Aspen Restaurants

While the Aspen restaurant scene is more varied than most people think, there is one universal truth: everything is a bit more expensive than it really needs to be. This applies to everything from a hamburger at the local fast food place to a nice sandwich at a local café to a fine steak at a name fine dining restaurant. That’s not to say there aren’t bargains out there, they just have to be viewed from a different perspective.

1. Hickory House Ribs - 730 W. Main Street Aspen - website

This restaurant isn’t quite a chain, it only has two locations, but the food here is worthy of being distributed all over the country. Hickory House Ribs has been feeding hungry skiers for years and it is just as popular with the elite of Aspen as it is with the locals.

2. Olives Aspen - 315 East Dean Street Aspen - website

Located inside the posh St. Regis Hotel, Olives is a fine dining experience that sets itself apart from the competition because it is surprisingly welcoming and attitude free. Excellent food and attentive service also help to make this a place you’ll visit more than once.

3. Jimmy’s - 205 S. Mill St. Aspen - website

Jimmy’s is a mid range choice that is one of the friendliest spots in the whole town. A great place for a good steak and an even better smile from the wait staff, Jimmy’s is about as relaxed a dining experience you’ll find in Aspen.

4. Range Restaurant - 304 E. Hopkins Ave Aspen - website

One of the few name restaurants with a celebrity chef that doesn’t come with a side of snobbish attitude. Range is dedicated to bringing the best in local cuisine to the masses and they do it quite well. If you want one pricy meal during your stay, this is a great, no attitude choice.

5. Cache Cache Restaurant - 205 S Mill Street Aspen - website

Cache Cache is an interesting combination of traditional French cooking infused with fresh local ingredients. The result is a unique dining experience in a town that prides itself on originality. A good choice if you’re looking for something different.

6. Rustique Bistro - 216 S. Moarch Street Aspen - website

The Rustique Bistro is another good choice if you’re looking for a fine meal with little to no attitude. The atmosphere resembles a simple French cottage and the food is just as creative.

7. Elevation - 304 East Hopkins Ave. Aspen - website

Fusion cuisine and fine art are the order of the day at Elevation. This place is what you think of when you think of fine dining in Aspen, but the food here is original enough to warrant a visit.

8. Pine Creek Cookhouse - Castle Creek Road Aspen - website

Don’t let the name fool you, the Pine Creek Cookhouse is a fine dining experience that is both educational and fun. Reservations are recommended and if you plan on visiting during the winter, the sooner you make reservations, the better.

9. Mirabella Restaurant - 216 S. Monarch Street Aspen

Mirabella doesn’t limit itself as an Italian restaurant, instead, it features dishes from all over the Mediterranean region, from Greek to Turkish. They are almost universally delicious.

10. Catina - 411 E Main Street (Mill & Main) Aspen - website

Catina is a beloved dining spot in Aspen because it offers some of the best Mexican and Tex-Mex food you’ll find anywhere in Colorado. Try the chili and the fresh made chips and salsa.