Aspen Restaurants
Aspen is known for its skiing, summertime hikes, and vibrant art scene—as well as its food. You can really find something for everyone, whether you are visiting with young kids, a group of 20-somethings, or just a significant other. Below is a list of my favorite spots!
Some Tips…
Always make reservations, just in case. In the thick of the off-season, think October to November or mid-April to early June, they are likely not needed. Some restaurants may close during this time, though, so it is best to double-check with a reservation or phone call.
You can wear jeans everywhere. Even at more ‘formal’ dinner restaurants, people dress pretty casually—most opt for a kind of mountain chic.
The prices in Aspen can be a bit hard to swallow (no pun intended). They have gone up in recent years and continue to climb. If you are a budget planner, I recommend giving yourself some extra padding when it comes to meals.
Casa Tua is one of my favorite restaurants in Aspen for lunch and dinner. The cuisine (Italian, if the name didn’t tip you off!) is consistently excellent. The nut-crusted salmon and eggplant parmigiana are my go-to dishes on the menu. I also love the hand-spun pistachio gelato (which is huge & perfect for sharing). Many of the staff have worked here for years, and they are always incredibly friendly. If you visit in the summer, ask to dine on the patio. It is the perfect place to sit and people-watch.
With a delicious chicken Milanese, Ellina is another great Italian restaurant in Aspen. In addition to classic dishes like pasta and seafood, the menu also has a Mexican spin—head chef Miguel Diaz hails from Puerto Vallarta and draws inspiration from there. The tacos are a must-try!
Acquolina is a traditional Italian trattoria on Main Street that I always recommend for family or group dinners. The atmosphere is lively but informal, and the pizzas are the best thing on the menu.
If you are visiting with young children, check out Brunelleschi’s for a casual but fun dinner. Their ‘make your own’ pizza and pretzel activities are always crowd-pleasers.
Available for dine-in, take-out, or delivery, NY Pizza is the go-to counter-serve pizza joint. No fuss, quality pies (or slices) that hit the spot after a long day on the slopes.
Casual but lively, White House Tavern is an Aspen staple. The menu isn’t extensive, but everything on it is delicious, from the sandwiches to the salads. A favorite of mine is their Macho Salad—mixed greens, goat cheese, dates, etc— and, by the number of ‘copycat’ recipes online, I see that I am not alone. It is phenomenal, and I’ll order it a few times a week (as well as make it at home!)
White House Tavern doesn’t take reservations, so I recommend going on the earlier side and putting your name down. While waiting, I love to walk around town, and they’ll shoot over a text when the table is ready.
Pine Creek Cookhouse is a dining-adventure experience located at the base of the Elk Mountains. Spend the day hiking to American Lake or Cathedral Lake before stopping at the restaurant for a lunch of fresh, local food in a polished but rustic space. The restaurant is also open in the winter and offers different activities, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or taking a horse-drawn sleigh. It is about twenty-five minutes by car from town, and you definitely should make a reservation in advance.
Another Aspen staple, Ajax Tavern is the best spot for a ski-day lunch. Located right off the Ajax gondola, it can get a bit crowded in the ski season, but the wait is worth it. In the summer months, I love to grab a seat outside and enjoy the sun. Make sure to order the truffle fries!
Modeled after a London gentleman’s club, Monarch is very old-school in style (think vested waiters and smoky cocktails). It is a good spot for a date night or a guys’ dinner, and I highly recommend their table-side Caesar salad.
Catch Steak’s Aspen outpost is much like that in LA and NY: a stylish, buzzing crowd dining in a very see-and-be-seen atmosphere. Go for the people-watching or to try their delicious raw vegetable platter. It is a huge restaurant with outdoor and indoor sections, perfect for a group dinner.
With its dark, moody vibe, Steakhouse No. 316 is your quintessential steakhouse —velvet-covered booths, a few high-tops, and a small bar. The steaks and sides are always excellent.
To be completely transparent, I am not the biggest fan of barbeque. That being said, the following two restaurants have gotten A+ ratings from friends and family who love it. Hickory House is an Aspen institution that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant has a kitschy, rustic feel, with wooden walls and bear decor everywhere. I find the interior a little dark and prefer takeout (but maybe that’s just me). Make sure to try their phenomenal sauce! If it is a hit, you can purchase a few jars to take home with you.
Home Team BBQ is located at the Inn at Aspen at the base of Buttermilk Mountain. With gorgeous views, delicious food, and games like shuffleboard and cornhole, it is the perfect place for group/family dinners in the summer.
Betula serves French-Pan American cuisine—think ceviche and rack of lamb—and the dishes tend to be hit or miss. What I love about the restaurant is its atmosphere: great music, great people-watching, and a hopping bar. It is perfect for a cocktail or dinner before a night out. This is probably one of the dressier restaurants on this list—dress to impress!
Cache Cache is an Aspen go-to that has been around for decades. In the warmer months, I always prefer the outside tables. The menu has plenty of fabulous French-American dishes, from the roasted chicken to the Alaskan king crab legs, and their salmon tartare is my favorite in town. If you ever need a last-minute place to eat, try walking in for a seat at the bar.
Mawa’s Kitchen is a gem of a restaurant located at the Airport Business Center (just across the street from the airport itself). It is an easy bike ride from town—20 minutes by bike or 5 minutes by car. The cuisine is an exciting mix of Afro-Mediterranean and French-American. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they also have a catering division that does in-flight dining for private aircraft.
Meat and Cheese is a charming food market with an adjoining restaurant. With a well-curated selection, it is the best place to stop for charcuterie supplies if you are entertaining. Their restaurant doesn’t take reservations and always has a wait, but the food is worth it. My favorites are their rotisserie chicken board and biscuits.
West End Social, recently opened at the Meadows Resort, offers shareable plates in a playful, Bauhaus-inspired space. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is a great addition to Aspen. The dishes feature local produce and are inspired by the landscape. I had a phenomenal caprese sandwich there recently, and family members have reported that the breakfast is wonderful. Located downstairs is a small coffee shop with a sitting area—perfect for getting some work done or grabbing a more casual bite.
Owned by Chef Barclay Dodge and his wife Molly (whom I adore!), Bosq is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving New American cuisine. Guests have an option of a five or ten-course tasting menu, and portions are small—so I recommend opting for the ten. While I don’t love the word foodie (it seems a little overused these days), Bosq is perfect for one… really anyone seeking fine cuisine and a unique dining experience.
Matsuhisa is my favorite Japanese restaurant. Vibey and loud, the downstairs is for reservations only—ideal for a group dinner—while upstairs is walk-in with a limited menu. I highly recommend the Adam Roll, especially if you like salmon. Make sure to save room for dessert; order the mochi ice cream and the shaved ice!
Jing is an Asian fusion restaurant that serves delicious kale fried rice and dumplings. It is perfect if you are craving takeout, but you can also sit inside (although it tends to get packed in the busy season).
Sway Thai is a new addition to the Aspen food scene. With a simple, chic feel and creative spins on classic dishes, it makes for a memorable dinner. Some must-orders are the steak fried rice, the eggplant, and the dumplings.
Paradise Bakery is an institution known for its ice cream, cookies, and homemade muffins. The line is always out the door (for good reason) but moves very fast. It is a must-stop!
Spring Cafe is a vegetarian restaurant that serves ‘clean’ meals for breakfast and lunch. It offers baked goods, sandwiches, a variety of egg dishes, and more, all organic and high-quality. They have a phenomenal ‘tuna melt’ that is made from chickpeas. My one complaint is their smoothies—I just prefer those at JUS.
JUS has a menu similar to Spring Cafe's, with health-conscious sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. We typically do takeout, but a few tables are located in the lobby. JUS often has a line during the busy season, so I recommend calling ahead. My go-to order is the chicken wrap, and I also adore their almond butter balls as a sweet treat.
Poppycocks Cafe is a breakfast staple in Aspen that serves the best oatmeal pancakes I’ve ever tasted (it seems this is a popular opinion—they sell the pancake mix worldwide on their website!)I typically order to-go in the winter, but dining at one of the few outdoor tables is a treat in the warmer months. Stop in for breakfast or lunch for a down-to-earth and delicious meal.
The Little Nell Hotel’s Element 47 serves a more formal (but equally delicious) breakfast. Choose from light fare or something more hearty, like the lemon soufflé pancakes. The food and service are always a 10!