Top Aspen Eats: A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Restaurants & Drinks

So, you’re going to Aspen and, well, naturally, you’re thinking about the slopes. Of course! But beyond the ski runs, there really is a whole other side to Aspen – the food scene. That’s where you can find all these great places where the chefs are absolutely doing awesome work, from comfortable, cozy spots to those fancy-pants restaurants where the celebrities sometimes eat. I’m going to give you, like your best pal who knows the area, my totally biased but definitely helpful rundown of five places you absolutely can’t skip. Get ready to swap those ski boots for, basically, some very hungry taste buds.

1. Element 47: Modern American Luxury

Element 47 is inside The Little Nell, arguably Aspen’s poshest hotel, so, like, expect things to be pretty fancy. But, honestly, it’s much more than just a place to spot rich people; it’s actually where seriously top-tier American dishes meet what I can describe as truly exceptional wine service. This isn’t, in a way, just a dinner; it’s seemingly the kind of total experience. The space itself has almost an understated sophistication – it doesn’t hit you over the head with luxury but more just sort of whispers that it is extremely nice in almost every way. So, the menu is more modern American fare, which means they’re using some local stuff and trying, I feel, to do these sort of classic flavors in surprisingly clever, new ways. Expect dishes to taste really good and, for example, look quite beautiful.Their service is excellent too.

Now, let’s talk about the wine. The Little Nell’s cellar is, like, legitimately famous. These guys seem to really know their wines. Be sure to let the sommelier guide you; you can find pairings to sort of lift your meal to another level, you know? Even if you don’t fully grasp fancy wine language (most people don’t, to be honest), you’ll totally get the passion, the almost love, the team shows for all this lovely wine. Element 47 tends to be a superb pick for a special night – big anniversaries, maybe celebrating sealing that business deal. If the wallet’s feeling just a bit weighty, don’t miss their incredible Sunday brunch, which feels both classy and completely yummy, okay?

2. Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop: Casual and Delicious

Right, okay, now for something that is pretty much totally different! Meat & Cheese – just a terrific name – is, in short, the opposite of the sort of quiet luxury you find at Element 47. Picture this: bright, cozy, bustling, with all those communal tables just begging you to share with friendly, you know, even stranger folks. Meat & Cheese feels really approachable and casual in nearly every single way, like something a farmer put together in a big city almost. Their concept is easy enough to catch: awesome meats, seriously terrific cheeses, with other equally yummy, fresh-as-can-be ingredients sourced straight from farms or the surrounding region. So, this translates to charcuterie boards you’ll want to, in a way, photograph first before diving straight into.Meat and cheese sounds amazing!

Their sandwiches there are, for instance, epic, salads are just bursting with flavor, and don’t you dare skip a peek at all the daily specials that they always have running. It has a seriously good selection of beers and a well, interesting selection of wine to complement your meal. The vibe is, basically, perfect for either a relaxed lunch after you’ve walked all over Aspen or something a touch livelier when you need a post-ski meal, so something not quite as formal as a full sit-down dinner, or when you’re grabbing picnic bits to take with you up the mountain. It almost makes you think that Meat & Cheese does get incredibly busy. So, just pop in early or prepare for, I guess, a little bit of a wait – I promise you it will be actually worth it though, definitely.

3. French Alpine Bistro – Crêperie du Village: A Taste of the Alps

You can expect a sort of sensory getaway to, just like, a snowy Alpine village smack dab in Aspen at French Alpine Bistro – Crêperie du Village. Basically, step inside, and, in short, suddenly you are surrounded by cozy nooks, soft lighting, plus this seriously very rustic-chic kind of decor. This place breathes charm like a guy from France would, right? As the name kind of tells you, the food very strongly emphasizes French alpine traditions – lots and lots of cheese, actually – hearty dishes, with these really quite fantastic crêpes taking absolute center stage.I could go for some delicious crêpes.

Of course, you need to try a raclette; it is actually the star – melted cheese scraped dramatically over all these potatoes, charcuterie, and those pickled vegetables, which will really send you to France. The fondue isn’t to be missed, especially if you tend to visit Aspen when things are a bit colder outside. Also, their sweet crêpes will definitely satisfy your post-ski sugar craving and, of course, go incredibly well with some mulled wine. Because of its very cozy vibe and the way its almost hidden-away spot, this bistro is super good for a sort of romantic evening, or even, for instance, when you want to hide out with friends as it’s dumping snow outside. Basically, just try to remember you’re in Colorado and, I would also bet, that your French isn’t very good, which means nobody here would probably understand you.

4. Bosq: Global Flavors, Local Ingredients

Bosq, basically, delivers something slightly different than everyone else, like by concentrating on these global flavors driven by some amazing local produce. You should imagine a setting that somehow has an upscale yet almost rustic quality to it; you should see wooden tables, maybe low lighting, and lots and lots of interestingly displayed local artwork. The chef puts his whole, actual focus into finding seasonal ingredients and into creatively layering some pretty cool international flavors into each, seemingly perfect, plate of food. Basically, think of plates as these mini-adventures for all your tastebuds.Sounds very interesting.

The menu always sort of changes based upon just what’s best that day. Though the selection is rather tight, you might well see items there such as grilled octopus with some unexpected spices or perhaps some locally farmed pork paired, you know, oddly, with something citrusy and also some kind of unusual grain. If available, you want to taste the tasting menu; that can seemingly give you, I’d guess, a solid survey of all the kitchen’s talents and a real peek into just what inspires the chef. To me, it really hits the spot if you want to impress all of the serious foodies, but yet you can’t actually get bored with traditional ski-town type foods. So, reservations are pretty much a must, almost always.

5. Justice Snow’s: Apres-Ski and Craft Cocktails

When Aspen talks apres-ski and craft drinks, actually one name pops up rather a lot: Justice Snow’s. This sort of hip establishment, sitting actually in the historic Wheeler Opera House, is known pretty well for these lively atmosphere and what can arguably be called pretty killer views of the mountains – almost picture-perfect when they’re coated with snow, for the most part. What do you need to have here? Really fun, and yet interestingly created, cocktails! The mixologists at Justice Snow’s actually like to get creative with local ingredients and some uncommon flavors that, for instance, almost manage to taste both familiar yet new simultaneously.Craft cocktails!

Besides some terrific drinks, it runs through a solid menu full of this great bar food—gourmet burgers and some upscale takes on some sort of snack staples. So, imagine munching on something that you like a lot, like some truffle fries, as you sip something strong as well as something creative, something, I’d guess, while you share stories from a full day’s worth of adventure on the slopes. As for the spot itself, anticipate a cool, comfortable style featuring old elements through Aspen. Because the mood is, basically, consistently very upbeat here and that vibe definitely helps after finishing long days snowboarding. Justice Snow’s gets extremely busy right around apres-ski time, and is definitely a great way to, maybe, kick off your evening.