New Restaurants, Bars and Menus in Aspen this Winter

Aspen Restaurants to Check Out This Winter

With each new season comes to a flurry of new places to eat, drink, and be merry, and this winter is certainly no exception. Below, is what’s new, where to go, and what to know as you plan your holiday in Aspen. 

COMING IN HOT… 

Catch Steak
After catching the Aspen bug — which, of course, many of you can understand – the owners of a popular, New York-born seafood concept are opening a trendy, modern steakhouse in the prominent downtown space that housed Aspen Kitchen, and more recently, Scarlett’s. Catch co-owner Mark Birnbaum, who said ‘I do’ to now-wife Tori Praver on Ajax this fall, attributes his love of Aspen for selecting the ski town to open another Catch, which currently boasts locations in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Playa del Carmen. Opening Dec. 17. 

CHICA
At the heart of Aspen Mountain, acclaimed chef Lorena Garcia is opening an Aspen outpost of her award-winning culinary concept, CHICA, featuring Latin American cuisine, craft cocktails, etc. The expansive, slopeside patio — most recently home to Dante, The Snow Lodge, and prior to that, Shlomos — creates an apres-must. Opening mid-December.  

The Snow Lodge at St. Regis (featuring Dante)
The sister restaurant to Montauk’s Surf Lodge, The Snow Lodge is opening a supper club this season at St. Regis, in partnership with New York’s Dante, which earned the accolade “World’s Best Bar” in 2019. On tap for this winter — and on-brand with its East Coast counterpart — is a well-curated live music series, with confirmed acts so far including singer-songwriter Léon and Jake Wesley Rogers. Amid its 2019-2020 season stint at the base of Aspen Mountain, now home to CHICA (above), The Snow Lodge hosted the likes of the Chainsmokers, Sofi Tukker, Diplo, Noah Cyrus, Lil Jon, and more. Opening December.  

The Sterling 
Below Bear Den in the beautifully remodeled space known this past summer as Joonas, Aspen nightlife enthusiast Andrew Sandler and partners are opening The Sterling — an upscale, speakeasy-style lounge that will evolve into a nightclub in the later hours. The lounge, open 6 p.m.-2 a.m., will also include a light bar menu featuring tapas and more. Opening just in time for the New Year. 

Casa D’Angelo 
Italian native Angelo Elia, who opened Casa D’Angelo at the end of the summer, describes his new concept — in the space, many of you knew as Pinions for nearly three decades — as “Tuscan with a Southern Italian accent.” Sophisticated, clean, spacious, yet cozy, Casa D’Angelo boasts fresh, quality Italian fare, an extensive wine list, and more. Open and accepting reservations. 

The Board Room at The Little Nell 

With a secret entrance inside Aspen's iconic Little Nell hotel, this cozy, contemporary nook — complete with couches, a full bar, flat-screen TV, and a pool table — is available to rent for private gatherings.  

Woody Creek Tavern 
The iconic local watering hole once frequented by Hunter S. Thompson reopened late summer with a fresh new menu under its new ownership, CP Restaurant Group proprietors Craig and Samantha Cordts-Pearce. But fret not, the venerable institution still maintains the same quirky charm (and classic margarita recipe) as always, complete with old polaroids, newspaper clippings, and other irreverent memorabilia adorning the walls. Open for biz; no reservations. 

ON OUR RADAR… 

New Mexican concept by McGuire Moorman Lambert 
The Austin-based McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality Group, which operates Clark’s Oyster Bar, is slated to open a fresh Mexican concept in the upper-level space that was home to Jimmy’s for nearly 30 years. Details are still in the works; sources close to the project say a summer 2022 opening is expected. 

Sant Ambroeus
The popular coffee shop and cafe, with locations in New York, Southampton, and Palm Beach, are opening an Aspen outpost. Details are to be determined. 

To be determined - former L’Hostaria space
Despite an ever-churning rumor mill, as of early December, no plans have been made for inside the walls of the subgrade space known (and beloved) for a quarter-century as L’Hostaria.