Sure, Aspen was founded for silver mining in the late聽1800s, but you could argue that the town was really founded for post-ski partying. The powder stashes on Aspen Mountain and its three sister properties hold their own against any mountains in this country, but nobody does聽apr猫s-ski聽better.聽
With Your Boots Still On:聽39 Degrees
You聽gotta聽love a ski in/ski out bar at the bottom of the slopes with a hot tub, heated pool, and a DJ to drive the party. Sky Hotel鈥檚 sets the standard in Aspen鈥攁nd the rest of the country, for that matter. We suggest skiing early in the morning, and then showing up for lunch and staying put through happy hour.
Cheap Eats:聽Big Wrap
Aspen isn鈥檛 known for cheap food, but is a notable exception. With hearty, inventive wraps (grilled tofu, peanut sauce, and jasmine rice) for about $8, this is easily the best lunch deal in town. With only a few seats, Big Wrap is basically takeout only, but it鈥檚 located at the base of the gondola, so that鈥檚 not a problem. Show up on Thursdays for the Thanksgiving wrap:聽turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy.
Best Restaurant in Town:聽Matsuhisa聽
To call 聽does it a disservice. Yes, you can get a California roll, but world-famous chef聽Nobu聽Matsuhisa聽has invented his own style of sashimi that鈥檚 finely sliced and dressed with seasonings like garlic and ginger. The joint even has its own brand of sake, brewed specifically for the restaurant by聽Hokusetsu聽Sake Brewery in Japan.
Up All Night:聽Belly Up聽
The is a contradiction: It鈥檚 a tiny music venue,聽maxing聽out at 450, but it pulls some of the best talent touring today. The National, Snoop Dogg, Ben Harper鈥攅veryone plays Belly Up, giving you a chance to see some of your heroes in a venue not much bigger than your living room. No big band in town? Local DJs spin till 2 a.m.