When bubble tea spots pop up in Lakewood, we slurp them down. That means subjecting our taste buds to the sweet, the bland, and, more often than not, the just okay. But occasionally, a new shop makes us feel all boba-bubbly inside—like the first perfect pearl you ever sucked up a fat straw. When that happens, we add it here, to this list of the 10 best.
The Spot Co
$ | (720) 254-0007 | WEBSITE
With its bright teal sign, playful neon accents, and upbeat K-pop soundtrack, The Spot Co is part cozy café, part childhood arcade dream. And while you (sadly) won’t be served by a dancing boba mascot, you can picture local families and teens having animated conversations over mango fruit teas. The menu is mostly classic bubble tea with some delightful twists.
The mango fruit tea is the signature recipe but with brown sugar boba that’s perfectly chewy “like the owners make it fresh daily,” while the coffee selection—always robust—is served just-sweet-enough and wonderfully aromatic alongside affordable snacks. Add bubble tea from $4.50 per cup and snacks under $5 and there isn’t much to argue about.
ThirsTea Tiger
$ | (303) 590-1490 | WEBSITE
ThirsTea Tiger is the hidden gem of the mall, a playful spot known for its delicious K-dogs and superb taste in lemonade. It’s also more casual, with a kitchen that consists of a compact counter and a fryer that could fit in a small closet. Which all makes the elaborate menu go even harder.
There’s a standout beef dog with potato and spicy Cheeto topping praised for its exceptional flavor, a crunchy exterior with flavorful interior options like half cheese and potato fillings, and a variety of refreshing lemonade drinks to complement the meal. The pared-back interior—think mall lighting and a bustling food court vibe—channels a Lakewood-meets-Seoul snack bar.
Never pass on the dipping sauces, which are so magnificent they would convince even the pickiest eater to raise an approving eyebrow. Arrive early on busy days to avoid parking challenges.
TropiTai Delights
The Lakewood dessert crowd was initially skeptical of TropiTai Delights when it first appeared. “Shaved ice for eight dollars?!” they wondered. After all, this former generic strip-mall spot still looks like a basic bubble tea shop—if that particular shop had the aesthetic sensibilities of a minimalist designer. But it’s anything but.
The friendly staff, especially Joey who’s as comfortable crafting a perfect winter melon milk tea as he is chatting with customers about recommendations, already have families driving across town to enjoy their treats.
At TropiTai Delights, that quality shows: the wintermelon shaved ice melts on your tongue like snow because it’s made with real fruit syrup, not artificial flavoring, the boba uses premium tapioca pearls as opposed to the rubbery pre-made balls you get elsewhere, and the winter melon milk tea (balanced with just the right creaminess and sweetness) might just be the most refreshing thing we’ve ever tasted.
Sharetea Belmar
$ | (720) 708-4354 | WEBSITE
In Lakewood, bubble tea spots are where you’ll mostly find sweeter, more playful flavors than those offered at your local coffee shop. Does the tea measure up to what you’d find in San Francisco or Vancouver? Mostly, no. But every now and then, we stumble upon a big, resounding yes, like Sharetea Belmar. While the bright, modern interior feels more like a cheerful, kid-friendly cafe, the flavors and textures are right on the money.
The immediate refreshment of the first sip of the mango passion fruit tea, served with chewy lychee jelly, let us know these guys know their pearls from their crystal boba. Boba enthusiasts should spring for the strawberry tea with perfectly cooked pearls or the honey milk green tea, both consistently praised as some of the best around.
The convenient location with plenty of free parking makes Sharetea Belmar the perfect jumping-off point for enjoying a tasty milk tea while catching up or taking a walk.
Bubblelicious Colorado Mills Mall
$ | (303) 590-1402 | WEBSITE
Lakewood’s standout bubble tea spot isn’t your standard mall drink counter. It’s unlike any other in Colorado Mills, with customizable drinks (mango boba tea for $6.50 or green tea with lychee jelly for $5.75) of refreshing flavors that spotlight thoughtful tea blends fused with unique extras. The result is a modern interpretation of bubble tea.
There’s the mango boba tea, a blend of tropical fruit flavors like mango and tea, with sweet boba brought by the friendly staff, or the delicate green tea with lychee jelly, served chilled and laced with lychee and native tea leaves. The flavors are full-throttle, and what stays with you long after the drink is done.
Mon Thai Wadsworth
$ | (303) 238-8000 | WEBSITE
Few Thai spots achieve the kind of local devotion Mon Thai Wadsworth enjoys, so when it landed on those ‘best bubble tea’ lists earlier this year, it got heads nodding. If the other Lakewood Thai joints are the quick-service spots with noodles, then Mon Thai is the curry house with heart.
Since it’s tucked along Wadsworth, plenty of newcomers wander in expecting generic pad thai and cheap spring rolls, but instead find a space full of bright lighting, a simple counter, mostly regulars, and a flavor-packed kitchen serving that rich green curry with tofu—creamy with coconut milk and loaded with fresh vegetables. There’s also a solid selection of vegan and gluten-free options, including naturally accommodating dishes, that is surprisingly reasonable (with most entrees around $14).
Service is genuinely friendly, so get in now, while it’s still easy to snag one of the small dining room’s tables.
Shiba Boba Lakewood
$ | (303) 954-8130 | WEBSITE
When a bubble tea shop draws a steady stream of smiling regulars on a quiet Sunday afternoon, you know they’ve found their sweet spot. Or their perfect boba spot, like Shiba Boba Lakewood. It’s a modern tea haven that takes the current dairy-free trend and executes it with genuine care. The drinks are a combination of classic milk teas and creative flavor combinations that feel like wrapping your hands around a warm mug on a chilly day.
You’ll typically find the neighborhood tea enthusiasts here to savor the green tea matcha milk tea with pomegranate popping boba, or simply enjoy the rich black milk tea. The star of the show is the brown sugar boba, with its deeply caramelized flavor and those perfectly chewy pearls that make each sip a little celebration.
MÖGE TEE – Lakewood
$ | (303) 332-8225 | WEBSITE
The same crew behind the beloved MÖGE TEE family-run concept has opened this Lakewood location. Expect that same great friendly service and quality tea selection, but in a more spacious setting. Instead of just standard bubble tea, you’ll find customizable options (starting at $4.50, premium drinks around $6.50), but not an overwhelming menu. Drinks are flavorful and creamy, just like the cheese cap, with lots of unique combinations, from crème brûlée milk tea to golden boba and cheese foam.
The crème brûlée milk tea with golden boba is a sweet, satisfying spin on classic bubble tea, while the cheese foam topping will have you smiling in the right places. And there isn’t a bland cup in sight.
Arden
$ | (303) 955-7212 | WEBSITE
In 2025, Lakewood’s coffee scene got a refresh. Gone are the generic chain cafés that once served bland, over-sweetened drinks to hurried customers and, in their place, a charming little spot that feels more like a cozy library than a typical boba shop (and is priced accordingly). Thankfully, it has substance, like Arden, the latest from local owners who have been perfecting their craft.
Arden is cozier than most, but no less efficient, and the boba is just as satisfying—the strawberry matcha latte with perfectly cooked tapioca pearls is the one to home in on. The warmth can be seen in the ube café latte made with rich purple yam, a.k.a. the comfort food of Filipino drinks, blended with smooth espresso, or the Thai tea steeped with spices and creamy milk.
Kung Fu Tea
$ | (303) 593-0850 | WEBSITE
Kung Fu Tea is a triple delight: refreshing drinks, playful flavors, and friendly, knowledgeable service. It calls itself a bubble tea shop, but it also holds its own as a boba destination, or snapping boba specialist. Top choices include the Pikmin Tropical Punch, with its vibrant fruit medley and chewy boba pearls, or the Taro slush filled with creamy purple yam and icy sweetness.
But if you’re a strict bubble tea purist, the classic milk tea with its perfectly steeped black tea and smooth creaminess would hold its own in Taipei.