This article’s recommendations may include affiliate links.
Deep in the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find Aspen, Colorado. It’s a popular luxe skiing destination, but that’s just the beginning of what this old mining town has to offer! Aspen has year-round recreational activities and a bustling arts and culture scene.
It also has a lavish food scene! Aspen restaurants are high quality – and with endless options. No matter what you’re craving or what your food restrictions are, you’ll find something to sink your teeth into.
From French and Italian to Japanese, there’s an impressive number of different cuisines here! You’ll find high-end New American, boutique fusion stops, and casual comfort food, too. They also love Wagyu beef in Aspen. Read on for my picks!
What to Know About Dining in Aspen
I spent five days indulging in Aspen Restaurants!
As mentioned, one of the best things to do in Aspen is dining – but there are a few things to know before booking your reservations (and yes, you should get reservations.)
First, some of the best restaurants in Aspen are ski-in only. This means that they’re only open when the slopes are open. Located at the top of the peaks, you have to ride a gondola to get there. This makes for perfect dining with a view!
Also, while dining at Aspen restaurants, you might notice that a lot of them have après ski menus. This is to accommodate guests coming off the slopes. After such a physically challenging endeavor, you’ll want to celebrate and enjoy a bite to eat! While après menus tend to be on the lighter side, most restaurants also offer more complete menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Aspen Restaurants in Downtown Aspen
Some of the best restaurants in Aspen are in the Downtown area!
Casa Tua
403 S Galena St, Aspen, CO 81611
Restaurateurs Miky Grendene and Leticia Herrera wanted to add to the rich array of Aspen, Colorado restaurants. They succeeded with Casa Tua, the third addition to their other locations in Miami and Paris.
This high-end Italian restaurant offers a warm dining experience with reclaimed wood and fresh flowers next to crisp linen and sparkling crystal. Sit at one of their 3 patio dining areas with views of downtown Aspen and Ajax Mountain. They base their menu on local ingredients from ethical and organic sources, including elk, venison, and trout.
Casa Tua is always busy, so call to book reservations a few days out! They’re open for lunch a few days a week and for dinner at different times, depending on the season.
Ajax Tavern
685 E Durant Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Ajaz Tavern is the casual option for a good brew and a burger at the Little Nell Hotel! You can enjoy warm interiors with a glamorous modern look or head out to the spacious patio. Both are striking settings to watch people skiing or riding the gondolas, just steps away from the tavern.
One of the best restaurants in Aspen, there’s always something going on here. Check out live music or go dancing. Indulge in the Wagyu cheeseburger and truffle fries, 2 crowd favorites! They have an extensive wine and beer list, alongside their many cocktails.
Jour de Fête
710 E Durant Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Among Aspen, Colorado restaurants, Jour de Fête is a favorite among locals and visitors. This French-style café and deli has been a family-owned staple in the lower downtown area since it opened in 1988.
Step in for quick corner store finds or enjoy a coffee and breakfast while you peoplewatch from the cafe. Many of Jour de Fête’s homemade plant-based dishes feature vegetables from owner Olivier Mottier’s home garden!
Enjoy fresh bread, locally recognized coffee drinks, French pastries, and fresh breakfast dishes. Grab bags of grain-free chips or chocolate bars from wicker baskets. Sit down for the soup of the day or grab a cup of instant oatmeal on your way to the slopes!
Meat & Cheese
320 S Galena St, Aspen, CO 81611
You’ll love unique Aspen restaurants like Meat & Cheese! They have a cuisine style that they call “World Farmhouse.” They strive to only use local, sustainably sourced ingredients for Aspen-style takes on home-cooked dishes from all over the world.
Their starters are usually rustic board options. We loved the meat & cheese board when we went. For something lighter, I suggest the Thai coconut soup from their lunch menu. It’s fun to see their takes on classics, like Vietnamese coffee crème brûlée!
When making your plans, keep in mind that Meat & Cheese is super popular. They don’t accept reservations, but you can join the line queue on Yelp.
Mi Chola
411 E Main St, Aspen, CO 81611
A lot of the best restaurants in Aspen are on or near “Restaurant Row,” on Hopkins Street. Mi Chola is one of these, and you can see why it’s so popular. A modern Mexican restaurant, the hip, beautiful interior design stays true to Mexican culture.
You’ll love the metal finishes, stained wood, dark leather, bright colors, and fun pop art! Co-owners Adam Malmgren and Darren Chapple call their style “progressive Mexican cuisine.”
During our 5 day trip to Aspen last summer, I was craving good Mexican food. Their street tacos were to die for and I can see why everyone raves about their cocktails!
Paradise Bakery
320 S Galena St, Aspen, CO 81611
One of the most popular Aspen, Colorado restaurants is more of a treat: Paradise Bakery! Just a few blocks away from Main Street, there are always crowds at Paradise Bakery.
This Aspen mainstay has been serving the community for over 40 years. Come talk to the founders about their history in Aspen and enjoy their famous homemade-style pastries, gelato, and coffee.
Try a frozen lemonade or order a box of their beloved bite-sized cookies. So fun!
Matsuhisa
303 E Main St, Aspen, CO 81611
Another special Aspen restaurant to check out is Matsuhisa. You’ll find this Japanese restaurant inside a blue Victorian house. World-renowned Chef Nobu creates contemporary sushi and Japanese cuisine influenced by international flavors.
You’ll be led to the basement which houses the main dining room and a full-sized sushi bar. There’s a second dining room on the ground floor. The contrast between the Victorian exterior and the contemporary Asian interior is fun but surprising! Plus, the classic bamboo-wrapped ceiling at the sushi bar with a warm, neutral color palette is very inviting.
When you call to make reservations, note if you want upstairs or downstairs dining. There’s a different menu for both, with downstairs being more extensive. Dinner begins at 5:30 PM.
French Alpine Bistro
400 E Hopkins Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Owner Karin Derly had a vision of evoking her Austrian roots with the French Alpine Bistro. The aesthetic of this unique spot just makes sense among all the restaurants in Aspen! The cozy feel of the outside will pique your interest first.
Inside, Derly has covered every surface in trinkets, handmade objects, and cast-iron fixtures. There are candles on every table with wax spilling onto the stained wood top. Chairs are backed with sheepskin while windows feature gingham curtains.
Enjoy rustic, casual French cuisine with German influences. Try savory crepes in fun themes, cheese fondue, or fresh salads with seared salmon. Imagine enjoying warm French onion soup inside the French Alpine Bistro on a snowy day!
Element 47
675 E Durant Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
For more stunning Aspen restaurants, head to Element 47 inside the Little Nell Hotel. Sit in cozy, upscale interiors and enjoy elevated cuisine with a stunning presentation. They turn plates of wagyu tartare or sea bass with bean puree into works of art!
They serve breakfast, lunch, and après menus, besides having a full bar menu. You can also book dinner reservations and enjoy a 3-course meal. Sit at modular velvet booths, among modern art and mood lighting, or enjoy their beautiful courtyard seating.
Aspen Restaurants Outside of Downtown Aspen
Try these Aspen, Colorado restaurants found outside of the downtown Aspen area.
Mawa’s Kitchen
305 Aspen Airport Business Center F, Aspen, CO 81611
You’ll find one of the best restaurants in Aspen across the highway from the airport. Whether you’re flying in or driving from Denver, make sure you stop into Mawa’s Kitchen! !
Mawa McQueen is a world traveler originally from South Africa. Her travels influence the global ingredients she uses in dishes. Try Middle Eastern herbed labneh or West African fonio at this Black woman-owned restaurant.
This was one of my favorite stops in Aspen! We enjoyed weekend brunch on the patio. Mawa’s has separate menus for weekend brunch, weekly breakfast, and lunch. They close from 3 to 5 PM every day to prepare for dinner.
Plato’s
845 Meadows Rd, Aspen, CO 81611
Plato’s is located at the end of Meadows Road at the Aspen Meadows Resort just north of downtown. If you’re looking for a high-end Aspen restaurant with stunning mountain views, look no further.
Stay at the stunning 40-acre resort like I did, or just come for the delicious menu. Chef Jason Thompson serves up New American using seasonal, locally farmed ingredients. Plato’s has an all-day menu with the option of a special seasonal menu, as well.
Enjoy indoor seating with floor-to-ceiling windows showing views of the Rocky Mountains and the winding Roaring Fork River. I enjoyed lunch here on the patio when we went to Aspen in the summer. You’re surrounded by mountains on 3 sides!
Aspen Restaurants in Ski Mountain Locations
Check out these Aspen restaurants during a day on the slopes!
Sundeck
675 E Durant Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Also operated by the Little Nell Hotel, Sundeck has casual cafeteria-style cuisine. Enjoy pizza, burgers, salads, seafood, and more. Just take a 15-minute gondola ride to the lodge and enjoy patio seating with views of the mountain peaks.
July through October, you can have a small lunch at Sundeck. Enjoy lush green scenery or go for a stroll in the wildflowers. There’s often live music or special events going on.
November through April, there’s a larger lunch menu. Also, like many Aspen, Colorado restaurants, they have a ski après menu. Just check before you go because Sundeck often hosts private events.
Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro
76 Boomerang Rd Top of the Cloud Nine Lift, Aspen, CO 81611
Located in the Aspen Highlands, at the top of the Cloud Nine Ski Lift is Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro. The last stop on my list of best restaurants in Aspen, this popular destination is a ski-in, ski-out location.
Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is open from the middle of April to the middle of December from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM for lunch. They’re known for their fondue prix fixe and their apple strudel, but they have impressive lunch and dinner menus as well.
Be sure to make reservations 48 hours in advance if you want heated outdoor tent seating, as it’s a popular location in Aspen. You can also schedule a special private dinner where you and your partner are taken to a mountaintop cabin via snowcat. Contact Aspen Snow Mass to find out about available dates!
Enjoy the Best Aspen, Colorado Restaurants!
You could enjoy delicious food at a different location for every meal and still not get to them all! From haute cuisine to microbreweries, there’s so much variety.
Is there a stop on my list that you want to try on your trip to Aspen? Or something I missed? Let me know! And if you need logistics help, here’s how to get to Aspen from Denver and a 5-day Aspen Itinerary.
* * *
Hey Pinterest Fam!
Share this guide to the Best Aspen Restaurants by pinning the image below to your planning board.
