Make the most of your time in Aspen with our 24 hour guide
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7.00 am
Wake early and hit up a sunrise Aspen Shakti yoga class to get those muscles ready for skiing. Choose from yoga cardio fusion, candlelight flow, hot yoga, kundalini and restorative in a soothing purpose built studio space loved by locals.
8.00 am
Head to Jour de Fete on East Durant Street and ask for a café au lait from Olivier the French owner. He’s been manning the cappuccino machine for decades. Grab a seat amongst the local customer crew from old time ski instructors to the Aspen Police team to Melanie Griffith and the French ski team when they’re in town.
Chow down on lemon soufflé pancake with a blueberry dressing on the breakfast menu at The Little Nell across the road or head to Peach’s for a fresh juice and a salmon scramble to fuel the skiing ahead.
9.00 am
Choose from one of four mountains. Aspen Mountain is easy as you’re downtown already. This is where the famed Aspen gondola resides. Explore 675 acres of mainly intermediate to advanced to expert terrain with a view of the town below. Head to Buttermilk if you love terrain parks, Snowmass for the best kids ski school and childcare in Colorado and over 3300 acres of powder covered terrain for all levels.
Hit up Highlands for boasting rights. You can hike the famed Highland Bowl, a forty five minute sweat fest at altitude one step at a time to the peak for a breather. Get your wits about you then choose a line back down the backcountry style bowl through trees or steeps. Ski into Cloud 9 in time for lunch but be warned lunch here comes with a DJ, dancing on tables and champagne spraying followed by a wobbly ski down when the lifts close.
12.30 pm
Lunch is a must at Ajax Tavern for the truffle fries on the base of Aspen mountain, Cliffhouse at Buttermilk for Asian fare and a view of Pyramid Peak, Cloud 9 at Highlands because, well, see above, and Elk Camp on Snowmass for local produce or The Sled Mobile Kitchen for a soup and salad with change in your pocket.
3.00 pm
It would be rude not to après at the end of the ski day in Aspen. Head straight to Chair 9 at The Little Nell for Moscow mules and bar side canapes, try the Red Onion downtown for a younger crew, Justice Snow’s will create a bespoke cocktail with your name on it or try the J Bar at the Hotel Jerome where Hunter S Thompson used to spend his drinking days.
5.00 pm
If you prefer spa time with your champagne time then do not pass go, head directly to the Remede Spa at the St Regis Hotel and book in for a massage. You’ll have unlimited access to the hydrotherapy hot tubs, sauna and steam rooms and the relaxation lounge for champagne, nibbles and complimentary oxygen to help with that altitude.
7.00 pm
By now you’re really hungry and spoilt for choice. Aspen’s dining scene serves up something for everyone from diner style fish tacos and burgers at 520 Grill to fondue and raclette at La Creperie du Village to degustation dining with matching wines at Element 47. Try Cache Cache for contemporary fare with serious flavor, L’Hostaria for Italian with a pumping buzz, Matsuhisa and Kenichi for Japanese, Grey Lady for New England cuisine and Meat & Cheese for what the name suggests.
10.00 pm onward
If you have energy left for post dining drinks then good luck to you. Head to Jimmy’s Bar and start mingling or channel your inner Forbes List and try your hand at the Caribou Club if you can get your name on the door. For DJ vibes try Escobar or for live music check out Belly Up.
Sleep. Repeat.
