Café Aion: from farm to incredibly elegant, hip table.

Okay, this has to count as a pre-view, not a re-view—I missed both soft opening parties, but made the Grand Opening, and wound up popping by for their first brunch the next night—so I haven’t yet had a proper meal at the place.

But one thing’s for sure—I know enough to be able to say—I’m giddy.

Founded by four young restaurateurs, Café Aion not only successfully takes the baton pass from Burnt Toast, the green-minded foodie and charmingly, thoroughly relaxed establishment that filled 1235 Pennsylvania Avenue before it, but…well, Café Aion simplifies everything.

The founders seemed to have taken down every wall they could and a few they couldn’t, opened everything up, supplied some minimal but brashly elegant decor (the tables look like the sides of gorgeous old school sailing yachts, the bars are reclaimed, the naked brick is exposed, and candle-lit, and one big wall is painted Mediterranean blue (they call it Aion Blue, I think).

Most importantly, the place feels simultaneously timeless—farm-to-table, green-minded—and yet young, hip, happening.

The dry cappuccino at brunch was incredible, as was the pastry—and in Boulder, with few sources for decent hand-rolled pastries, that’s no small thing. The founders are all charming, fun, strong, focused. The seating outside is, as it was with Burnt Toast, sunny and fun. There’s a couch for lounging, which I did with friends, there’s great beers on tap (mine was 11 bucks with a good tip, but as it was 10% alcohol, seems worth it). There’s hooks beneath the bar, and a gorgeous bike parked in front of one of the fireplaces.

Whether you want an elegant, a romantic date; a fun dinner party; a hungover brunch with the best-looking Bloody Marys this side of paradise…Café Aion seems to have nailed it. It’s a great new asset to the Boulder community: as a crazy eco-responsibility-minded boy, I’m grateful.

Go—and tell us what you think, below.

Fan ’em on Facebook.

Check out their menu.

1235 Pennsylvania Avenue, Boulder, Colorado. Hours: 4 to 11 p.m Wednesday through Friday. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, I think.

All photos via Jessica Lisi via their Facebook Page: