Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is a beautifully ornate venue, featuring a diverse global tea selection and international cuisine in a unique cultural setting.

After a solid afternoon of taking our river tubes on Clear Creek river and enjoying beers at The Golden Mill, it was time for a short rest and then dinner in Boulder. Now, I’d first heard about the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse during tea with Angie at Babe’s Tea House in Denver. In mentioning that I was looking for a spot in Boulder to eat dinner with my friend, Rosemary, she immediately suggested the tea house. Curious about her description of the of the location, I did some quick research.

The history of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is an interesting story that bridges continents and cultures. Its origins trace back to 1987, when Boulder’s sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, gifted the city a magnificent Persian-style teahouse. Crafted by skilled artisans in Dushanbe, the teahouse was adorned with intricate wood carvings and vibrant murals, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia. The gift was a symbol of international friendship and goodwill, a testament to the unique bond shared between these two cities.

In a remarkable feat of cultural preservation, the teahouse was disassembled in Dushanbe and shipped to Boulder, arriving in 1998. Reassembly was no small task—local craftsmen worked diligently to reconstruct the teahouse in its new home, ensuring that every ornate detail and handcrafted element was meticulously preserved.

In short, it was a place I definitely needed to try.

When we first arrived, I was pleasantly visually pleased with how gorgeous the structure and detailed craftsmanship the building showcased.

When sitting for our reservation,  we asked our waitress how her evening was going. She answered honestly that it was – challenging. Which, pretty much set us up for what was to come during our dining experience.

We began with the SWEDISH SVAMPTOAST (wild mushroom, shallots, garlic, white wine, goat cheese, truffle oil, grilled artisanal bread), the PERSIAN DOLMA BADEMJAN (Vegan eggplant stuffed with rice, chickpea, onion, dried fruit, herbs, Persian tomato sauce, coriander chutney) and the CHAR SIU BAO (slow roasted pork, pickled daikon & carrot, sweet tamari-sesame & chile sauce, steamed bun). There were all, okay

The BURNING THYME (Russian Caravan infused Castle and Key bourbon, barrel aged & orange bitters, brown sugar) was very interesting and refreshing on the tongue.

Then, the issues started. Now, I know that grace is key when you walk into your reservation and see a rather large party in front. But, it’s key to know that Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse’s manager handled the situation with professionalism and appropriate swiftness – before I needed to have a conversation.

During our long wait in service, I enjoyed a CAPPUCCINO. Which was typical, restaurant fare in taste. The issue was that it took us an hour and a half to get our food, due to kitchen issues.

When my PERSIAN KHORESH FESENJAN (Persian spice chicken, caramelized onions, walnuts, pomegranate, braising jus, garlic loobia, white rice) eventually arrived, it was quite good. However, at that point, I was really annoyed with the amount of time I’d been sitting in the restaurant, waiting for our food to arrive. So I took it to go and enjoyed it in my hotel room, later.

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