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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
Known For
- Mountain-facing patio seating
- "for the trails" menu
- Creative, shareable small plates
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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
Known For
- Peking duck
- Four-, five-, or seven-course tasting menus
- Lively patio scene
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Ski bunnies and shredders flock to this laid-back beach house downtown offering one of Aspen's best après-ski experiences. The crisp white walls and warm wood weathered by salt and sand offer a cozy spot to sip wine and clam chowder. A large table near the fireplace or a tucked-away corner booth are prime spots to share extravagant caviar, red snapper ceviche, or a lobster roll with a piled-high stack of shoestring fries. A fish tank and open kitchen add to the appeal.
517 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Known For
- Raw bar and oyster selection
- Lobster roll
- Lively lunch crowd
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Candlelight, fur pelts, plush pillows, wooden skis, and European antiques come together in this bistro to create a cozy and charming Swiss chalet, a nod to the one where owner and retired pro skier Raphael Derly vacationed as a child. The authentic setting is supported with a divine, seasonal menu—with such traditional dishes as escargots, foie gras, boeuf bourguignon, and dessert crepes—that references Derly's upbringing in the south of France.
400 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Known For
- Authentic ski chalet vibes
- Excellent wine selection
- Liquid Swiss gold cheese fondue
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$$ | | Modern American
Sporting an open kitchen, exposed brick walls, and red leather banquettes, this chic bistro offers inventive, cleverly presented meals. The eclectic dinner menu includes starters such as "jars"—small Mason jars filled with yummy spreads like chicken-liver pâté and served with grilled bread or toast. Roasted vegetable sides, and the beloved gnocchi salad with asparagus and mushrooms delight vegetarians, while carnivores revel in such options as rabbit tacos, and cherry barbecue–glazed pork shoulder. A front counter serves baked goods and coffee in the morning, and eat-in salads, sandwiches, and small plates in the afternoon.
348 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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So close to the gondola you can keep your boots on while dining, this upbeat restaurant in the Little Nell hotel has big glass windows and a spacious patio with slope-side views. Large wooden beams, red booths, and sleek furnishings define this spot, which is popular both for its location and its hearty surf-and-turf dishes. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on Colorado ingredients.
685 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Known For
- Slope-side patio
- Parmesan truffle fries
- Double smashburger made with locally raised Wagyu beef
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$$ | | 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
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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
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.
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$ | | Burger
Casual CP Burger offers gourmet beef, chicken, tuna, and falafel burgers for takeout or eating in. Also on the menu are hot dogs, grilled cheese, and kale salad, a locals' favorite. In the summer, take your burger, fries (regular, sweet potato, or Parmesan truffle), and shake (spiked for adults, if you like) outside to eat under white umbrellas and watch the kids on the mini-golf course. In the winter, the course transforms into an ice rink, and you can warm up inside CP Burger with a hot chocolate.
433 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
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$$ | | 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
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Aspen's elite book tables at this swanky, highly regarded restaurant in the Little Nell hotel not only for the beautifully presented entrées but also for the glass, ceiling-height wine cases stocked by knowledgeable sommeliers who also make tableside recommendations. The seasonal menu highlights locally sourced produce and game, as well as meat raised on Colorado ranches. For a lighter meal, head to the bar, which features Colorado beers and spirits.
675 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Known For
- 20,000-plus-bottle wine cellar
- Local Wagyu beef
- Impeccable service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
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The owners of this burger joint—a trendy dining room with exposed brick, bright-green seating, and animal drawings on the walls—grind their own beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and buffalo for exquisite gourmet patties. The focus is on locally raised, grass-fed meats and unusual toppings: try the lamb burger with tzatziki and feta spread, or even a vegetarian option. Arcade games entertain kids while parents enjoy Colorado microbrews.
701 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
Known For
- The Hoggfather, with pork, pepperoni, and pizza dust
- Seared tuna burger
- Boozy shakes for grown-ups
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The sound of sizzling rib-eye fajitas waft through the second-story dining room and vibrant bar where Mexican art and an impressive wine program elevate the unexpected Tex-Mex menu. Ask the in-house sommelier to recommend affordable Spanish or Mexican wines to pair with the grilled Spanish octopus with bay-leaf aioli and pickled Fresno chilies. Dine during the day to appreciate the hand-carved wooden chairs, paintings, and festive dishes and tile imported from Mexico. Top-shelf margaritas, chips and queso, and enchiladas on the outdoor patio offer a more traditional, albeit expensive, experience.
205 S. Mill St., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Known For
- Rib-eye fajitas
- Spanish and Mexican wines
- Authentic Mexican art
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$$ | | Café
Perfectly brewed coffee and hot breakfast buns and pastries are served daily at this café, along with a full breakfast menu that includes homemade granola and plenty of egg dishes. Lunch brings soups, salads, sandwiches, and comfort-food favorites like chicken pot pie. On sunny days, sit on the umbrella-covered back patio.
201 E. Main St., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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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
Known For
- Seasonal charcuterie boards
- Specialty market
- Kombucha on draft
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Colorful flags hang from the ceilings over the simple tables and chairs that surround a large fireplace at this little local-favorite eatery. Tucked into a strip mall by the highway on the west side of town, it serves wonderfully tasty, authentic Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian food: try fish kawab (marinated overnight and then baked in a tandoor) with a side of buttery naan.
6824 Rte. 82, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
Known For
- Extensive lamb options
- Less touristy local vibe
- Vegetarian menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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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
Known For
- Colorado-brewed beer
- Beer-and-cheese fondue sauce and hazelnut cocoa spread
- Chili nachos
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The journey to and from this elegant log cabin restaurant in an idyllic setting is even more memorable than the delicious local fish and hearty wild game plates served. In the winter, take in breathtaking views of the Elk Mountains as you snowshoe, cross-country ski, or ride in a horse-drawn sleigh to the cabin where large windows preserve the scenery. In summer, plan to hike or bike to take in the stunning surroundings for the reward of a filling lunch or dinner. Wintertime dinners are quite pricey, but they include transportation—by sleigh or a cross-country ski trek (gear provided).
12500 Castle Creek Rd., Aspen, Colorado, 81612, USA
Known For
- Floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the woods
- Wild game and fresh fish
- The trip there is an event
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., Reservations essential
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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
Known For
- Casual atmosphere
- Customizable breakfast sandwiches
- Nitro cold brew
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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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
Known For
- Carolina dog with barbecue pulled pork and slaw
- Thai veggie tacos
- Chorizo croquetas with Cajun gravy
