Edmiston’s ultimate guide to Aspen’s winter season 2022

If you’re in Aspen this season but overwhelmed by the wide choice of places to eat, party, ski, and unwind while soaking up the bonhomie atmosphere of America’s chicest ski resort, then let us guide you.

Edmiston is back in Aspen for our fifth year and our brokers are brimming with ideas for you to make the most of your time here.

Here’s a taste of some of the best things to do in Aspen this winter.

Though, like its high-status peer, Hotel Jerome, rooms at the five-star The St Regis were booked up months ago, you may still be able to secure a seat at the supper club at St Regis run by none-other than The Snow Lodge, winter sibling to Montauk’s fashionable Surf Lodge.

Alongside seasonal dishes, delectable cocktails are expertly served up by the team behind New York’s Dante bar, contemporary artworks by artists such as Brandon Boyd hang on the wall, and there’s a heady line-up of musicians to keep diners entertained.

Elsewhere and mere feet away from the Aspen (Ajax) gondola, it will be hard to resist setting foot inside Catch Steak, which opened in Aspen in December and has a vibrant atmosphere. A great spot for drinking with the views of Ajax as you sip on Manhattans.

Also new for this season, is the Latin-American-inspired restaurant Chica within Residence at The Little Nell.

And finally, it’s almost mandatory to dine at the French American Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell at least once each season. The truffle fries and Ajax double cheeseburger are still as good as ever.

For many, Aspen’s après-ski party scene is even more appealing than its skiing and it’s not hard to see why. For champagne-spraying parties in a typical Alpine setting, Cloud Nine is a must, while W Aspen at the Marriott with its cosy firepits, cabanas, heated pool and hot tubs has fast become one of the area’s liveliest areas.

For something a little more laid back, the Wine Bar at Little Nell (formerly chair 9) with its exhaustive wine list (there are nightly blind tastings for would-be sommeliers) and DJ playing vinyl records.

The alcohol infused Aspen Crud milkshake at the J-Bar inside Hotel Jerome has been a hit since the Prohibition era, while it wouldn’t be Aspen without a trip to the legendary private Caribou Club.

After a day on the slopes, what better way to prepare yourself for an evening of riotous fun than with a blissed-out spa experience. Thankfully, in Aspen you are spoiled for choice.

The intimate Auberge Spa at the Hotel Jerome incorporates the centuries-old natural healing traditions of the Roaring Fork Valley in its luxurious treatments, which focus on treating the effects of high altitude and dry temperatures.

The oxygen lounge and steam caves of the tranquil Remède Spa at The St Regis are equally renowned and its unapologetic commitment to indulgence – nothing is holistic here, but rather decadent high-tech treatments prevail – has led to it being named the world’s best hotel spa by Travel + Leisure magazine.

This season, hotfoot it to Miron Crosby, the cowboy boot brand which boasts Gwyneth Paltrow among its fans, has opened a new store on Cooper Avenue.

Aspenx at the bottom of Ajax is the name for the new-look Aspen Mountain Club. It has undergone a huge redesign but is still the place to go for sharp skiwear this season.

It’s also worth stopping into Mackage, a Montreal-based outerwear brand, which now has a pop-up in Aspen until April.

Feel-good shopping can be done at the first ever Citizens of Humanity retail store. This opened on Hyman Avenue in December, selling the brand’s uncompromising denim clothing alongside homeware, beauty, and wellness items from other environmentally conscious companies.

With four mountains – Snowmass, Ajax, Buttermilk and Highlands – to ski and over 362 trails to choose from, the possibilities for snowsports in Aspen are almost limitless.

Whether you are a beginner skier, want to attempt world-class ski runs, or would rather snowboard or sled, there is a slope for you and plenty of lifts to save you energy between runs and to make the most of those spectacular views.

Buttermilk mountain is often favoured by families as it is more compact than Snowmass (which also has a children’s centre) and the beginner-intermediate run of Red Rover on West Buttermilk is popular.

Aspen Highlands is probably the preferred mountain in the eyes of locals, while Long Shot at Snowmass is the longest run across all four mountains at 5.3 miles.

For those who want to test themselves against other skiers, both Ajax and Snowmass have National Standard Race racecourses, which you can run, while pitting yourself against the US ski team’s pacesetter.

Talk to the Edmiston team for even more insider tips on navigating the busy winter season in Aspen and ask for a copy of our full Aspen Winter Guide 2022. They can also advise on exclusive Edmiston experiences and answer any questions you may have about chartering or buying a yacht in 2022.

Contact us now at aspen@edmiston.com