The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

"The stunningly ornate decor in this local landmark — hand-carved columns, painted furnishings, central fountain, and all — was shipped from Boulder’s sister city in Tajikistan and assembled piece by piece as a gift of civic friendship. Here, an eclectic menu with a slight emphasis on Central Asian fare supplements an extensive selection of teas (and tea-infused cocktails) to make for a leisurely respite beneath the kaleidoscopic ceiling." - Ruth Tobias

"The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is a unique, hand-crafted tea house gifted to the city of Boulder by its sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. It serves as a cultural center showcasing Persian-style art and architecture, and offers a global menu inspired by its cross-cultural history." - Michael He

"This hand-built gift from Dushanbe, Boulder's sister city in Tajikistan, offers a respite from quotidian life. Walk through the front garden and you'll be instantly transported to a zen-filled, magical space. If the bucolic setting doesn't lower your blood pressure, the stunning interior that transports you to a faraway culture will. As the name suggests, tea is the raison d'être here, and the selection is comprehensive. From apple strudel and samosas to feijoada and plov (a buttery rice dish studded with chickpeas, dried fruit and grilled beef), the menu reads like a world explorer's diary. Naturally, tea time and afternoon tea are reason alone to visit, and the dessert selection is particularly tempting." - Michelin Inspector

"The stunningly ornate decor of this local landmark — with hand-carved and -painted columns, furniture, and all — was shipped from Boulder’s sister city in Tajikistan and assembled piece by piece as a gift of civic friendship. An eclectic menu with an emphasis on Central Asian fare supplements an extensive selection of teas to make for a leisurely respite beneath the kaleidoscopic ceilings." - Rebecca Treon, Josie Sexton, Ruth Tobias, Nisa Sedaghat

"This beautifully hand-crafted teahouse located in Boulder, Colorado was given to the American city by the mayor and citizens of Dushanbe, Tajikstan in an ambitious sister cities program. In the program, Boulder and Dushanbe agreed to exchange one building each, and in exchange for the incredible tea house, Dushanbe received an internet cafe. Unfortunately, after the teahouse was constructed in Tajikstan and sent to the United States to be assembled, it sat in storage for eight years before being erected. In addition, the effort to give the internet cafe to the city of Dushanbe didn’t even commence until 16 years later, and wasn’t nearly as beautifully crafted or culturally significant as the teahouse they had sent to Boulder." - ATLAS_OBSCURA