Things to do in Aspen, splurging
Great food, great cocktails, and enough mountain air to earn it all.
This is Aspen for someone who wants the full ticket: destination dinners, well-made drinks, and days that move between river trails and ridgelines. The town is small enough that nothing is far, but the restaurants and bars punch well above that scale. Come hungry and with a credit card you're not afraid to use.
Day 1: Downtown: coffee, canyon, dinner
The day opens with Sant Ambroeus and ends at the French Alpine Bistro, with a raft through Slaughterhouse Falls and a long lunch at Hotel Jerome's Prospect in between.
- 9:30 AM
Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar
Milanese espresso bar: a cappuccino at the counter with a cornetto, the way they do it in Milan.
Map - 10:30 AM
John Denver Sanctuary + Aspen Saturday Market
Free riverside garden with John Denver lyrics carved into boulders; summer Saturdays add the market downtown.
Map - 12:30 PM
Prospect at Hotel Jerome
Long lunch in the dining room of the 1889 silver-boom hotel: seasonal Colorado plates and a good wine list.
Map - 4:30 PM
Whitewater rafting - Roaring Fork / Colorado
Half-day raft on the Roaring Fork: Slaughterhouse Falls runs Class III to IV, best from late May into July.
Map - 7:30 PM
French Alpine Bistro - Crêperie du Village
Cosy Savoyard room below Hopkins Ave: fondue, raclette and crêpes with a bottle from the Alps.
Map - 9:30 PM
The Living Room
Hotel Jerome's fireside lounge for a late cocktail; open until 11pm, midnight at the weekend.
Map
Day 2: Trail to Woody Creek and back
A morning tandem paraglide off Aspen Mountain, ribs at Hickory House, an afternoon on Hunter Creek, then dinner at West End Social and a pint at Aspen Tap.
- 9:30 AM
Bear Den Aspen
Downtown bistro and wine bar that serves brunch from 9am, an easy sit-down start before the day.
Map - 10:00 AM
Tandem paragliding off Aspen Mountain
Tandem flight off Aspen Mountain landing at Marolt; book the 10am slot, flights run in calm morning air.
Map - 12:30 PM
Aspen Hickory House
Baby-back ribs, brisket, big breakfasts, casual family room, featured on Diners Drive-Ins Dives, true value institution.
Map - 3:30 PM
Hunter Creek Trail
Near-town favourite starting from East End with gentle grade and loop options, free trailhead.
Map - 7:30 PM
West End Social
Aspen Meadows' dining room on Colorado produce: sharing plates, risotto and a burger, with mountain views off the deck.
Map - 9:30 PM
Aspen Tap / Aspen Brewing Co
Aspen Brewing's taproom on Galena St: a flight of the house beers and a burger after a day outside.
Map
Day 3: Fly-fishing, farmers market, Betula
Juice at Spring Cafe, a walk round the Hallam Lake preserve, lunch at White House Tavern, fly-fishing Gold Medal water, then dinner at Betula.
- 9:30 AM
Spring Cafe
Organic café and juice bar: a green juice and a breakfast burrito before a big day outside.
Map - 10:30 AM
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
ACES' Hallam Lake preserve: 25 free acres of wetland paths in town, with resident birds of prey.
Map - 12:30 PM
White House Tavern
Hillstone-run cottage room: Honor Burger, crispy chicken sandwich, huge salads, loud happy energy.
Map - 2:30 PM
Guided fly-fishing - Fryingpan + Roaring Fork
Colorado-designated Gold Medal Trout Water; guided half/full day with waders and access.
Map - 7:30 PM
Betula Aspen
Second-floor room facing Aspen Mountain: Laurent Cantineaux cooks French technique with Latin American flavours.
Map - 9:30 PM
Zane's Tavern Aspen
Locals' sports bar downtown: cheap pints, wings and the game on, the opposite of a scene.
Map
Where to stay
Hotel Jerome
Hotel Jerome puts you at the literal centre of the plan, and Prospect is right downstairs for day-one lunch.
The Little Nell
The Little Nell sits at the base of Ajax, steps from the paraglide pickup and the best table at Betula.
Make Aspen your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Aspen Highlands: a few days ahead
- Maroon Bells: weeks ahead
- Silver Queen Gondola: a few days ahead
- Belly Up Aspen: weeks ahead
- Aspen Music Festival and School: weeks ahead
- Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Walk up lift tickets and base area rental lines are the biggest money trap. Buy ahead and use delivered rentals.
- Maroon Bells at midday without a reservation means being turned around at the road gate.
- Cloud Nine is a party with lunch attached at party prices, not a quiet mountain meal.
- Mud season trips in late April to May and late October to November find a half shut town.
The full Aspen travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around