Travel

Warm welcome in Aspen

Hotel Jerome includes the new Living Room lounge.

Hotel Jerome includes the new Living Room lounge. (
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The sprightly town of Aspen is renowned for its four bodacious mountains usually cloaked in a mélange of Burton-adorned ski bunnies and world-class athletes. But just because the snow disintegrates doesn’t mean this affluent Colorado destination does.

Aspen buzzes during summer, thanks to its world-class hotels, au courant boutiques and well-bred watering holes that stay open year-round. Daytime temperatures hover in the 70s, and you’re surrounded by gorgeous scenery — all the better to soak up while checking out the many outdoor festivities at the 31st annual Food & Wine Classic on June 14-16. Chefs from Grant Achatz to Geoffrey Zakarian will be in town that week, no doubt holding court at restaurants including Chefs Club by Food & Wine at the St. Regis — which is turning Aspen into a culinary destination for every season.

So leave your skis at home and get ready to see the silver city in a new light.

STAY

The Little Nell — Not only does this 92-room hotel (including 11 suites and three signature suites with separate entrances for celebrity clientele) hold the title as the only five-star, five-diamond resort in Aspen, but it also claims the perfect location — nestled at the base of Ajax Mountain. Each spacious room comes equipped with a fireplace, a complimentary minibar stocked with organic snacks and cabin-like décor thanks to interior designer Holly Hunt. Rooms from $280. thelittlenell.com

St. Regis — Having undergone a $40 million renovation in 2011 that was inspired by the “grand manor lifestyle of the Gilded Age,” this big luxury resort (with 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space) offers 206 rooms with leather beds and desks designed by Ralph Lauren. The hotel’s excellent Remède Spa offers ultimate relaxation in steam caves, cold plunges, a confluence waterfall and even an oxygen lounge to cure any altitude sickness. During special occasions, such as the Food & Wine Classic, the spa even offers Veuve Clicquot-enhanced treatments such as the Rosé and Roses Massage. Rooms from $379. stregisaspen.com

Hotel Jerome — Known as Aspen’s “crown jewel” and part of the National Register of Historic Places, this resort was originally built by mining tycoon/Macy’s co-owner Jerome B. Wheeler in the 1880s. It was taken over by Auberge Resorts in 2011 and has undergone a massive face-lift while maintaining its historic essence. Hotel Jerome’s 93 lavishly updated guestrooms feature cashmere curtains, burnished-leather bed frames and minibars designed as leather campaign chests. New draws include the Living Room lounge and the addition of the charming Auberge Spa, but do make a point to visit the storied J-Bar and indulge in the boozy “Aspen Crud” milkshake, which dates back to Prohibition days. Rooms from $355. hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com

EAT

Matsuhisa — By now, the world’s familiar with the mix of Japanese and South American flavors that Nobu Matsuhisa created. But everyone keeps coming back for more, and this restaurant remains the first stop for so many Aspen visitors. matsuhisaaspen.com

Element 47 — The name of this restaurant pays homage to Aspen’s silver-mining history; 47 is silver’s atomic number. But this Little Nell haute spot isn’t stuck in the past. Chef Robert McCormick serves soulful contemporary plates such as Wagyu steak tartare and Cervena venison loin, and the extensive wine and scotch lists offer pairing options for any palate. element47aspen.com

Chefs Club by Food & Wine — Food & Wine magazine “Best New Chefs” alumni fly in from around the country to create seasonal menus for this new restaurant concept that opened in June 2012. The first year has seen contributions from chefs including Portland’s Jenn Louis and New York’s George Mendes. And the recent appointment of executive chef Didier Elena, who previously spent 20 years working alongside famed chef Alain Ducasse, should keep things tasty. chefsclubaspen.com

Prospect — This newly renovated modern American bistro at the Jerome offers hearty and diverse fare, with menu standouts including the raviolo appetizer and the roasted Colorado rack of lamb. hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com

DRINK

Caribou — Billed as Aspen’s “premier private club,” there’s no name on the door of “The ’bou,” but it’s not hard to identify because everyone is either walking in or walking out of this storied joint, decorated in the style of a British study. Make sure your name is on the list and make your way into the masculine bar, which also features a dining room and a DJ booth. The crowd, like Aspen in general, can skew heavily male. And as one waitress pointed out to our female group, “In Aspen, they say the odds are good, but the goods are odd.” caribouclub.com

Jimmy’s – If a tequila shot signifies a good night, then this is your spot. With over 100 varieties of tequila and mezcal, this casual place has no problem holding a crowd from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. and don’t be surprised if you spot jovial owner Jimmy Yeager at the bar. jimmysaspen.com

Eric’s Bar — What else would make a night complete when you have the option of enjoying a cigar bar or playing pool or shuffleboard while drinking a rather stiff cocktail? Perhaps bustin’ a move to DJ Naka G? While the bar might seem quiet in the beginning, it morphs into a club-like atmosphere as the night goes on. facebook.com/EricsBarAspen

SHOP

While Aspen is fully stacked with high-end stores such as Dior, Fendi, Moncler and Gucci, it’s the boutiques that offer the standout pieces:

Nuages — This women’s clothing and accessories shop in the Aspen Square building offers exclusives from European designers such as Mary Katrantzou, Alaïa and Stella McCartney. nuagesaspen.com

Max — Chances are if you can’t find the brand at Nuages, it’s at the neighboring Max. This boutique features edgier designers such as Peter Pilotto, Alexander McQueen and Dries Van Noten. maxclothing.com

Gorsuch — This upscale Colorado boutique has outfitted skiers since 1966, when its first outpost in Vail Village was opened by former Olympians Renie and David Gorsuch. Here you will not only find classic ski and luxury outfits such as North Face jackets and Brunello Cucinelli apparel, but also top-tier home furnishings from Fabergé eggs to Feu de Bois candles. gorsuch.com