Aspen offers over 100 bars and restaurants mainly found around the blocks between the lifts and Main Street, while Snowmass village has a couple of pedestrian malls which house several eateries. Whether it’s wood-fired pizza, goat-meat taco, vegan snack or juicy steak, this resort can oblige, and hotel dining rooms provide high end options too.
For further Aspen inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best accommodation and après ski.
In resort
Silverpeak Grill
This roadside diner on East Cooper Avenue in Aspen is good for fresh, fast food. The menu at Silverpeak Grill includes tacos, burgers and an extremely tasty kale-quinoa salad.
Price: £
Contact: silverpeakgrillcatering.com
The Butcher’s Block Deli
Established in 1972, the Butcher’s Block Deli at South Spring Street in Aspen is known for its speciality home-made meatloaf sandwich, which costs $16.95.
Price: £
Contact: butchersblockaspen.com
Poppycock’s Cafe
Located on East Cooper Avenue in Aspen, Poppycock’s Cafe serves expansive breakfasts including oatmeal buttermilk or corn griddle pancakes and is also good for off-mountain lunches.
Price: £
Contact: poppycockscafe.com
Poppycock’s is famed for its pancakes and you can buy the mix while you’re there
Il Poggio
An authentic Italian that’s been in Snowmass for over 20 years, Il Poggio serves interesting meat and fish dishes as well as salads, pasta and pizza, and has friendly service. Reserve a table in the back dining room with moodier lighting and tablecloths for dinner.
Price: ££
Contact: ilpoggio.webs.com
Element 47
This restaurant at The Little Nell hotel at the foot of Aspen Mountain is named after the way silver is described in the periodic table. “It toasts our town’s flavourful mining history and the essence of Aspen: seasonality, decadence and memorable social gatherings,” is Element 47’s proud claim.
Price: £££
Contact: thelittlenell.com
Experience contemporary Colorado cuisine at Element 47
Credit: gibeon photography
Little Mammoth Steakhouse
Although there are other things on the menu, including Mac & Cheese for children, the steak is the main event at Little Mammoth Steakhouse, a family-run eatery in Snowmass. Whether fillet mignon or bone-in dry aged ribeye, it’s all served on blocks of Himalayan salt.
Price: £££
Contact: littlemammothsteakhouse.co
On the mountain
Cliffhouse
At Buttermilk, the mountaintop Cliffhouse is located at the top of the Summit Express lift and specialises in a “make-your-own” Mongolian barbecue stir fry.
Price: £
Contact: 00 97 09 25 12 20; aspensnowmass.com
If you feel like getting DIY with your food, the Cliffhouse has a ‘make-your-own’ Mongolian barbecue stir-fry
Credit: catherine aeppel
Ajax Tavern
Signature dishes at the Ajax Tavern at the base of Aspen Mountain include lamb bolognese and Ajax Wagyu double cheeseburger with truffle fries. Fresh oysters, shrimp and crab, as well as fine wines and microbrews are on the après-ski menu.
Price: ££
Contact: thelittlenell.com
The menu at Ajax Tavern includes truffle fries, fresh oysters as well as its signature lamb bolognese
Elk Camp
There’s something to please everyone at Elk Camp on Snowmass, with several stations that include a vast salad bar, pizza, a rotisserie and soup, as well as home-made crisps and brownies. It’s a cut above the usual self service, using local organic ingredients.
Price: ££
Contact: 00 97 03 00 76 81; aspensnowmass.com
Cloud Nine Bistro
At Aspen Highlands, the Austrian-themed Cloud Nine Bistro is a hugely popular European-style hut. Booking is essential for one of its two lunch sittings, especially for the more popular later slot when the champagne flows.
Price: £££
Contact: 00 1 97 09 23 87 15; aspensnowmass.com
Book early at Cloud Nine Bistro to avoid disappointment