This year’s edition of Aspen Art Week celebrates presentations at the Aspen Art Museum, its inaugural edition of AIR Aspen, Aspen Art Fair at Hotel Jerome, and gallery exhibitions galore. Additionally, the city is abuzz with food and beverage options, five-star accommodations, and boutiques open to all. Here, Whitewall highlights its top restaurants and bars to visit while in town—like newcomers Wayan, Sant Ambroeus, ZigZag, and more.
Wayan
Courtesy of Wayan.
The recently-opened Wayan Aspen brings Cedric and Ochi Vongerichten’s award-winning French-Indonesian cuisine to the mountains. Following years of success in New York, as well as successful pop-ups at The Little Nell, the new location combines the flavors of Southeast Asia with the charm of an Aspen chalet with an open kitchen and a wood fire. Signature dishes—like lobster noodles and corn fritters—join local flavors, including Colorado lamb satays and butterflied trout with sambal tomato sauce.
What we love: Enjoying the Indonesian and Balinese artwork adorning the space.
Book your reservation HERE
ZigZag
Courtesy of ZigZag Aspen.
Courtesy of ZigZag Aspen.
ZigZag Aspen is a modern French-American bistro just one block away from the base of Aspen Mountain. Known for its wood-fired pizzas, shareable plates, and upbeat atmosphere, it is a lively après-ski hub for locals and visitors alike. Creative cocktails, elevated comfort food, and mountain views from the patio complement the restaurant’s free-spirited design, featuring vintage ski décor and cozy alpine touches.
What we love: Stopping by for happy hour.
Book your reservation HERE
Origin by The Farmer & Chef
Courtesy of Origin by The Farmer & Chef.
Origin by The Farmer & Chef—a collaboration between The Gant hotel and The Farmer & Chef—is a new destination in Aspen, focusing on farm-to-table dining with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Led by a husband-and-wife duo, the restaurant highlights Colorado’s agricultural richness with a menu that changes frequently. Dishes include innovative takes on local produce and responsibly-sourced meats, complementing a warm, minimalist setting.
What we love: Asking for Chef’s recommendation.
Book your reservation HERE
West End Social
Courtesy of West End Social.
West End Social, located at Aspen Meadows, is spearheaded by Chef Rachel Saxton. Inside, a share‑plate menu is inspired by Colorado ingredients, featuring many sourced directly from the 40‑acre resort grounds. Served in a bright, Bauhaus‑inspired space designed by Bentel & Bentel, the restaurant also hosts an expansive outdoor deck with mountain views—perfect for après drinks, brunch, or a relaxing dinner.
What we love: Saving room for sweet treats by Pastry Chef Sarah Figueiredo.
Book your reservation HERE
Sant Ambroeus
Courtesy of Sant Ambroeus.
The cult-favorite Milanese-style restaurant Sant Ambroeus has opened on Main Street with a refined dining room, the intimate Il Baretto bar, and a courtyard terrace—all designed by Giampiero Tagliaferri Studio. Reimagined Milanese classics by Chef Iacopo Falai—like Ossobuco alla Milanese, polenta with wild mushrooms, fresh pastas, and raw bar offerings—are enhanced by ingredients sourced from the region. The bar’s aperitivo program offers a curated selection of Italian-style cocktails and bar snacks served beside a stone hearth, while the dining room’s vintage Italian furnishings and plush textures evoke sophistication and alpine comfort.
What we love: Enjoying a spritz in the courtyard.
Book your reservation HERE
Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge
Courtesy of Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge.
Taking the place of Pacifica is a new tasting room and restaurant named Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge. Here, an immersive mountain-lodge setting is centered around Colorado’s signature craft whiskey. Guests can sample Stranahan’s acclaimed spirits alongside rustic, fire‑grilled dishes that pay homage to alpine cuisine. With plush leather seating, wood-panel interiors, and a cozy hearth, the Lodge provides an atmospheric escape ideal for intimate après-drink conversations in the heart of Aspen.
What we love: Sipping the Stranahan’s Sazerac.
Book your reservation HERE
Swedish Hill Aspen
Swedish Hill photo by Justin Cook.
Atop the Aspen Art Museum, Swedish Hill is the institution’s brand-new cafe. A gorgeous destination with a breathtaking view, the eatery is a local go-to for breakfast, lunch, and early afternoon aperitivo hours. Coffee, freshly baked breads and pastries, made-to-order sandwiches, soups, and pastas, are all offered, as is an expanded menu of cocktails, wine, and more. Swedish Hill Bakery originated in 1975 in East Austin, Texas. After a fire destroyed the space, it relocated to what is now Clark’s Oyster Bar just down the street in Austin, and in 1991, it moved down the block, where it was stationed for nearly three decades. Just two months ago, the iconic Texas spot opened its first location outside of Austin in Aspen—the Swedish Hill Cafe at the Aspen Art Museum. Featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, it has quickly become a crowd favorite.
What we love: Ordering a build-your-own signature sandwich.
Book your reservation HERE
Cache Cache
Courtesy of Cache Cache.
For over 30 years, Cache Cache has been a local Aspen favorite for all the right reasons. Dark and intimate with heartfelt, authentic cuisine, it’s a place where you can feel just as attended to at the bar or at a dining table. Boasting French-American cuisine and an extensive wine list, Cache Cache is regarded for the finer things—from its cuts of steak, caviar, and escargots to homemade pastas and rich desserts. For those new to Cache Cache, we recommend sitting at the bar and ordering an array of appetizers to share. And for larger parties, our tip is to make a reservation and do dinner family-style.
What we love: Ordering a pack of beer for the kitchen.
Book your reservation HERE
Clark’s Oyster Bar
Courtesy of Clark’s Oyster Bar Aspen.
Clark’s Osyter Bar first opened in 2012 in Austin, Texas. Its Colorado outpost in Aspen opened in 2018, sinc becoming an institution for all things seafood. Here, oysters, crudo, lobster rolls, and caviar are on rotation, as are daily fish specials, bowls of chowder and cioppino, and more. Gaining inspration from the New England coast, with a nod to California classics, this hotspot welcomes guests to a relaxed, intimate setting centered by a fireplace. Around its edges are high-top seats at the bar, a dining room fill of tables and plenty of seats, and a raw bar. From brunch fueled by Champagne and seafood towers to cozy dinners complemented by Gruyere-topped burgers, dining at Clark’s is like being dockside with friends and your favorite dish.
What we love: Stopping by for happy hour.
Book your reservation HERE
Acquolina
Courtesy of Acquolina.
From the dishes to the environment, Acquolina welcomes guests to a traditional Italian experience. The all-Italian wine list complements the establishment’s savory pizza, marking Aspen with a classic trattoria and pizzeria vibe.
What we love: Ordering the orecchiette pasta.
Book your reservation HERE
The Monarch
Photo by Derek Skalko, courtesy of The Monarch.
Also from CP Restaurant Group is The Monarch—a classic steakhouse with an extensive wine list. Its dinner menu (featuring starters, seafood, prime meats, and a section for sauces and toppings) joins its bar menu (of cocktails, beer, wine, appetizers, salads, soups, and more) for delectable options galore.
What we love: Enjoying the Siberian Ostera caviar.
Book your reservation HERE
Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell
Photo by C2 Photography, Chris Council, and Emily Chaplin, courtesy of Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell.
Located next to the Silver Queen Gondola and at the base of the Aspen Mountain, Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell brings visitors casual fine dining with an array of events—like Ajax Wine Dinners on Saturday—happening throughout the season. Regulars recommend the truffle fries and the double cheeseburger.
What we love: Enjoying live music on the patio.
Book your reservation HERE
Element 47 at The Little Nell
Courtesy of Element 47.
Element 47 at The Little Nell is the only Forbes five-star restaurant in Aspen. Named after the periodic table item for silver as a nod to the city’s silver-mining history, the restaurant is a favorite for Colorodans. Elevated American cuisine is crafted with seasonal ingredients by Chef Matt Zubrod, and sleek design creates a memorable dining experience by Bentel & Bentel. The restaurant is also known for its reputable wine list, directed by master sommeliers, its new private cellar dinners, and The Little Nell Wine Club.
What we love: Ordering the double wagyu burger and truffle fries.
Book your reservation HERE
Kenichi
Courtesy of Kenichi.
Since 1991, Kenichi has been drawing diners in with its delectable dishes by Sushi Chef Kiyomi Sano, hip atmosphere, and specialty Japanese fish. With a 17-seat sushi bar and a private dining tatami room for four, the restaurant also shines with 14 “Rock Star Booths,” where, inevitably, the stars end up indulging.
What we love: Ordering the Chef’s Special.
Book your reservation HERE
The Wild Fig
Courtesy of The Wild Fig.
Looking for classic European fare while in Aspen? If so, The Wild Fig is your spot for dishes derived from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece. With delicious classics like ravioli, gazpacho, steak frittes, and seafood stew, this restaurant is a cozy escape from the warm or cold months.
What we love: Dining al fresco.
Book your reservation HERE
