Teahouse Building

Located in Downtown Boulder, the teahouse is a hand-carved, hand-painted masterpiece. Inside there is a copper fountain, large oil art canvases, blowing gauze curtain, and bright bold colored panels on the walls, ceilings, pillars, and bar. Inside and out, the teahouse dazzles the eye. Over forty artisans worked for three years to craft the building.

Inside, some of the best seats are not seats at all, but rather beds, called topjans. When calling (reservations are best) ask for these seats. The experience is unique as you sit on the raised platform on pillows, dining like Alexander the Great. The topjans recall the tea house’s roots in Central Asia.

You can also sit along Boulder Creek and dine al fresco, under the shade of grapevines. The outside of the building is as beautiful as the inside, so dining outside is a double delight. Eight colorful ceramic panels tell a story of the “Tree of Life,” designed by Victor Zabolotnikov.

The History

The teahouse was a gift to the city of Boulder from its sister city Dushanbe in Tajikistan (near China and part of the former Soviet Union). The building sat for years, stored away in hundreds of boxes awaiting assembly and a home. Finally, the teahouse was constructed next to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, in City Park. And on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the teahouse sits right in the middle of the busy Farmers’ Market. Today, over 100,00 visitors stop by to enjoy tea, meals, and an amazing visual experience.

The Menu

Tea is served cold and hot, blends crafted specially for the teahouse. A summer favorite is bubble tea -— a fruity concoction of tea and sparkling water. Hot tea is served by the pot with a timer, so your beverage steps perfectly.

Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, full formal tea (often call High Tea), and dinner, the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse serves up eclectic dishes make up the menu. Indian, Mediterranean, Cuban, and Italian cuisine is offered as well as Korean squid and Dutch croquettes. A favorite with many visitors is the Greek salad. Desserts include a rich rice pudding served in a teacup and a warm gingerbread with cream. The teahouse also serves beer and wine.

The Scandal

No good story is without its gossip, and Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse has its own story. It seems that a reciprocal gift from the City Sister Boulder has yet to be delivered to the people of Tajikistan. The affluent college town is trying to raise funds to build a cyber café. As of yet, the financial goals have not been met, and Dushanbe waits for her Internet café.