantastic options - Kelly visits Por Wine House in Louisville (Main and Pine) and loves the intimate environment. They have wines on tap and lots of bottles, and if you want nibbles with your wine (who doesn’t?), they have charcuterie boards and highly recommended bacon-wrapped dates and baked brie. Kelly recommends that you get there early for a spot on the fantastic patio.
Lafayette is also home to Acreage, the hilltop outpost of Stem Ciders. It’s worth the trip just for the views, but while you’re there, enjoy some hard cider, small plates, and cider donuts.
Many thanks to my friends and clients who contributed all of their favorites to this list!