Summer in Aspen Brings a Food Frenzy, Here's Where to Eat in Between Outdoor Adventures

Aspen Snowmass SummerWhen it comes to eating and drinking, there’s not a more exciting mountain town than Aspen . In the winter, Aspen’s restaurants and bars (in town, in Snowmass, or even on the mountain) are packed with both snow enthusiasts and Aspen fanatics who never trade in their Moon Boots for ski boots. This is when the local dining scene is at its finest. So fine, in fact, that even culinary outsiders from all over the country try to snatch a piece of that seasonal pie by staging limited-time residencies and pop-ups: Over the years, everyone from beloved New York stalwarts Dante and Eleven Madison Park to Venetian aperitivo brand Select Aperitivo have hosted successful winter concepts in Aspen.

But feasting continues into the summer, too. Locals and visitors may not be après-skiing, and many of the iconic on-mountain venues like Bonnie’s and Cloud Nine may be closed until snow starts to fall again in November, but Aspen remains well-fed. Not only do many of the in-town restaurants and bars reopen for business come June, but Food & Wine Classic has been luring epicurean A-listers to the Rockies for over 40 years.

The mythology around Aspen may revolve around its appeal as a ski destination, but it actually doesn’t matter when you visit. Whether you’re mountain biking in the summer or conquering the Highland bowl in the winter, a great meal will follow.

Inside hotel The Little Nell, Element 47 has been serving up farm-fresh meals for decades.

A dynamic destination like Aspen always welcomes a new hotspot every season (winter or summer). But if you want a longtime fine-dining classic, Element 47 inside The Little Nell has been serving up farm-fresh breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for decades. During the day, you may want blinis with caviar while dinner might be all about juicy wagyu steaks sourced from Colorado’s Cross Creek Ranch. Don’t forget to wash it down with a glass of vino from the encyclopedic list that wine director Chris Dunaway has put together.

More historic still is J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome . First opened in 1889, it counts Hunter S. Thompson and Hedy Lamarr amongst its most famous patrons. And, yes, this is a lively après-ski haunt, but its indulgent cheeseburger has a bit of a cult following, too. Before you leave, ask your server if you can take a look at the original Chinoiserie Chippendale till; it’s been signed by J-Bar bartenders over the years.

Bosq is one of only a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants in the state.

More modern-day hits around town include the very cozy French Alpine Bistro . Another fantastic après-ski choice that’s similarly buzzy in the summer: You come for the fondue (or the baked goat cheese with honey) and glass of Champagne, but you stay for the sweet, intimate ambience. Then, there’s the Michelin-starred splurge at Bosq (one of only a handful of winners in the state). It’s known for chef Barclay Dodge’s hyper-seasonal menu that champions the fertile soil of the area. In the summer, expect dishes that highlight baby artichokes and bright tomatoes. Winter menus, on the other hand, feature fermented ingredients and braised meats.

West End Social boasts some of the best views of the Rockies, which are a lot greener in summer.

There’s a complimentary shuttle service between West End Social and downtown Aspen.

Every seat at Clark’s Oyster Bar looks to be splurging on seafood towers followed by crab cakes and lobster rolls. In the winter, if you know you’re not skiing in the afternoon, a languorous lunch at Clark’s is the ideal treat after a day on Ajax. At Mawa McQueen’s all-day favorite Mawa’s Kitchen offers one of the most global menus in town, thanks to dishes inspired by McQueen’s West African heritage. Take the blueberry pancakes made with fonio, a West African grain that is so tiny, it might remind you of sand. Breezier still is Meat & Cheese , which serves the sorts of things you always want to eat: rotisserie chicken, dumplings, mahi mahi tacos, pastrami sandwich. One of the best spots for outdoor dining is West End Social , where you’ll have some of the best views of the Rockies while enjoying pork belly tacos and margaritas. Bonus: there’s a complimentary shuttle service to and from West End Social and downtown Aspen.

One of the newest transplants to land in Aspen is Mt. Rubirosa by way of Manhattan's Nolita. Not that Aspen needs more Italian food, but a winter pop-up that will now run at least through the end of summer 2026 has had people clamoring for meatballs, squid ink pasta, and its selection of New York-style pizza. Or go fancy at the Marea pop-up at the Snow Lodge . Executive chef PJ Calapa brings a lot of the hits from New York to this residency, including the lobster and burrata salad as well as the fusilli with octopus and bone marrow. The permanent Aspen satellite of NYC’s Wayan is a maximalist experience, where every light fixture is its own design moment. The kitchen, however, sticks to the original’s French-inspired Indonesian food, think a selection of satay, escargot in a rendang sauce, and crispy pork ribs slathered in a soy-tamarind sauce.

One of the winter season’s buzziest dining rooms has to be Petit Trois . Los Angeles chef Ludo Lefebvre brought his classic French concept to the ground floor of the Mollie, where crowds come early and stay all night. The bistro-style menu satisfies every craving with the endive salad with anchovies, a baguette with what might be the best slab of butter in town, and Lefebvre’s take on the Big Mac, made more expensive, more indulgent, and more French with foie gras. (It’s called Big Mec here.)

Dining is the perfect way to fuel up for the outdoor adventures in Snowmass.

Aspen Mountain is home to yoga glasses and horseback riding in summer weather.

Of course, there’s more to do in this historic mining town than eat and drink your way through it. For the outdoorsy, the Rocky Mountains provide the foundation. Hiking and mountain biking during the summer, and skiing and snowboarding during the winter. (There’s also tubing and snowshoeing, if you’d prefer less adrenaline.) During the summer, from Monday to Friday, you can also do yoga on Aspen Mountain .

And given the town’s ritzy reputation, shopping is world-class here. Many of the best global brands have boutiques in downtown Aspen, but if you prefer to go local, Aztech Mountain is partially based in town and is known for colorful, attention-grabbing styles, from color-block sweaters to ski suits in unusual patterns and body-skimming silhouettes. Otherwise, pick up Aspen-branded merch (from novelty knitwear to baseball caps with the aspen leaf on it) as well activewear (from ski shells to yoga leggings) at the Aspen Collection . Their ski clothes are tested by local pros to ensure they can withstand the demands of the mountains. You can also rent gear here, from skis to mountain bikes. And for many, there’s no better Aspen souvenir than a custom hat from Kemo Sabe .

One of the things that locals love about living in Aspen is you get the intimate, mountain-town feel but with some worldly amenities, especially when it comes to art and culture. Belly Up , for instance, is a regular tour stop for topnotch acts, from Diplo to Melissa Ethridge. When it comes to art, both Aspen Art Museum and The Bayer Center are free to enter.

Mollie Aspen, a 68-room boutique, delivers a bit more intimacy with all the amenities.

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection has been beloved since it first opened in the 19th century. Après at the bar is quite the scene, but it also has some of the most stylish guest rooms in town (which were all just given a light makeover). The Garden Room was also recently reimagined and now hosts Après Tea , a more elegant and subdued take on the post-ski tradition. Though, of course, no one will blame you for upgrading a cup of earl grey for a glass of Louis Roederer served in sparkling Waterford crystal.

If you’d prefer direct access to the mountain, the only choice is The Little Nell , which is a ski-in ski-out property, at the bottom of the Queen Gondola. This luxury crash pad’s social scene is unparalleled, whether it’s for après at Ajax Tavern, a DJ-led dance party at the The Wine Bar, or a grand tasting at Element 57 during the Food & Wine Classic.

Aesthetes should love the Japanese-minimalism-meets-Bauhaus interiors at Mollie Aspen , which opened in late 2023. Its boutique 68-room footprint delivers a bit more intimacy but all the amenities are there: a small gym, an all-day cafe serving a craveable menu of poutine and tomato soup, and a rooftop hot tub.