A guide to the best food, drinks, après ski, and nights out in Aspen and Snowmass, from easy local spots to classic Aspen favorites.
Breakfast & Lunch
Paradise Bakery — an Aspen institution for fresh baked cookies, muffins, pastries, coffee, and gelato. It is an easy grab-and-go spot right downtown.
Sant Ambroeus Cafe — Italian coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and a great place to start the day or grab a casual lunch.
Bear Den — a cozy all-day spot for breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and everything in between.
The Stew Pot, Snowmass — a Snowmass favorite for homemade soups, stews, sandwiches, and salads. Easy, casual, and perfect for a quick lunch between runs.
Base Camp Bar & Grill, Snowmass — in Snowmass Base Village and an easy option for burgers, beer, and a casual lunch after a few runs.
Dinner
Clark’s Oyster Bar — oysters, seafood, lobster rolls, and a lively atmosphere. Their happy hour is also worth checking out for food and drink specials.
Sant Ambroeus — upscale Italian with Milanese-style pastas, seafood, and a great cocktail program. The setting is beautiful, and it is a good choice when you want a nicer dinner.
Matsuhisa — high-end sushi and Japanese food from chef Nobu Matsuhisa. This is the spot for a special dinner and high-end sushi.
Meat & Cheese — great for sharing boards, cheese, charcuterie, and other comfort food. It also has a little farm shop if you want to take some things home.
White House Tavern — casual Aspen favorite known for burgers, sandwiches, salads, and the famous fried chicken sandwich.
Venga Venga, Snowmass — Mexican food, margaritas, and a lively atmosphere in Snowmass Village. Great for an easy post-ski dinner.
Base Camp Bar & Grill, Snowmass — casual and convenient for burgers, beer, or something easy after a day on the mountain.
Slow Groovin, Snowmass — barbecue, burgers, tacos, and a great beer selection. A relaxed spot for a casual dinner after skiing.
Quick Bites
Big Wrap — casual, fast, filling, and a longtime Aspen favorite when you need something quick.
New York Pizza — looking for a slice? This is the place. Classic New York-style pizza and a great late-night option.
Bangkok Happy Bowl — casual Thai food with curries, noodle dishes, rice bowls, and quick, flavorful meals and great takeout.
White House Tavern — the fried chicken sandwich, burgers, grilled cheese, and fish tacos make this an easy choice when you want something casual.
Slope & Hatch, Snowmass — tacos, hot dogs, burgers, and other easygoing food in Snowmass Base Village. A good option when you want something quick without a sit-down dinner.
New Belgium Ranger Station, Snowmass — casual slopeside option for a quick lunch, beer, or something to split after skiing.
Bars
Hooch — small, cozy cocktail bar tucked downtown with creative cocktails and a great late-night atmosphere.
Rooftop at W Aspen — head up to the rooftop for drinks, mountain views, music, and a lively atmosphere. The Wet Deck is especially fun on a sunny afternoon.
J-Bar at Hotel Jerome — classic Aspen. Grab a drink at the bar and take in the history and old-school atmosphere.
Belly Up Aspen — legendary live music venue in downtown Aspen with touring bands, DJs, and a lively late-night atmosphere (check the website for a detailed calendar).
Aspen Brewing Company — local brewery with a solid selection of beers and a casual atmosphere.
Silver City — a laid-back downtown bar with a local feel and a good spot for a casual drink.
Venga Venga, Snowmass — margaritas, music, and a lively après scene in Snowmass Village, with a great happy hour.
Viceroy Lounge, Snowmass — an elevated spot for cocktails and bites at the Viceroy. It is a good choice when you want something a little more polished but still relaxed after a day on the mountain.
Base Camp Bar & Grill, Snowmass — laid back slopeside spot for a beer after skiing.
Après Ski
Ajax Tavern — at the base of Aspen Mountain and one of the easiest places to go straight from the slopes for a drink, lunch, or après. The patio is hard to beat on a sunny day.
W Aspen Wet Deck — the rooftop at the W is a fun place to keep the day going with drinks, music, mountain views, and the heated pool and hot tub.
Clark’s Oyster Bar — a great après stop if you want oysters, cocktails, or something a little more elevated. The happy hour is worth checking out, and they make amazing martinis.
Highlands Alehouse — base of Aspen Highlands and a popular après stop after skiing Highlands. It has a big, sunny deck, beer on tap, and a casual mountain-bar feel.
Venga Venga, Snowmass — in Snowmass Village and an easy place to go for margaritas, nachos, and a lively après scene.
Base Camp Bar & Grill, Snowmass — at the base of Snowmass and an easy place to ski straight in for a beer and something to eat.
New Belgium Ranger Station, Snowmass — casual slopeside option for a beer and an easy afternoon hang.
Skiing
Aspen Snowmass is made up of four mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. One lift ticket gives you access to all four, with more than 5,700 acres of terrain. Each mountain has a pretty different personality, so it is worth skiing more than one if you have the time.
Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain is the classic Aspen experience. It is right above downtown and has steep terrain, long groomers, and great tree skiing. It has very little beginner terrain, so it is better suited to intermediate and advanced skiers.
Aspen Highlands
Highlands is known for its steep terrain and Highland Bowl. If you like challenging skiing, this is the mountain to spend a day on. It also has a great base area for après at Highlands Alehouse.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is the easiest of the four mountains for beginners and is also home to the Winter X Games. It is a good choice for families, newer skiers, and anyone who wants a more relaxed day on the hill.
Snowmass
Snowmass is the biggest of the four mountains and has a little bit of everything. There are long groomers, steep terrain, trees, bumps, parks, and plenty of terrain for families. If you are only skiing one mountain for several days, Snowmass is a good one to settle into.
Aspen Snowmass Passes
Premier Pass
The Premier Pass gives you unlimited skiing and riding at all four mountains all season. It also comes with an Uphill Pass, Friends and Family discounts, rental discounts, lesson discounts, dining and retail savings, and a complimentary Ikon Base Pass for eligible adult and senior passholders.
Flex Pass
The Flex Pass is designed for people who want several days at Aspen without committing to a full season. You can choose four, five, six, or seven days and use them whenever you want during the season with no blackout dates.
Weekday Pass
The Weekday Pass gives you unlimited skiing Monday through Friday across all four mountains. You also get weekend access during select early and late-season periods.
Alpine 2 Day Pass
The Alpine 2 Day Pass gives you two days of skiing each week, Monday through Sunday, with no blackout dates. You can also add additional ski days at a discounted rate.
Uphill Pass
If you like earning your turns, Aspen Snowmass requires an Uphill Pass for uphill access. Premier Passholders receive an Uphill Pass at no additional cost (but if you forget it…it’s not a big deal and you won’t get in trouble).
Ikon Pass
The Ikon Pass includes seven combined days at Aspen Snowmass across Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass, with no blackout dates. It is also a good option if you want to use the same pass at other Ikon destinations during the season.
Ikon Base Pass
The Ikon Base Pass includes five days at Snowmass.. Blackout dates apply around the major holiday periods.
Mountain Collective Pass
The Mountain Collective Pass includes two days at Aspen Snowmass with no blackout dates, plus 50 percent off additional days. Since Aspen Snowmass counts as one destination, you can use those two days across any of the four mountains.
There are a lot of pass options, so the best pass depends on how many days you plan to ski and whether Aspen Snowmass is your main destination or one stop on a bigger ski trip.
