Aspen Vacation Guide
Aspen Restaurants
Where to Eat in Aspen
Aspen is home to many upscale restaurants with fantastic food. Among the best restaurants in Aspen are Montagna and Matsuhisa.
Montagna is located within one of the highest rated hotels in Aspen, The Little Nell, and offers Rocky Mountain artisan cuisine paired with a Wine Spectator award winning wine list. Known for farm fresh flavor, Montagna is a favorite among both tourists and locals and often named the top restaurant in Aspen. It has a great bar and lounge area that is dog friendly and complete with a fireplace - making it a perfect place to see and be seen since celebrities visiting Aspen often stay at the Nell.
Matsuhisa is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the US and specializes in gourmet seafood and sushi. While it is expensive, it is well worth the price especially if you love creative ethnic food. "Matsu," as locals call it, has a couple different dining areas and two bars that are interesting spots to people watch over sake or your favorite drink.
Aspen's Affordable Dining
A couple restaurants in Aspen offer special bar menus which make eating out more affordable. The two best deals in Aspen are Jimmy's featuring nightly bar menu specials such as King Crab Legs and L'Hostaria - try the steak off the bar menu complete with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Jimmy's and L'Hostaria both offer lively bar scenes and can get wild late at night.
Although Aspen is known for its great restaurants, dining out every night of your visit can be expensive. If you're on a tight budget, City Market offers the cheapest groceries in town and has a decent soup and salad bar. While Clark's market has higher prices than City Market, they also offer a soup and salad bar along with a variety of prepared food options such as sushi, salads, or complete meals (lamb, pasta, turkey, etc.). The most affordable dining options in Aspen are Little Ollie's restaurant which features good Chinese food and The Hickory House offering huge breakfasts and barbecue options for lunch and dinner.
Favorite Aspen Bars
The Hotel Jerome is a historic establishment in Aspen located right on Main Street making it one of the top places to stay in Aspen. The hotel features the J Bar and the Library, both fun spots for drinks. If you're looking for a laid back bar or want to blend in with the locals try Little Annie's, a long established bar in Aspen. This bar offers a shot and a beer for $3.50 and free popcorn while the restaurant menu consists of decently priced BBQ fare. Zane's Tavern is a relaxing hang out and offers cheap bar food - try the sweet potato fries! Also, the Double Dog is known as cozy spot for drinks, shuffleboard and its tasty pub grub (and access to anything off the sister restaurant menu, The Steak Pit, located next door).
Aspen's Top Apres Skiing Scenes
If you've just enjoyed a day on Ajax Mountain's slopes and you are looking for the best apres skiing scene in Aspen, try Ajax Tavern located next to the gondola and part of The Little Nell hotel or 39 degrees, located with in the Sky hotel. Both Aspen apres spots offer patio seating great for sunny days and 39 degrees overlooks the Sky hotel's pool and hot tub - both open to the public.
