Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley Restaurants

Sushi? Coconut curry? Bison and lobster? Colorado's culinary repertoire is at its broadest in Aspen. With all the Hummers and designer handbags come an equal number of menus with high-end ingredients and showy preparations. Plates can be pricey, particularly in Aspen, but many eateries have at least a few moderately priced entrées (usually pastas) and bar menus as a nod to the budget-conscious. For those who want a break from Aspen, there are excellent dining options down-valley in Basalt and Carbondale as well.

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  • 1. Aurum

    $$$$

    Extraordinary flavors flow from ordinary ingredients in the shareable plates at this perfectly situated space at the bottom of Fannie Hill. Root vegetable salad tossed in balsamic dressing, Parker House rolls with a pinch of sea salt, and Korean fried chicken with gochujang hot sauce are best enjoyed with a craft cocktail or glass of wine by a fire pit on the large patio with stunning mountain views. Large windows, cozy couches, and banquettes with high tops invite casual dining in the front, while tables and dimmer lighting offer a more formal experience in the back. The "for the trails" menu offers a sophisticated spin on sack lunches perfect for adventurers on the go. 

    110 Carriage Way, Snowmass Village, Colorado, 81615, USA
    970-429–4906

    Known For

    • Mountain-facing patio seating
    • "for the trails" menu
    • Creative, shareable small plates
  • 2. Bosq

    $$$$

    The dining room at Bosq is small and intimate with a rustic-chic setting that's bright in the daytime and dimly lit for a romantic experience at night. The food is equally impressive, melding root vegetables and local meats and fish with bold, and sometimes spicy, surprises. Dishes displayed like works of art and decorated with flowers and meticulously placed sauces are almost too beautiful to eat—almost.

    312 S. Mill St., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-710--7299

    Known For

    • Peking duck
    • Four-, five-, or seven-course tasting menus
    • Lively patio scene
  • 3. Town

    $$ | Modern American

    Sporting an open kitchen, exposed brick walls, and red leather banquettes, this chic bistro offers inventive, cleverly presented meals. The eclectic dinner menu includes starters such as "jars"—small Mason jars filled with yummy spreads like chicken-liver pâté and served with grilled bread or toast. Roasted vegetable sides, and the beloved gnocchi salad with asparagus and mushrooms delight vegetarians, while carnivores revel in such options as rabbit tacos, and cherry barbecue–glazed pork shoulder. A front counter serves baked goods and coffee in the morning, and eat-in salads, sandwiches, and small plates in the afternoon.

    348 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–6328
  • 4. Ajax Tavern

    $$$$

    So close to the gondola you can keep your boots on while dining, this upbeat restaurant in the Little Nell hotel has big glass windows and a spacious patio with slope-side views. Large wooden beams, red booths, and sleek furnishings define this spot, which is popular both for its location and its hearty surf-and-turf dishes. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on Colorado ingredients.

    685 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-920-6334

    Known For

    • Slope-side patio
    • Parmesan truffle fries
    • Double smashburger made with locally raised Wagyu beef
  • 5. Aspen Over Easy

    $$ | American

    In this funky diner, visitors and locals can be heard planning outdoor adventures or raving about the nearby resorts while devouring delicious breakfast dishes served all day. Mix and match unexpected eggs Benedict, like the blue crab and Baja chipotle lime, or build your own omelet. Wash down your breakfast with an organic juice from the bar—try the owner's favorite Aspen Body, which blends carrots, celery, cucumber, kale, beets, and apple in a satisfying morning jolt. Salads, sandwiches, and burgers are also offered on the lunch and dinner menu.

    304 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-429–8693
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  • 6. Co. Ranch House

    $$$

    Enjoy ranch-raised steaks, chops, and seafood, all of which you can wash down with specialty craft cocktails and microbrews in the Western-inspired, modern dining room with copper tabletops or out on the patio just off the pedestrian walkway. Try the grilled elk and pan-seared trout—a local take on surf and turf—or ask the extremely friendly staff for recommendations.

    704 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
    970-945–9059

    Known For

    • Family-recipe strawberry shortcake in spring and summer
    • Duck wings
    • Elk burger with smoked mozzarella

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
  • 7. Crystal Club Cafe

    $$ | American

    Slow-cooked baby back ribs smothered in homemade BBQ sauce are what the Crystal Club Cafe is known for. But this pastel-colored, riverside restaurant with a wraparound porch also serves comfort-food staples like beef tenderloin with a raspberry chipotle sauce and Colorado lamb chops with rosemary mint sauce. Plenty of picnic tables on a grassy lawn beckon in the warm-weather months.

    467 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–9515
  • 8. Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop

    $$

    This shop is the perfect spot for grab-and-go lunches or for creating your own picnic lunch from an array of specialty meats, cheeses, seafood, and produce. The restaurant, with rustic wooden tables and vibrant painted flowers decorating the dark walls, features seasonal, locally sourced dishes made from scratch, with impressive charcuterie boards, sandwiches, and salads that occasionally have an Asian twist.

    301 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-710–7120

    Known For

    • Seasonal charcuterie boards
    • Specialty market
    • Kombucha on draft

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 9. New Belgium Ranger Station

    $$

    It's best to arrive when this place opens for lunch on sunny winter days, since the light-wood tables at this tiny, casual, slope-side restaurant fill up fast with hungry skiers. Patrons squeeze in for soft pretzel rolls with dipping sauces, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as the several beers on tap from Fort Collins–based New Belgium Brewing. It's also busy in the late-afternoon après-ski period and during dinner.

    100 Elbert La., Snowmass Village, Colorado, 81615, USA
    970-236–6277

    Known For

    • Colorado-brewed beer
    • Beer-and-cheese fondue sauce and hazelnut cocoa spread
    • Chili nachos
  • 10. SILO

    $

    The small but well-prepared menu brings everyone to this small diner just far enough off the main road that it could be easily missed—but do stop for a breakfast burrito stuffed with seasonal veggies or French toast with berry compote. White walls; wooden, metal-ringed tables; and blue chairs create a casual dining area where the wood bartop and high stools are a favorite. The tiny outside eating area fills up fast.

    1909 Dolores Way, Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–1909

    Known For

    • Casual atmosphere
    • Customizable breakfast sandwiches
    • Nitro cold brew

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 11. Slope & Hatch

    $

    Mix and match tacos and hot dogs at this small, chill spot near the Roaring Fork River that attracts families and outdoor enthusiasts looking to refuel after their adventures. Tacos range from fried fish with pico de gallo to unexpected Asian flavors, and the local, natural-casing dogs are equally enticing, including the Glenwood Completo with avocado and ancho remoulade. Colorado beers and margaritas offer the perfect pairing.

    208 7th St., Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
    970-230–9652

    Known For

    • Carolina dog with barbecue pulled pork and slaw
    • Thai veggie tacos
    • Chorizo croquetas with Cajun gravy
  • 12. The Goat Restaurant

    $$

    At this lively dinner spot, which draws both foodies and the bar crowd, seasonal salads, pitas, pastas, and other options—from Mediterranean small bites like hummus and feta to classic American burgers and sandwiches—are made from scratch. The warm wood accents and colorful dishes enhance the ambience, making this a favorite with locals and visitors alike.

    995 Cowen Dr., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–4628

    Known For

    • Lively social scene
    • Med platter including dolmades, quinoa tabbouleh, and more
    • Vegetarian options

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed weekends
  • 13. Village Smithy

    $

    Locals flock to "the Smithy" for such beloved breakfast items (served daily from 7 am until 2 pm) as scrambles or traditional bacon and eggs. Vegetarians are taken care of with a tasty tofu scramble, fresh spinach and wild mushroom omelets, and deep-fried French toast. Wooden tables are packed into every nook and cranny of this brick building that was once a blacksmith shop.

    26 S. 3rd St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–9990

    Known For

    • Great seating on covered porch
    • Locally sourced ingredients
    • Seasonal pancakes

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 14. White House Tavern

    $$

    The patio outside this cute, white, Victorian house in the heart of Aspen is a fun, lively place to see and be seen. Locals rave about the sandwiches here, and a great beer, wine, and cocktail menu makes the cozy wood-paneled interior perfect on chilly afternoons or evenings.

    302 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-925--1007

    Known For

    • Crispy chicken sandwich with spicy slaw
    • Signature margaritas
    • Sceney patio

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