Restaurant Guide

Aspen and Snowmass are known primarily as ski towns, and rightfully so, but they are just as much hospitality destinations. Revered by foodies and ski freaks alike, this Valley offers dining options that rival any city in the world.

Toasting the food and wine at Snowmass

Meals are the punctuation marks of the day, adding drama and emphasis to your already memorable Aspen Snowmass story. Whether it's a brief break in the action to refuel with a snack, a longer pause for an Alpine-inspired slopeside meal, or an indulgent dinner in town after a long day of skiing, here at Aspen Snowmass you’ll always find the perfect option to mark the occasion.

Classic Dining Experiences

We’re proud of our local dining scene. A handful of restaurants continue to create unforgettable dining experiences year after year. Here are just some that bring foodies back to Aspen and Snowmass Village again and again.

Sam's

Sam’s is a sophisticated slopeside option on Snowmass that serves Italian comfort food—think Ribollita and Rigatoni Bolognese—in a comfortable setting where guests are welcome to remove their ski boots, don a pair of slippers, and stay awhile.
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Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro

A ski patrol shack-turned-après epicenter, where champagne is sprayed as often as it is sipped, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is perfect for your party even if you’re not partying. Standouts for sharing include the Raclette—which you cook for yourself on tabletop grills—and the decadent Gruyere Fondue.
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Element 47

The Little Nell’s fine dining option pairs Executive Chef Matt Zubrod’s mountain-inspired cuisine with a stellar wine program. The menu features locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in an elegant, art-filled setting. For a unique and educational experience, ask about the private wine tastings in the cellar, where many notable names are scrawled along the floor-to-ceiling wine racks.
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Matsuhisa

Housed in a blue Victorian on Main Street, Matsuhisa—known as “Matsu”—offers multiple settings to enjoy Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s new-style Japanese cuisine. You’ll find favorites like Yellowtail Jalapeno and Broiled Black Cod with Miso at both the more casual bar upstairs and the spacious dining room below.
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Bonnie's

Pancakes make people happy and Bonnie's has been putting smiles on skiers’ faces with their dinner plate-sized, oatmeal-based flapjacks for decades. The Strudel at this mid-mountain Aspen institution is epic too—and never say no to a healthy dollop of homemade whipped cream.
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Pine Creek Cookhouse

Serving up a truly unique Colorado experience, the Pine Creek Cookhouse is a cozy lodge accessed by cross-country skis or a horse-drawn sleigh. You’ll enjoy lunch or dinner featuring Rocky Mountain staples like trout and elk surrounded by peaks that were initially slated for the ski resort in the Castle Creek Valley.
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Woody Creek Tavern

The Woody Creek Tavern is back in action after a brief hiatus for a studs-up remodel by CP Restaurant Group. Fear not, the polaroid pictures and paraphernalia have been painstakingly replaced to their original positions. Many of the classics remain, including the WCT Margarita and the Tavern Burger, and are joined by new standouts like the Philly Cheesesteak made with shaved ribeye. Check out the new saloon to enjoy a drink before your meal (or your next drink).
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Cliffhouse

For a DIY mountain lunch check out the Mongolian Grill at The Cliffhouse on Buttermilk. After selecting from a number of fresh proteins, vegetables, and sauces, pass your custom order to the chefs and watch them sizzle your selections on a huge flat-top grill. Dramatic views of Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Creek Valley are an added bonus.
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On-Mountain Restaurants

Sundeck

Enjoy panoramic views of the Elk Mountains and the Highland Bowl from the Sundeck atop Aspen Mountain. One of the country’s first LEED-certified buildings, the Sundeck offers lunch, a full bar and a cozy fireplace to warm your boots between runs.

Alpin Room

The Alpin Room on Snowmass serves Alsatian-inspired comfort foods in a modern, light-filled space. You’ll find warming dishes like French Onion Soup and Potato and Onion Fondue along with an amazing Carrot Cake—which was a staple of the space’s previous eatery, Gwyn’s.

Highlands Alehouse

A day at Aspen Highlands would be incomplete without a visit to Alehouse, where you can enjoy delicious wings and drinks with the locals after a day hiking the Bowl. The bar features 16 beers on tap, 60 bottles and cans, 75 whiskies, excellent wine, and more, while the classic bar food is made in-house, from scratch.

Buttermilk Mountain Lodge

Made-to-order pastas and salads, fresh grill selections, house-made soups and the only on-mountain bakery in town will refuel even the hungriest skiers and riders at the newly renovated Buttermilk Mountain Lodge. Inside and out, Buttermilk’s Super-pipe — the central focus of the Winter X Games — is in prime view. And, nothing beats enjoying après specials at the Backyard patio and bar after the mountain closes.

Lynn Britt Cabin's cozy dinner atmosphere

See All On-Mountain Restaurants

From powder pancakes to last call, peruse all of our on-mountain restaurants for your day-planning needs.

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Aspen Favorites

Ajax Tavern

Home to a rocking après scene and the original truffle fries, which are too good not to share at the table, Ajax Tavern is your first stop after a ski day on Aspen—especially as it sits directly at the base of the mountain. Order the Ajax double cheeseburger, an elevated ode to the Double Double Animal Style from In and Out that features local wagyu beef. To warm your bones on a chilly daytry the tomato soup, which comes with a melty grilled cheese on the side.

Clark's

Clark’s is home to the best seafood you’ll find at altitude, from raw oysters to Crab Cakes and Crispy Red Snapper. Open for Lunch and dinner in the historic Little Annie’s building, Clark’s is an awesome after-ski option with great deals to be had on cocktails, burgers and oysters from 3pm to 5pm.

Snowmass Favorites

Venga Venga

Chef Richard Sandoval’s Venga Venga is the spot for handcrafted margaritas and authentic Mexican directly off of the slopes on Snowmass. Grab a seat on the heated patio for tableside guacamole and watch the crowds ski by on Fanny Hill.

Il Poggio

A beloved Snowmass stalwart, Il Poggio has welcomed guests for fine Italian cuisine for 30 years. Homemade and hearthbaked pastas highlight the menu—try the gnocchi with veal tenderloin or the Dustina, a sausage pie spiced up with Calabrian chilis.

Dining on a Budget

You don’t have to break the bank for a great meal in Aspen. The options below are both budget and belly friendly. Keep an eye out for complimentary coffee at many of the base areas in the morning, and don’t be afraid to pack a snack to enjoy on the lift or with a hot cocoa in the lodge. There are also typically food and drink deals to be found on restaurant’s bar-only menus, as well as during après (happy hour, to flatlanders) which generally runs from 3pm to 5pm.  

Big Wrap

A favorite among locals, Big Wrap offers wraps, salads, and smoothies at affordable prices. The wraps–try the Breakfast Burrito or the Pesto Wrapture (a traditional burrito dressed up with cilantro poblano pesto)—are portable and perfect to throw in a backpack to enjoy later on the gondola.

New York Pizza

Grab a New York-style slice for yourself or a pie and salad to go to cover dinner for the whole family. “NYP” doesn’t have much in the way of seating aside from a few two-tops and some bar stools, but it is open late for a quick bite before heading home after a long night out.

Jus

With locations in both Aspen and Snowmass, the menu at Jus features creative sandwiches, smoothies, and its fresh-squeezed namesake juices. Pack one of their protein balls in a pocket for a little pick-me-up on the lift.

Home Team BBQ

Enjoy an authentic taste of the south at the base of Buttermilk. Home Team will satisfy your craving for any regional variety of barbecue by offering numerous sauces to accompany their smoked meats. The dry-rubbed wings are great to share, and don’t leave without trying the Game Changer, a tropical-inspired frozen cocktail that lives up to its name. Rum floater optional.

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An Afternoon at Alpin Room

Explore the Alps-inspired cuisine that can be found mid-mountain on Snowmass at the Alpin Room, an exquisite experience for locals and guests alike.

Guide to Lessons

Enjoy the mountains of Aspen Snowmass more with a Ski & Snowboard School lesson. This guide will help you find the right lesson for your abilities and goals. Learn more.