Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley Restaurants

Sushi? Coconut curry? Bison and lobster? Colorado's culinary repertoire is at its broadest in Aspen. With all the Hummers and designer handbags come an equal number of menus with high-end ingredients and showy preparations. Plates can be pricey, particularly in Aspen, but many eateries have at least a few moderately priced entrées (usually pastas) and bar menus as a nod to the budget-conscious. For those who want a break from Aspen, there are excellent dining options down-valley in Basalt and Carbondale as well.

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  • 1. Town

    $$ | 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
    970-963–6328
  • 2. Aspen Over Easy

    $$ | 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
    970-429–8693
  • 3. Crystal Club Cafe

    $$ | 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
    970-963–9515
  • 4. Main Street Bakery & Café

    $$ | 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
    970-925–6446

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 5. Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop

    $$

    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
    970-710–7120

    Known For

    • Seasonal charcuterie boards
    • Specialty market
    • Kombucha on draft

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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  • 6. New Belgium Ranger Station

    $$

    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
    970-236–6277

    Known For

    • Colorado-brewed beer
    • Beer-and-cheese fondue sauce and hazelnut cocoa spread
    • Chili nachos
  • 7. Smoke Modern BBQ

    $$

    House-made bold and tangy, thick and sweet, and smoky and spicy sauces on every table add extra flavor to the traditional barbecue dishes, perfectly prepared in an open kitchen at this casual restaurant with neutral-hue booths, wood tables, and a wall of windows. Try the mac and cheese topped with smoked pork or load up on southern sides. Unique cocktails complement the hearty entrées.

    713 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
    970-230–9796

    Known For

    • Lively atmosphere
    • Large selection of whiskey and bourbon
    • Smoked meats

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.–Thurs.
  • 8. The Goat Restaurant

    $$

    At this lively dinner spot, which draws both foodies and the bar crowd, seasonal salads, pitas, pastas, and other options—from Mediterranean small bites like hummus and feta to classic American burgers and sandwiches—are made from scratch. The warm wood accents and colorful dishes enhance the ambience, making this a favorite with locals and visitors alike.

    995 Cowen Dr., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623, USA
    970-963–4628

    Known For

    • Lively social scene
    • Med platter including dolmades, quinoa tabbouleh, and more
    • Vegetarian options

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed weekends
  • 9. The Pullman

    $$

    With its exposed redbrick walls, pendant lighting, loftlike high ceilings, and zinc-topped bar, the Pullman exudes a sophisticated, urban vibe at a location across the street from the Amtrak train station (thus the name) in Glenwood's historic downtown area. This laid-back restaurant welcomes all types of casual diners with a contemporary American menu that specializes in steak and pork, though the salads and pasta dishes are excellent.

    330 7th St., Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601, USA
    970-230–9234

    Known For

    • The town's fine-dining preference
    • Chef specials
    • Seasonal meat dishes with decadent toppings

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 10. White House Tavern

    $$

    The patio outside this cute, white, Victorian house in the heart of Aspen is a fun, lively place to see and be seen. Locals rave about the sandwiches here, and a great beer, wine, and cocktail menu makes the cozy wood-paneled interior perfect on chilly afternoons or evenings.

    302 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen, Colorado, 81611, USA
    970-925--1007

    Known For

    • Crispy chicken sandwich with spicy slaw
    • Signature margaritas
    • Sceney patio

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