Notable Aspen Dining Newcomers
Alpina
Alpina
The steady evolution of Local Coffee at Here House culminated in a midsummer opening of Alpina, serving seasonal fare for lunch, après snacks, wine, beer, cocktails, and mocktails. “It’s the creative outlet Candice [Olson] and I have always imagined,” explains cofounder Michaela Carpenter. Globally renowned French consulting chef Bernard Guillas curates the menu of instant classics (trout dip; bison cheeseburger on brioche; split-pea, quinoa, and farro bowl with salmon, chicken thigh, or marinated tuna) along with Executive Chef Taylor Rumble (previously at Anderson Ranch and Limelight Snowmass) and launch director and sommelier Colton Black (formerly of The Little Nell). Fans of Local Coffee, stay buzzed: the AM espresso bar, pastries, and breakfast burritos are here to stay.
The Boat Tow
Phase two of AspenHaus by Gravity Haus was unlocked in June when The Boat Tow (originally called Le Bateau) opened in the space formerly occupied by The Wild Fig (which moved next door; see below). Named in homage to Aspen Mountain’s 1937 Boat Tow—which hoisted a double-toboggan-full of skiers by steel cable up the hill before Lift 1A was built—the menu showcases mountain fare with an all-day après-ski vibe: shareable plates, straightforward entrees (squash enchiladas, lamb Bolognese), soup, salad, beer, wine, and original cocktails, including happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Crêpe Shack Aspen
Providing Parisian street food downtown, The Crêpe Shack Aspen launched at the corner of Cooper Avenue and Mill Street in May. The latest addition to James Beard Award-nominated chef-owner Mawa McQueen’s growing empire (which includes Michelin-recommended Mawa’s Kitchen in the AABC and the original Crêpe Shack and Mawita in Snowmass Base Village), the counter-service crêperie with outdoor patio presents sweet and savory handheld classics (gluten-free buckwheat batter available) plus five baller selections (caviar and smoked salmon; short rib and foie gras) only served here.
Phatt Pho N’ Sushi
Unlike 12-year-old sister-neighbor Bangkok Happy Bowl, aloha-themed Tiki Mana Big Bowl Noodles never quite enticed diners during its five-year run in Clark’s Market Plaza. So, owner Kirk Coult and chef Paula Rungsawang (who operate Bangkok locations in Hawaii, Whistler, Salida, Breckenridge, and soon, Key West) revamped it as Phatt Pho N’ Sushi. Find a slew of sushi rolls starting at $15, including a vegetarian mini-menu; tempura, chirashi (sashimi on rice), and poke bowls; and Vietnamese vermicelli noodle salads, banh mi, and, of course, pho—made with Rungsawang’s eight-hour simmered broth.
sway Aspen
In time for the winter holidays, sway Aspen plans to dazzle on Restaurant Row. Sister to the popular Austin, Texas-based modern Thai restaurant, run by Infinite Hospitality—which now operates Meat & Cheese across Hopkins Avenue and has two other establishments under construction—sway is billed as “warm, glowy, cozy, and comfortable,” with wood and cane decor. Approachable Thai dishes (curries, dumplings, stir-fries) are complemented by hip cocktails (Monk Water, made with fresh watermelon juice, conjures summertime even amid snowfall).
Toro
To enter the new Viceroy Snowmass lobby feels … dramatic. In July, the first stage of a major redesign unveiled a bold fireplace with leather banquette seating beneath a shimmering glass ceiling, a sleek renovation of chef Richard Sandoval’s Toro bar, which now extends into the foyer, and an updated cafe. Next up: Toro’s restaurant refresh will boast kitchen upgrades and a sushi and ceviche bar.
The Wild Fig
At last, The Wild Fig, which unceremoniously lost its lease after 20 years, unveils version 2.0 next door on Hyman Avenue near the Dancing Fountain. Signature tiled walls and red banquettes anchor the larger space (flanked by two outdoor patios), where favorite Mediterranean dishes by original Wild Fig chef Pompeyo Lopez hold court (whole fish, steak frites, and nightly risotto). Watch for a relaunch of the historic Popcorn Wagon, refurbished recently by CP Restaurant Group, parsed outside.
