Other upscale spots to bookmark include Matsuhisa for sushi, Ellina for contemporary Italian cuisine, and Bear Den Aspen for brunch. Before you leave, stock up on artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and pickles from Meat and Cheese, a hybrid restaurant and specialty food store.

Their “all day” menu consists of soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, bowls, and all-day brunch. Try the Power Flow Salad (house quinoa patties, avocado, tomato, butter lettuce, arugula, seeds, herbs, lemon dressing, coriander-mint) or the Green Goddess Bowl (smoothie bowl with spirulina, avocado, mango, almond butter, banana, topped with fresh berries, bee pollen and toasted almonds). For dinner, try Argentine Style Wagyu (Wagyu tenderloin, baked Argentinian provolone cheese, homemade chimichurri, grilled marinated green onions, watermelon radish); Chicken Tikka Masala (gluten-free Indian-style creamy tomato gravy, cashew, rice, naan bread, coriander-mint chatini); Bison Bolognese Lasagna (homemade lasagna, Colorado bison, tomato Bolognese sauce, parmesan fondue); or POKE (gluten-free fresh Yellow Tuna, fresh Salmon, rice or quinoa, avocado, cucumber, Nitamago egg, carrot, edamame, pickled vegetables, sesame soy).

Right in the heart of Restaurant Row, Bear Den Aspen offers rich and decadent meals from morning to night. This cottage-esque eatery has perfected every mealtime with dishes for everyone to pass around the table. Start your morning with the Avocado Hussle, filled with white bean hummus, seeds, kale and avocado micro greens or stroll in for lunch and try the Red Mountain made with beets, white bean hummus, leeks, avocado coriander-mint, seeds, vegan yogurt and veggies.

For the Chicest Coffee Spot in Town: Bear Den I call this “The Cool Kids Club.” Bear Den is THE destination for trendsetters from near and far. In the morning you can sip gourmet espresso, or tea, while nibbling fresh baked croissants, cinnamon rolls and mouth watering avocado toast. Grab this to-go and enjoy on your walk over to the gondola before you ski the freshly groomed corduroy slopes.

The feeling you get when you walk into the Bear Den in Aspen is like you’re a guest in a friends’ home. Warm and welcome, you’ll be greeted with the smell of fresh coffee and homemade muffins. Bear Den has a lovely, creative menu that includes the Meza Casserole which is roasted potatoes, melted cheese, tomatoes, two poached organic farm fresh eggs, jalapenos, and microgreens.

Bear Den Aspen is a local favorite for brunch and Aprés all day, and it’s not hard to see why. The gourmet bistrobar offers a variety of espresso drinks (try their cortado) along with its irresistible lunch menu and cocktails. The real draw, however, is the atmosphere: the space is cozy and inviting, making it one of the best restaurants to get an unhurried midmorning treat.

I suggested we could try the Bear Den, a cozy little nook on Restaurant Row which I had discovered earlier this season when I met someone there for a work meeting. (“Discovered” is maybe a self-flattering term here, as someone else proposed the meeting and I had never taken a look inside to realize just how apt the place might be for fostering a breakfast culture.)

On the drive to Aspen, I did a quick Google search to find a cute restaurant for lunch and found Bear Den. It’s situated in the cutest little house, renovated to accommodate a restaurant space, right in downtown Aspen. We had lunch around noon, and it was very low-key with only a few other diners, so it was a very relaxing lunch in an impeccably designed space.

Bear Den is a vibrant gourmet bistro that serves up coffee creations, decadent brunch, après ski bites, and gourmet dinner paired with craft cocktails and unique wines. For breakfast, we highly recommend the Monte Cristo paired with a Matcha or Cortado, but you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.

Next door is the Bear Den Aspen – Bistro & Wine Bar which opened in February, 2020 in a charming old house on the corner. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, they feature local, seasonal and organic food along with their homemade pastries, breads and pastas. They also serve coffee drinks.

Bear Den Aspen offers a cozy ambiance and decadent coffees, making it an ideal spot for a homemade meal or specialty caffeinated beverage. Try their homemade flavorings like vanilla bean, cardamom, or lavender to elevate your regular café latte to a new level of indulgence.

Bear Den Aspen offers decadent breakfast options that are also hearty. There’s an assortment of savory and sweet dishes on the menu, like potato casserole, an English breakfast, eggs with benefits (yes, that’s not a typo!), a French toast board, and Green Goddess Bowl.

A quick spoiler: a near-unanimous top ranking of Clark's Aspen and The Hotel Jermone for cocktails and ambiance, as well as high marks for Bear Den Aspen, Betula, and Mawa's Kitchen. But trust, many more gems are to be uncovered ahead—plan your visit accordingly.

cafE/bakerySituated in an adorable brick cottage, this cafe serves up pastries and other baked goods, along with brunch items, soups, salads, and healthful fare with worldly influence. 301 E Hopkins Ave, 970-922-9218, beardenaspen.comB, BR, L, D, $– $$$$

From 3-5pm experience après-ski at the Bear Den, an alpine-style bistro serving a selection of cocktails and comforting dishes. Located a few blocks from the Silver Queen Gondola, get warm and cozy up at the Bear Den after a powder day on the slopes.

Cozy vibe with lovely serving pieces and amazing dishes makes it a must-visit spot to savor on a snowy day. on a Monday we were sat right away, servers were attentive and friendly. the food was amazing and they had great gluten free bread.

1, Tempranillo’s Lavender Mojito; 2, Element 47’s The Apiary; 3, Ellina’s Tulum Bloom; 4, Betula’s Bubbling Bonito; 5, Brass Anvil’s Delta Dawn; 6, Bear Den’s Sweet Like Anna; 7, Jimmy’s Kayla’s Bees Knees.

White House, meat & cheese, and dumani were open too with minimum capacity. Most places are serving drinks, even to-go drinks. It was relatively bustling and I’m guessing other restaurants are open too.

Seriously decadent and beautifully presented, if you can reserve a table at Bear Den Aspen, you’re in for a treat. The entire space has an airy vibrance to it; a great spot to enjoy with friends!

on a Monday we were sat right away, servers were attentive and friendly. the food was amazing and they had great gluten free bread. highly recommend anything with the wagyu steak

Bear Den’s all-day menu means you can lap up a spirulina smoothie bowl, tuck into eggs Benedict with house challah, or bite into a Wagyu burger anytime between 8:30 a.m.

This upscale bistro showcases its cozy atmosphere with a classic place setting and bear skin rugs outside. Stop inside for a quick respite on your journey.

This charming coffee shop is an idyllic corner bistro in downtown Aspen at 301 E Aspen Ave, a block from the