Essential 2018 Aspen restaurants list with live links, phone and brief comments by Aspen real estate broker Tim Estin. A one-stop cheat sheet to bookmark or print. Updated as needed. If you enjoy my recommendations, let’s meet up for coffee on me to see and discuss the best real estate in Aspen and Snowmass for you!
Breakfast in Aspen
Poppycocks – 970-925-1245 | 655 E. Cooper. Next to Aspen Square Hotel near City Market
Jour de Fete – 970-925-5055 | 710 E. Durant. Next to City Market.
Victoria’s Espresso Wine Bar & Gourmet – 970-920-3001 | 510 E. Cooper close to Aspen Mtn Gondola. (Great coffee and quiche + croissants fare.)
Hotel Jerome / Prospect Restaurant – 970-429-7778 (Very nice and historic setting.)
Hickory House Ribs – 970-925-2313 | 730 W. Main. (long-time favorite inexpensive b’fast.)
Aspen – Lunch & Dinner
(Lunch favorites: Ajax Tavern, Mezzaluna, BB’s Kitchen, Hotel Jerome/Prospect, White House Tavern, Explorer Bookstore/Pyramid Bistro, Main St Bakery, Spring Street Cafe)
520 Grill | 520 E. Cooper | 970-925-9788 | Fast, fresh and friendly hand-crafted burgers, baja tacos and salads.
A La Car | Aspen Food & Restaurant Delivery Service | 970-544-3663 | Menus are posted online, get your food delivered.
Ajax Tavern | 685 East Durant | 970-920-9333 (Casual and elegant modern American tavern eatery at Gondola base. The spot at Aspen Mountain base and happy hour 3-6PM.)
Acquolina Trattoria | 415 E. Main | 970-925-8222
Asie | 413 East Main | 970-920-9988 (Asian and pacific rim influenced cuisine. )
Bamboo Bear | 730 E Cooper St | 970-710-2094 | Take-out or casual dine-in gourmet South East Asian food.
BB’s Kitchen | 525 E. Cooper | 970-429-8284 (Breakfast, lunch and dinner, contemporary American cuisine, reasonable prices.)
Bootsy Bellows | E Hyman| 970-925-3700 | Nightclub Lounge Dancing
Bosq | 312 S. Mill | 970-710-7299 | New world cuisine
Brexi Brasserie | 411 S. Monarch | 970-925-2838 (Traditional French cuisine.)
Brunelleschi’s Pizza | 205 South Mill | 970-544-4644 (The best pizza, casually elegant, favorite local pizza is “Paisano” (with chicken and chorizo – amazing!) Very kid friendly where they can make and design their own Order out, pick-up option, too.)
Cache Cache | 205 South Mill | 970-925-3835 (Amongst Aspen’s best overall. Best bar menu. Try the mussels.)
Campo de Fiori | 205 South Mill | 970-920-7717 (Very good Italian.)
Chef’s Club by Food & Wine @ St. Regis | 315 E. Dean St. | 970-920-3300 | St Regis, Aspen
Cloud Nine | On Aspen Highlands Mountain | 970-544-3063 (Sit down lunch on Highlands ski mtn. Small bistro, charming very euro/alps setting and ambiance with beautiful views. Expensive, delicious and very very special.)
Caribou Club | 411 East Hopkins | 970-925-2929 (An Aspen “institution” but there’s competition from the younger, hipper Bootsey Bellows.)
Casa Tua | 403 S. Galena | 970-920-7277 (Contemporary northern Italian cuisine in an up-scale, moderne private-club like environment)
CP Burger | 433 E. Durant | 970-935-3056 (L.A. style burger joint, same owner as LuLu Wilson and the Wild Fig.)
Creperie du Village | 970-925-1566 | 400 E. Hopkins | (fun, cozy, intimate, euro-alps environ with Alps inpspired cuisine. Located on the corner near the Isis Movie Theatre.)
David Burke Kitchen | TBD | 204 S. Galena | (new spot opening early 2015 on the roof deck of the old Gant Store site.)
Domino’s Pizza | 732 East Cooper | 970-925-3230 (Delivery. When you’ve stopped caring, will settle for anything, no more decisions, and home and video is IT.)
Element 47 | 970-920-6330 | Little Nell Hotel | Aspen formal, exquisite delicious dining.
Ellina| 430 East Hyman | 970-925-2976
Grey Lady | 970-925-1797 | 308 S. Mill | New England coastal fish – lunch, dinner, bar. Grilled lobster, tuna burgers, steamers, mussels, chowder & scallops.
Hickory House BBQ | 730 West Main | 970-925-2313 (Superb spare ribs, great character, good value eats in funky ‘old’ Aspen.)
HOPS Culture | 414 E. Hyman | 970-925-4677 | American comfort food, lunch and dinner with over 200 craft beers and fine wines.
Hotel Jerome Prospect & Living Room & Room & J-Bar | 330 E. Main St | 970-920-1000 | (Prospect is an elegant restaurant with locally inspired menu with fresh, organic and natural ingredients; J-bar: friendly apres-ski, old-west bar scene; the Living Room is a quiet library atmosphere with drinks.)
Jimmy’s | 205 South Mill | 970-925-6020 (Always buzzing, a fun place, good comfort food, American: steak & fish. Friendly later hour scene.)
Jimmys Bodega | 307 South Mill | 970-925-6020 (Coastal Mexican, Fresh Seafood, Ceviche, Raw Bar, Tacos, Salads, Soups, and Nightly Specials.)
Jour de Fete | 710 East Durant | 970-925-5055 (Breakfast, lunch and early dinner, serving sandwiches, soups, salads, hot daily plates. Located right next to City Market.)
Kenichi | 533 East Hopkins | 970-920-2212 | long time Aspen sushi restaraunt.
Krabloonik | Divide Road/ Snowmass Village | 970-923-3953 (Exquisite wild game dinners in a wonderful snowy setting with sled dogs.)
L’Hostaria | 620 East Hyman | 970-925-9022 (Wonderful Mediterranean dining and setting. One of my all-time favorites.)
Little Annie’s | 514 East Hyman | 970-925-1098 (Local’s favorite for quick, non-fussy sit-down fare.)
Little Ollie’s Asian Cafe | 308 S. Hunter | 970-544-9888 | (Good Asian takeout menu)
Lynn Brit Cabin On Snowmass Mtn | 970-923-0469 (Group lunches on Snowmass Ski Mountain. Fun experience.)
Maroon Bells Lodge T Lazy 7 | 970-920-4677 (Aspen institution, western barbeque, spare ribs, dude ranch setting. Kids + families. Yee’hah.)
Matsuhisa | 303 East Main | 970-544-6628 (Nobu in Aspen, best sushi, most say the best in Aspen, tres cher…expensive.)
Mezzaluna | 624 East Cooper | 970-925-5882 (Casual upscale meeting place for lunch and dinner. Great salads, classic Italian dishes…and pasta and thin crust craft pizza.)
Mi Chola | 411 East Main St. | 970-710-7076 | Mexican | “Progressive Mexican cuisine with attentive service in an environment that is casual, hip and fun is our sole soul mission.” | In the location formerly known as The Cantina and El Rincon
New York Pizza | 409 East Hyman | 970-920-3088 (Perfect for late night munchie, pizza – whole or slices – to stay or to go with beers on tap. In middle of Hyman Mall. Yummy slices!.)
Pine Creek Cookhouse | 11399 Castle Creek Road | 970-925-1044 (Great winter experience: sled ride or x/c ski to restaurant from parking lot. Superb dining, ambiance and dining experience. A favorite and very special.)
Pinons | 105 South Mill | 970-920-2021 (One of the best Modern American dinners – great food, service and experience – in Aspen.)
Plato’s at Aspen Meadows Resort | 845 Meadows Road | 970-925-4240
Poppycock’s | 665 E Cooper next to Aspen Square Hotel | 970-925-1245 | casual American breakfast and lunch. Always full.
Pyramid Bistro at Explorer Books | 221 East Main | 970-925-5338 (Very healthy, vegetarian, organic, soul food and setting, quietly located above Aspen’s longest established bookstore)
The Restaurant St. Regis Hotel | 315 E. Dean St | 970-429-9644 (Best Bolognese, homemade pasta.)
Red Onion | 420 East Cooper | 970-925-9043 | Aspe’s oldest downtown bar, historic restaurant with southwestern pub grub, lunch, apres ski, dinner & sports bar.
Rustique Bistro | 216 South Monarch | 970-920-2555 (Charming atmosphere, country French.)
Spring Cafe | 116 S. Spring | 970-429-8406 Organic food and juice bar. See article.
SO Cafe | 315 E. Hyman – at the new Aspen Art Museum rooftop | 970-925-8050 | Lunch and snacks with unmatched views of Aspen Mountain and Independence Pass, SO features an innovative, rotating weekly menu of local ingredients prepared by Julia and Allen Domingos—a local duo well known for their dedication to quality, creativity, and service
Su Casa | 315 East Hyman | 970-920-1488|Su Casa Restaurant TaQueria and Tequila Bar offers deliciously light and authentic Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices.
Tasters | 455 Rio Grande | 970-544-3421 (pretty basic burger, pizza slices, after the playing in Rio Grande Park.)
White House Tavern | 302 E. Hopkins | 970-925-1007 | Delicious kale and beet salads, sandwiches.
Wild Fig | 315 East Hyman | 970-925-5160 (Excellent lighter food & fair and appetizers. Great when you’re not that hungry.)
Willow Creek Bistro Ritz Carlton Club | 75 Prospector Rd | 970-429 2327
Woody Creek Tavern, Woody Creek | 970-923-4585 (Hunter Thompson’s old haunt. Former hippie hang-out now Aspen institution, wild + crazy galore, fun, buffalo burgers and fries, amazing warm brownie choc. sundae desert.)
Zocalito | 420 East Hyman | 970-920-1991
Basalt
Cafe Bernard | 200 Midland | 970-927-4292 (Charming French cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
Heather’s | 66 Midland Ave, Basalt, CO 81621 | Savory Pies & Tapas Bar | 970-927-0151 | Homemade dinner pies, feel good eating in a friendly popular downtown Basalt setting.
Tempranillo | 165 Midland | 970-927-3342 (wonderful charming Spanish and Italian in converted historic Old Town Basalt train station.)
Willits & El Jebel
El Korita | Willits Town Center – 251 Harris | 970-277-4500 (good mexican. always busy for sit-down and takeout. No website)
Smoke Modern BBQ | Willits Town Center – 241 Harris | 970-927-5158
Zheng Bistro | 400 East Valley Rd | 970-963-8077
Carbondale
Carbondale, CO Restaurant List
Phat Thai | 343 Main St | 970-963-7001
White House Pizza | 801 Main St | 970-704-9400 (Best pizza in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Village Smithy Restaurant – Great B’fast | 26 South 3rd Street | 970-963-9990 (a local’s casual favorite especially for B’fats and lunch.)
Mi Casita Restaurant | 580 Main Street #100 | 970-963-5866
Pour House| 351 Main Street Carbondale | 970-963-3553 (Old local bar, hangout on Main St)
River Valley Ranch Golf Restaurant | 303 River Valley Ranch Drive |
970-963-3625
Town | 348 Main St | 970-963-6328 | (Bakery/Coffee, lunch and dinner…a new favorites spot)
Disclaimer: The statements made in The Estin Report represent the opinions of the author and they should not be relied upon exclusively to make real estate decisions. Information concerning particular real estate opportunities can be requested from Aspen real estate broker agent Tim Estin at970.309.6163or from thecontact page. A potential buyer is advised to make an independent investigation of the market and of each property before deciding to purchase. To the extent the statements made herein report facts or conclusions drawn from other sources, the information is believed by the author to be reliable. However, the author makes no guarantee concerning the accuracy of the facts and conclusions reported herein and the information provided herein is subject to change.The Estin Report is copyrighted 2015 and all rights are reserved. Use is permitted subject to the following attribution with an active link to the source: “The Estin Reporton Aspen real estate.“
