The most up-to-date information for the Roaring Fork Valley
The Golden Key Concierge Guide has been helping visitors to Aspen, Snowmass Village and the Roaring Fork Valley
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Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado Dining Aspen Reviews
When you want to find the best restaurants, dining and entertainment in the Roaring Fork Valley, look no further than our incredible directory. We’ve located and reviewed all of the best dining and entertainment in Aspen, Snowmass and the surrounding areas of the Roaring Fork Valley. Whether you want a quaint spot or the latest in luxury, you’ll find the best Aspen restaurants here.
39 Degrees is Aspen’s hottest après-ski and nighttime lounge, also serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Recently named one of the hottest hotel pool scenes in the country by Playboy magazine, the outdoor hot tub and pool deck, whimsical lobby, and retro lounge, create the ultimate setting for Aspen chic. Located just beyond the hotel lobby, 39 Degrees is sexy, down-to-earth and friendly. The eclectic mix of rough hewn timbers and modern custom-designed, furniture give a feel of comfortable, chic elegance.
Ajax Tavern is located at the base of Aspen Mountain. Ajax Tavern comes to life at lunch and sizzles for dinner until 10pm each evening, year round.
Executive Chef Jim Butchart serves distinctive bistro food inspired by Colorado’s bounty of sustainably raised meats and produce. Guests are treated to innovative dishes such as Colorado Lamb Bolognese, House-made Charcuterie, Pristine Raw Bar Selections, and daily specials. Cocktail hour brings out Ajax Tavern’s luscious cheese fondue, decadent Ajax Truffle Fries, and other gourmet fare, all complemented by an abundance of fine wines and aperitifs. Ajax Tavern is open daily from 11:30am to 10:00pm. Reservations are taken for dinner only. Complete parties will be seated for lunch on a first come first served basis.
Local's pick for half-pound burgers, homemade soups, salads, pasta, tuna tacos and fish-n-chips. Great for lunch, après ski specials or a night out. Menu items under $10. Live music weekly. Large screen TV's, billiards, shuffleboard, video games, foosball. Kids menu available. Serving food til 11pm. Bar until 2am.
Authentic, traditional and contemporary Mexican food that is a level above the ordinary, the Cantina offers outstanding cuisine influenced from all regions of Mexico. Passionate about great food and good times, the all new Cantina provides Aspen with a vibrant, hip, fun and casual environment that appeals to all. Open for lunch, dinner and late night.
Aspen’s Wienerstube Restaurant has returned to its European roots. Harald Neuweg, South Florida's renowned Austrian Chef has purchased the Wienerstube Restaurant and is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The dinner menu features a variety of roasts, fish, seafood, sausages, classic home made soups, delightful fresh European salads and classic Austrian desserts. Wienerstube Restaurant continues to serve their award-winning breakfasts, and the lunch menu reflects authentic Austrian fare. Bar menu 3pm to 6pm. Dinner 5pm-10pm. Stammtisch Night, a typical Austrian night with live music, is held every first Wednesday of the month.
Aspen’s only pub, The Double Dog, is the locals’ watering hole. 12 beers on tap. Guinness served. Full menu including traditional pub fare. Live music Tuesdays and Thursdays in season. 5 TV’s with all your favorite events. Shuffleboard table. Open nightly at 4:30pm, food served til 11pm. Corner of Hopkins & Monarch next to The Steak Pit. Bring in your dog’s photo for the “Doggie wall of fame”.
(970) 544-5110
305 East Hopkins Hopkins & Monarch next to The Steak Pit Aspen CO 81611  
Aspen’s modern American bistro, serving contemporary cuisine in a warm & inviting atmosphere. Since 2000, a local’s favorite with great atmosphere, friendly service & excellent food. Chef Drew Scott’s exquisite cuisine continues to take diners to new heights. Extensive wine list--Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2007 and 2008. Late night menu and bar/lounge area chicer than ever. Nightly for dinner 5:30-10pm. Late night bar menu till 11:30pm. Patio dining outside. Private parties available.
Located at the base of Buttermilk Mountain, The Elkhorn Bar & Grill is the place to relax and enjoy an eclectic dinner menu, with great views of Buttermilk Mountain. Try their gourmet pizzas, prosciutto-wrapped shimp, or fried chicken. Serving appetizers and pizzas from 3pm. Dinner from 5pm. Reservations are accepted.
(970) 925-1500
at The Inn at Aspen 38750 Highway 82 Aspen CO 81611  
For more than 20 years, chefs/founders Fernando and Gino Masci have delighted guests and gourmands from around the world with the vibrant flavors of Italian cuisine and an absolute devotion to exemplary service. It's no wonder that Il Mulino has been voted the #1 Italian restaurant in New York City for two solid decades by Zagat’s! Il Mulino reflects the infectious enthusiasm and joy the Mascis take in bringing the Italian tradition of fine food and hospitality to your table. Simple, straightforward, wholesome and always fresh – it’s the Il Mulino tradition. Enjoy lunch from 11:30am-3pm sitting on their heated patio overlooking Aspen Mountain and the gondola. Dinner is served nightly 5-11pm. Bar menu is available 11am - 11pm.
(970) 205-1000
501 East Dean Street at the Residence at the Little Nell / next to the gondola Aspen CO 81611  
Located in the downtown core of Aspen with panoramic mountain views, Jimmy’s is a blend of Rocky Mountain comfort and city sophistication. Serving “Fierce American Food,” Jimmy’s offers the finest-quality Steaks, Chops, Fresh Fish, Rotisserie, Crab Legs and much more. The desserts are down-home and delicious. Jimmy's also has a hand-selected collection of the best spirits, including an award-winning selection of top-shelf Tequilas and Mescals. Serving dinner from 5:30pm nightly. Big Daddy Lee and the Kingbees, Chicago-style blues every Friday, 10:30pm. Latin Dance party every Saturday after 10:30pm. Lively and local crowd. Proprietors: Jimmy Yeager and Grayson Stover. Email: jimmy@jimmysaspen.com or gstover550@hotmail.com
Contemporary Asian Cuisine & World Class Sushi. Newly remodeled with natural woods and ocean blue tones, Kenichi offers a bustling dining room and ultra-hip bar scene. Private Tatami room and VIP rock-star booths. New winter menu offering the freshest sushi and innovative Pan-Asian items including Miso Black Cod, Kobe Hot Rock, and Colorado Lamb Chops. Largest sake list in Colorado. Extensive wine list given the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Kenichi caters in-home functions and private parties. Take-out available. Open daily at 5:30pm. Reservations suggested.
Montagna's elegant dining room opens from the lobby of the Little Nell, Aspen's most exquisite and exclusive hotel, and the restaurant staff upholds the hotel's reputation for hospitality and attentive service. In Montagna's kitchen, chef Ryan Hardy serves a menu created from the freshest local ingredients, served with the care of an artisan and the skill of a globally trained master chef. Masterful preparations of fresh vegetables, handmade cheeses and preserves, and organic Colorado meats star in dishes that delight the mind as well as the palate. Montagna's wine program, headed by Master Sommelier Jonathan Pullis, boasts more than 20,000 bottles and is consistently listed among the best in the world. Montagna is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Complimentary valet parking.
(970) 920-6330
The Little Nell 675 East Durant Avenue Aspen CO 81611  
From the owners of Kenichi, Asian inspired noodle bowls and salads are fresh, healthy and fast. Phuket Pad Thai, Rei Lei Pineapple Coconut Red Curry and Cantonese Lo Mein. Pre-designed salads including Arugula Beef, Bodhi's Frisee Basil Salad, and Miso Caesar with Chicken. Custom salads with choice of over 30 throw-ins. Homemade sauces and dressings, natural meats, organic & local produce used. Take out and delivery.
Ideal downtown location on Wagner Park, in the heart of Aspen's action. Inside it’s easygoing and relaxed and features an exceptional raw bar and extensive wine list. The menu highlights seafood and captivating gilled entrees. Renowned Chef Bryan Nelson can tailor the menu to meet the desires of your group. Pacifica is an ideal venue for an intimate gathering of up to 60 people. Contact Russell Hoffberger at (970) 920-9775.
(970) 920-9775
307 South Mill Street Next to Wagner Park Aspen CO 81611
Summer: The Pine Creek Cookhouse serves exquisite gourmet meals in spectacular surroundings with breath-taking views of the Elk Mountain Range. Enjoy healthy lunches on the sunny deck or wild game and fresh seafood as the sun goes down. The Pine Creek Cookhouse welcomes groups of all sizes and hosts a variety of private functions including weddings, luncheons, barbeques and corporate events. Located 11 miles up Castle Creek Road in Ashcroft. Reservations recommended for lunch and dinner. Winter: Ashcroft is the premiere cross-country area in the nation with miles of groomed trails. The towering 14,000-foot peaks of the Elk Mountains surround this pristine valley. Spectacular ski terrain offers something for everybody with dedicated trails for snowshoers. Phone the King Cabin for information, rentals, and lessons, (970) 925-1971.
The legendary Pine Creek Cookhouse has been recreated in a spectacular new log cabin. This renowned restaurant serves gourmet lunches and dinners. Enjoy an Aspen winter tradition with a guided cross-country ski, snowshoe tour by miner's lamp or a romantic sleigh ride to the Cookhouse, for either lunch or dinner. Lunches begin at noon. Dinner tours begin at 6:30pm. Luxury backcountry cabin rental also available. Reservations (970) 925-1044.
"The first and greatest of necessities is food, which is the condition of life and existence." – Plato's Republic, Book 2
Elevate your palate to new heights, with appealingly diverse, freshly prepared offerings in picturesque settings. Enjoy an Olympian view with the sun setting on the Rockies while you are treated to the finest and most eclectic dining in Aspen. Prepared by their Executive Chef Jason Mayle, Plato's menu offers a simple but contemporary cuisine based upon Colorado and international culinary influences. Chef Mayle and his team take the time to choose the perfect seasonal ingredients to make your meal a truly memorable one.
(970) 925-4240
Aspen Meadows Resort 845 Meadows Road Aspen CO 81611  
The newest addition to Aspen’s restaurant row. Featuring “global tapas,” small plates designed to be shared. Offering an exciting menu with flavors from Asia, Europe & the Americas. Sample a wide variety of dishes served in a vibrant, social & fun atmosphere. Try pairings from our award winning wine list (Wine Spectator Award of Excellence). Reservations suggested in the dining room or join them in the cozy upstairs lounge for a bite, glass of wine, and their signature cocktails. Open nightly for dinner 5:30-10pm. Lounge open until 1:30am. Private parties available.
An Aspen tradition since 1960. Delicious house aged, hand cut steaks. Fresh fish and seafood selections. Aspen’s only salad bar included with your entrée. Casual and comfortable. Serving locals and visitors for 50 years. Children’s menu available. Full bar available. Under the clock tower, corner of Hopkins & Monarch. Open nightly 5:30pm. Reservations accepted.
(970) 925-3459
305 East Hopkins Corner of Hopkins and Monarch Downstairs Aspen CO 81611
For a casual yet upscale dining experience, The Restaurant @ the St. Regis Aspen exudes warmth and style in a relaxed mountain setting. Its menu of contemporary American cuisine is the creation of Chef Adam Tanner, who incorporates the finest ingredients from the Roaring Fork Valley and across America to create gourmet offerings using a “farm to table” cooking style. Signature dishes include flame-grilled Milagro Ranch sirloin burgers with parmesan fries, citrus poached Maine lobster cob salad and Meyer Ranch prime beef tenderloin.
Willow Creek Bistro is a contemporary Colorado-American Bistro; they focus on Decadent Comfort Food using Local and Regional ingredients, combined w/ traditional methods of cooking. They specialize in Colorado and Rocky Mountain game meats and fresh fish flown in daily. Enjoy themed food and wine dinners from around the world on select Thursdays for five courses of exquisite cuisine perfectly paired with exceptional wines for $75 per person. Or, reserve a seat nightly at the Chef's Corner for an up close and personal adventure with the Chefs of Willow Creek Bistro as they create a menu tailored specifically to your requests and desires. Willow Creek Bistro is open Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast from 7am -10:30am; lunch from 11am-2pm; and dinner from 5:30pm-9pm. Join Chef Jami and his team for an unforgettable, first class dining experience in Decadent Comfort Food.
(970) 429-2327
Aspen Highlands 0075 Prospector Road Aspen CO 81611