David's Guidebook
Food & Drink
If you like a raw bar or seafood, it’s so good! One of favorite places to eat! Higher price point.
19 locals recommend
Clark's Oyster Bar
517 E Hyman AveIf you like a raw bar or seafood, it’s so good! One of favorite places to eat! Higher price point.
Great food, service and atmosphere. Contemporary cuisine. Higher price point. Our favorite all around dining experience.
38 locals recommend
Cache Cache
205 S Mill StGreat food, service and atmosphere. Contemporary cuisine. Higher price point. Our favorite all around dining experience.
Easy and casual. Mid price point. Awesome fish sandwich and kale salad.
50 locals recommend
White House Tavern
302 E Hopkins AveEasy and casual. Mid price point. Awesome fish sandwich and kale salad.
Bangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro and Bar - Aspen, CO
300 Puppy Smith StGreat quick easy meal that delivers
Great, fresh and yummy comfort food in a really cool and cozy space.
31 locals recommend
French Alpine Bistro - Crêperie du Village
400 E Hopkins AveGreat, fresh and yummy comfort food in a really cool and cozy space.
Awesome rooftop! Grab a snack and a cocktail with the best 360 view of Aspen.
7 locals recommend
W Aspen
550 S Spring StAwesome rooftop! Grab a snack and a cocktail with the best 360 view of Aspen.
Reservations a MUST! It’s just a cool experience overall for food and scenery.
38 locals recommend
Pine Creek Cookhouse
12500 Castle Creek RdReservations a MUST! It’s just a cool experience overall for food and scenery.
World renowned sushi chef restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. Higher priced.
53 locals recommend
Matsuhisa
303 E Main StWorld renowned sushi chef restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. Higher priced.
A tad less expensive than Matsuhisa, which we also recommend. Ask for the green tea martini, created by one of the bartenders ;-) super yummy and for a little pep to get you through the rest of the night on the town.
22 locals recommend
Kenichi
533 E Hopkins AveA tad less expensive than Matsuhisa, which we also recommend. Ask for the green tea martini, created by one of the bartenders ;-) super yummy and for a little pep to get you through the rest of the night on the town.
A locally owned local Italian favorite for a moderately priced dinner. The Positano is our favorite ;-)
21 locals recommend
Campo De Fiori
205 S Mill StA locally owned local Italian favorite for a moderately priced dinner. The Positano is our favorite ;-)
Top notch restaurant with impeccable service and great food. If you want to treat yourself, this is a good choice.
Casa D' Angelo Ristorante
Top notch restaurant with impeccable service and great food. If you want to treat yourself, this is a good choice.
Casa Tua
403 S Galena StSolid choice for an overall great experience.
Catch Steak Aspen
Great steakhouse with seafood. Fancy presentations.
Betula Aspen
525 E Cooper AveGreat good, cool atmosphere with a dj. Try the soufflé.
Acquolina
415 E Main StItalian food with an easier time to find a table when it is busy in town.
Sightseeing
The art is always great and it rotates usually about every 3 months and it’s FREE!
72 locals recommend
Aspen Art Museum
637 E Hyman AveThe art is always great and it rotates usually about every 3 months and it’s FREE!
A must see! One of the most photographed places in North America. There is a nice casual hike to the upper lake. Photos speak for themselves.
143 locals recommend
Maroon Bells
A must see! One of the most photographed places in North America. There is a nice casual hike to the upper lake. Photos speak for themselves.
“Hunter Creek Trail” up to “Smugglers Trail” down. Best and easiest trail to hike. Local favorite. Full Aspen valley view from the top. Bridges, rivers and water falls. 2 hrs round trip. 20 min walk to the Hunter Creek trail head from our place.
7 locals recommend
Hunter Creek Trail
255 S Hunter St“Hunter Creek Trail” up to “Smugglers Trail” down. Best and easiest trail to hike. Local favorite. Full Aspen valley view from the top. Bridges, rivers and water falls. 2 hrs round trip. 20 min walk to the Hunter Creek trail head from our place.
Ride bikes along the Rio Grande trail. If you have time, ride to Woody Creek Tavern and have lunch.
Rio Grande Trail
Rio Grande TrailRide bikes along the Rio Grande trail. If you have time, ride to Woody Creek Tavern and have lunch.
A nice little stroll along the river. Can walk to it from our place. Walk across the street to the right a little and take that trail down to the river and go left to a park and the sanctuary.
17 locals recommend
The John Denver Sanctuary
470 Rio Grande PlA nice little stroll along the river. Can walk to it from our place. Walk across the street to the right a little and take that trail down to the river and go left to a park and the sanctuary.
If your looking for an easy and quick 30-45 min (to the top) hike fix, check out Smuggler Mountain Trail. It’s a service dirt road that passes by several beautiful large homes as you ascend to the top Observation Deck for a breath taking view of the entire Aspen valley and Aspen (Ajax) Mountain that does not disappoint.
This is the second half of the longer “Hunter Creek Trail” loop hike that we also recommend. Smuggler Mountain trail is just an easy and straight forward hike with a spectacular view at the top and then you have the rest of the day to relax and walk the town.
Make sure to start early in the summer to beat the busier times and avoid the hot sun ;-)
20 locals recommend
Smuggler Mountain Trailhead
401 Co Rd 21If your looking for an easy and quick 30-45 min (to the top) hike fix, check out Smuggler Mountain Trail. It’s a service dirt road that passes by several beautiful large homes as you ascend to the top Observation Deck for a breath taking view of the entire Aspen valley and Aspen (Ajax) Mountain that does not disappoint.
This is the second half of the longer “Hunter Creek Trail” loop hike that we also recommend. Smuggler Mountain trail is just an easy and straight forward hike with a spectacular view at the top and then you have the rest of the day to relax and walk the town.
Make sure to start early in the summer to beat the busier times and avoid the hot sun ;-)
Cocktails
Places to have a cocktail.
Awesome rooftop! Grab a snack and a cocktail with the best 360 view of Aspen.
7 locals recommend
W Aspen
550 S Spring StAwesome rooftop! Grab a snack and a cocktail with the best 360 view of Aspen.
The Little Nell
675 E Durant AveCozy sunken living room vibe
Madame Ushi Aspen
Just a cool downstairs bar to hang out at
Cool, swanky & historical hotel with 2 bars to choose from
27 locals recommend
Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection
330 E Main StCool, swanky & historical hotel with 2 bars to choose from
Art Galleries
Cha Cha Gallery
426 E Hyman AveReally great fun pop art.
Après
Places to go after you ski or just to hang with the ski crowd.
The Little Nell
675 E Durant AveJust a cool place to chill for Aprés.
W Aspen
550 S Spring StHip hot spot with an awesome 360 valley rooftop deck.
The Wine Bar
Hot spot for Aprés with a DJ.
Epitome of Apres right at the base of Aspen Mountain (Ajax Mountain). Eat and drink during or after you ski or if you don’t ski just hang out eat and drink and watch the skiers come down. Always a DJ playing. It’s perfecto!
26 locals recommend
Ajax Tavern
685 E Durant AveEpitome of Apres right at the base of Aspen Mountain (Ajax Mountain). Eat and drink during or after you ski or if you don’t ski just hang out eat and drink and watch the skiers come down. Always a DJ playing. It’s perfecto!
Epitome of Apres right at the base of Aspen Mountain (Ajax Mountain). Eat and drink during or after you ski or if you don’t ski just hang out eat and drink and watch the skiers come down. Always a DJ playing. It’s perfecto!
CHICA Aspen
Epitome of Apres right at the base of Aspen Mountain (Ajax Mountain). Eat and drink during or after you ski or if you don’t ski just hang out eat and drink and watch the skiers come down. Always a DJ playing. It’s perfecto!
Budget Eats
New York Pizza
409 E Hyman AveBangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro and Bar - Aspen, CO
300 Puppy Smith StThai fix
Aspen Hickory House
730 W Main StBBQ fix
520 Grill
520 E Cooper AveEasy, quick and cheap. Fish tacos are so good ;-)
Aspen Tap / Aspen Brewery
121 S Galena StPizza with tap beer and a nice corner street patio.
Big Wrap
520 E Durant AveAwesome wraps and salads. Try the pesto wrap. A local fav!
Nightlife
Silver City
210 S Galena StOverall fun with a western kick.
The Sterling Aspen
Cool concept club that mimics the inside of an airplane. Mainstream top 40 dance music.
15 locals recommend
Escobar Aspen
426 E Hyman AveCool concept club that mimics the inside of an airplane. Mainstream top 40 dance music.
Cool place to eat and chill. They are a restaurant with a DJ. Music is all good. Chill house.
16 locals recommend
Betula Aspen
525 E Cooper AveCool place to eat and chill. They are a restaurant with a DJ. Music is all good. Chill house.
GALA Aspen
Best club in Aspen. Best sound and best music. Usually GOOD house music by DJs.
Second best club in Aspen. The entire club is crush velvet. Old school 70’s vibe. Usually DJs playing GOOD house.
Ponyboy Aspen
Second best club in Aspen. The entire club is crush velvet. Old school 70’s vibe. Usually DJs playing GOOD house.