Aspen: A Foodie’s Dream Come True
ASPEN, Colo. – With more than 80 eateries in downtown Aspen alone, every block of our town brings old favorites together with fresh menus and new talent to provide enough culinary options to please any palate. And if that doesn’t whet the taste buds, any of the city’s lounges, bars, specialty wine shops, and clubs most certainly will, almost all offering beautiful al fresco dining in summer months.
New Plates: Here’s what’s currently new in the dining scene:
- NEW! Las Montañas, a Tex-Mex concept with Austin roots, opened late summer 2022 in the former Jimmy’s space serving fajitas, ceviche, margaritas, and other classics. (205 S. Mill St.)
- Parc Aspen will open Winter 2022 in the former L’Hostaria space, bringing a locally sourced, modern farm-to-table concept to the Aspen dining scene, with a bar menu. Owners Maryanne and Harley Sefton along with Executive Chef Mark Connell will offer three levels of dining: an affordably priced local’s bar, a contemporary fine dining room, and an experiential 12-person private dining space. (620 E. Hyman Ave)
- New! Rooftop Cafe at the Aspen Art Museum is now operated by The Farmer & Chef, a husband-and-wife team dedicated to localizing food systems one delicious plate at a time, with a new focus on genuinely local, organic food.
Plant-Based Menus
- Spring Café offers a full organic food and juice bar. Aspen’s first all organic eatery serves breakfast and lunch offering salads, hearty vegetarian sandwiches, soups and baked goods. (632 E. Hopkins Ave., 970.429.8406)
- Jus Aspen serves up colorful juices and smoothies, fresh salads and healthy sandwiches and wraps, in a easy grab and go format located in the Ute Building. (501 E Hyman Ave.)
Go Euro: From Italian to French, International Cuisine Meets the Rockies
- Duemani, owned by the restaurateurs behind Aspen’s Acquolina, serves Italian coastal cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and includes a variety of pasta dishes. (216 S. Monarch St.)
- Cache Cache confidently blends Aspen style with classic French country fare. Owned by longtime Aspenites Jodi Larner and Chef Chris Lanter, Cache Cache’s dining room is typically populated by Aspen’s chic locals and jet-setting visitors, but the divine cuisine is unpretentious, modern and deeply satisfying. (205 South Mill St.)
- Casa D'Angelo offers refined Italian classics and handmade pastas, under the direction of Chef/Owner Angelo Elia. Located in a light-filled second-floor space with sculptural light fixtures and panoramic views. (105 S. Mill St.)
American Favorites
- Pine Creek Cookhouse. Located 12 miles outside of Aspen at the base of the Elk Mountain Range, the Pine Creek Cookhouse provides a gourmet dining experience in an authentic mountain atmosphere, complete with log cabin and wilderness surroundings. It is best known for creatively prepared, naturally raised game specialties. (11399 Castle Creek Rd.)
- Steakhouse 316. With a sophisticated atmosphere and a traditional yet upscale American steakhouse menu, Steakhouse 316 is a consistent crowd-pleaser. (205 S. Mill St.)
- Woody Creek Tavern. Recently renovated and under new ownership, this funky hideaway in Woody Creek serves up burgers, Mexican food, and mixes a mean margarita. (2858 Woody Creek Rd.)
From the Sea
- Matsuhisa serves up mouthwatering sushi and Japanese dishes with fine wines and an extensive sake list. A member of the Nobu restaurant family, this establishment is always in demand. (303 E. Main St.)
- Kenichi. This popular sushi den is constantly buzzing. Talented chefs bring global tastes to the extensive sushi menu. (533 E. Hopkins Ave.)
- Clark’s Oyster Bar offers a raw bar, seafood specialties, cocktails and wine. The restaurant serves a variety of East and West Coast oysters, crudo, ceviche, and seafood towers, lobster rolls, crab cakes, mussels, clams and fresh catch of the day. (517 E. Hyman Ave.)
On the Go
- Big Wrap. There is always a hungry crowd at this wrap and smoothie shop. Homemade vegan soups and fresh tacos add to the diverse wrap menu and daily specials. (520 E. Durant Ave.)
- Located in the shadow of Aspen Mountain, CP Burger is Aspen’s version of fast food with everything from kid-friendly burgers to spicy Chicano burgers to healthier Ahi Tuna burgers, kale salad, genuine milkshakes and all the fixings. CP Burger also operates CP Ice Rink in the winter months and Putt Putt in the summer, a favorite for kids, and grownups can sip on wine or beer while the kids play. (433 E. Durant Ave.)
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For visitor information, visit www.aspenchamber.org, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.
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