Aspen
Aspen, Colorado, is a picturesque mountain town in the Rocky Mountains. It is known for its world-class ski resorts, but it also offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, and golfing in the summer months. Aspen is home to the Aspen Music Festival and School, which attracts top classical musicians from around the world. The town also has a vibrant food and art scene, with numerous galleries and restaurants. Overall, Aspen is a stunning destination that offers something for everyone.
Aspen is a popular destination for celebrities, and many high-end restaurants in town are known for attracting a celebrity clientele. Some examples of restaurants that are popular with celebrities in
Aspen include:
* The Little Nell: This luxurious hotel is home to Element 47, a restaurant that has received accolades for its contemporary American cuisine.
* The Limelight Hotel: This hotel is home to the Limelight Lounge, known for its chic atmosphere and creative cocktails.
* Matsuhisa: This Japanese restaurant, which is part of the Nobu group of restaurants, is a favorite among celebrities who are fans of sushi and other Japanese dishes.
* Jimmy's: This classic Aspen restaurant is known for its classic American cuisine and celebrity clientele.
It's worth noting that celebrities often like to keep a low profile when they are out in public, so it can be challenging to spot them at restaurants. However, these are some places that are known for attracting a celebrity crowd.
Aspen is home to four ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Each ski area has its unique terrain and character, so the best place to ski in Aspen depends on your personal preferences and ability level. Here is a brief overview of each ski area to help you decide which one is the best fit for you:
* Aspen Mountain: Also known as "Ajax," this ski area is located right in the town of Aspen and is known for its steep terrain and challenging runs. It is a popular destination for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
* Aspen Highlands: Located just a few miles from Aspen, this ski area is known for its wide-open bowls and steep chutes. It also has a good mix of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels.
* Buttermilk: This ski area is known for its beginner- and intermediate-level terrain, as well as its terrain park and halfpipe. It is a popular destination for families and those just learning to ski or snowboard.
* Snowmass: This is the largest ski area in Aspen, with more than 3,000 acres of terrain. It has something for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels, including wide-open groomed runs, challenging steeps, and a terrain park.
Overall, the best place to ski in Aspen depends on your personal preferences and ability level. If you are a beginner, Buttermilk may be the best choice for you. If you are an advanced skier or snowboarder looking for challenging terrain, Aspen Mountain or Aspen Highlands might be a better fit. And if you want a ski area with a good mix of terrain for all ability levels, Snowmass is a great choice.
Aspen is home to various shopping options, from high-end designer stores to local boutiques. Here are a few places to consider when shopping in Aspen:
* The Aspen Mall: This outdoor mall is located in the heart of Aspen and features a mix of high-end and more affordable stores, as well as restaurants and cafes.
* The Hyman Avenue Pedestrian Mall: Located in the center of town, this pedestrian-only street is lined with various stores, including luxury brands, local boutiques, and art galleries.
* The Aspen Outfitting Company: This outdoor retailer is a great place to shop for outdoor gear and clothing. They have a wide selection of high-quality gear and knowledgeable staff who can help you find what you need.
* The Aspen Antiques & Fine Art: Located in the historic Elks Lodge Building, this store is a treasure trove of unique antique and vintage items. It is a great place to shop for one-of-a-kind finds.
Overall, Aspen has a range of shopping options to suit various tastes and budgets.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort is a luxury hotel in Aspen, Colorado. It is situated at the base of Aspen Mountain and offers guests ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes. The hotel features lavish guest rooms and suites, many of which offer stunning mountain views. It also has a full-service spa, fitness center, and outdoor pool. Dining options at St. Regis include the hotel's signature restaurant, Astra, which serves contemporary American cuisine, and the J-Bar, a popular spot for cocktails and light bites. St. Regis is known for its excellent service and luxurious amenities, making it a top choice for travelers looking for a high-end ski vacation.
The Jerome Hotel is a luxury hotel located in Aspen, Colorado. It is a historic property that has been beautifully restored and updated to offer modern amenities. The hotel features a mix of guest rooms, suites, and townhouses, all stylishly decorated and providing a range of amenities such as fireplaces and balconies. The Jerome Hotel is known for its excellent dining options, including the J-Bar, a popular spot for cocktails and light bites, and its signature restaurant, Prospect, which serves contemporary American cuisine. The hotel also has a full-service spa, fitness center, and outdoor pool. Overall, the Jerome Hotel is a luxurious and stylish choice for travelers visiting Aspen.
Right Now · May 2026
Where to Eat
Bosq holds the only MICHELIN Star in Aspen, and in May the kitchen pivots hard into spring forage — lilac blossoms, rhubarb, green strawberries pulled from surrounding forests. The tasting menu is the only sensible move; let wine director Nick Heileman, the MICHELIN Guide's 2025 Colorado Sommelier of the Year, steer the pairings toward old-vine Albariño and single-vineyard Cinsault that travel as far as the food does.
Clark's Oyster Bar is among the most-recommended tables in the valley for a reason that has nothing to do with novelty: warm sourdough baked in-house, a dozen oysters, and a properly cold martini will get your afternoon in order before the linguine with clams or a bowl of cioppino closes it down. Reservations release exactly 30 days out — set a reminder.
Wayan brings Southeast Asian cooking to a town that runs heavily on steak and pasta, and the contrast earns it. Lobster noodles with black pepper butter and Thai basil, peekytoe crab fried rice, and charred chicken lombok are built for sharing; grab a bar seat so you can watch the satay skewers turn continuously on the open grill.
Mawa's Kitchen operates near the airport, which sounds like a demerit until you sit down. Chef Mawa's Afro-Caribbean-French tasting menu — plantain bread board, escargot en croûte, oxtail au Bourguignon — is one of the more distinctive meals in the Rockies, and the MICHELIN Guide agrees, listing it among Colorado's recommended restaurants. Breakfast and lunch run lighter; dinner is worth the short drive.
Hickory House has been feeding Aspen for decades, and in this town that kind of tenure means something. The baby back ribs arrive tender, smoky, and in portions large enough to be embarrassing; hardhats hang next to Moncler jackets and no one blinks. Walk-in only, which in a town of reservation anxiety feels almost radical.
After Dark
Bad Harriet sits beneath the Hotel Jerome's Aspen Times building — an underground speakeasy done in low lighting and leather, reservations required, with hand-crafted cocktails that respect the format. Named after the wife of the hotel's original developer, it carries enough narrative weight to make even a standard Negroni feel like a small occasion.
Stranahan's Whiskey Lodge on the walking mall near Wagner Park is the room for anyone who wants Colorado whiskey taken seriously. The lodge pours an extensive selection anchored by Stranahan's Colorado Single Malt — the state's first Rocky Mountain expression — alongside a western-style bar that earns its setting without being theatrical about it.
Belly Up Aspen, housed in the historic Elks Building, books over 300 live concerts a year into an intimate 450-person room with a sound system that punches well above its capacity. The range runs from jazz to rock to hip-hop with no apparent anxiety about genre; check the calendar before you arrive, because shows sell and the room rewards proximity to the stage.
Out of Town
Aspen Paragliding launches tandem flights year-round from Aspen Mountain, drifting toward the valley floor on thermals that in May carry the smell of warming pine and snowmelt. The operation — 35 years in the business, USHPA-certified pilots — is among the most-recommended aerial experiences in the region, and the views of the surrounding 14,000-foot Elk Range are not something a helicopter approximates from the same angle.
Fly fishing the Roaring Fork Valley earns its spring billing: the 70-mile Roaring Fork River and the Fryingpan together account for 45 miles of Gold Medal water — the largest such stretch in Colorado — and May's warming insect activity sends rainbow and cutthroat trout into an aggressive feeding cycle ahead of their spring spawn. Half-day guided outings through Aspen Fly Fishing or the Aspen Outfitting Company at the St. Regis are the efficient entry point; guides read the river's redds carefully and know where not to cast.
The Maroon Bells require a reservation — either a private vehicle trailhead permit or the RFTA shuttle from Highlands Village — but the administrative friction is the only friction. Two wine-colored peaks topping 14,000 feet reflected in Maroon Lake on a clear May morning is an image that has been reproduced so often it risks abstraction; being there restores the reality of it. Go early, before the light flattens.
On the Calendar
Belly Up Aspen — Ozomatli (this week, 7:30 p.m.): The six-piece Los Angeles ensemble has spent three decades blending salsa, cumbia, funk, reggae, New Orleans second-line, and raga into a live experience that moves more fluidly than most genre descriptions allow. In 2026, the band is in an active creative chapter — new material, expanded formats, and a stage presence that has not dimmed. For a spring evening in a 450-person room, the fit is exactly right.
FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen (June 19–21): The annual Classic returns with over 70 celebrity chefs and beverage experts across more than 40 cooking demonstrations and seminars set against the Rocky Mountain backdrop. Limited ticket sales keep the Grand Tasting tents genuinely intimate for an event of this caliber; it is, in the most literal sense, a weekend to plan a trip around rather than the other way.
