Dining Information

Many of Aspen's classy cafés and restaurants charge over $25 for a main course, but good budget places exist and competition is keen. New restaurants open and close with alarming regularity; the list below consists of tried and trusted favorites. Note, too, that many of Aspen's bars serve good, reasonably priced food.

Boogie's Diner 534 E Cooper Ave (tel 970/925-6610). Airy second-floor atrium lined with vinyl and chrome for an inexpensive 50s-style diner experience; great meatloaf and killer shakes, but also few imaginative tofu-rich veggie options too.

Explore Booksellers and Bistro 221 E Main St (tel 970/925-5336). Great bookstore with high-quality creative vegetarian food, good espresso and pastries, and a shady roof terrace.

Little Annie's 517 E Hyman Ave (tel 970/925-1098). Lively, popular and unpretentious saloon-style restaurant. Potato pancakes and hearty stews for lunch, with huge trout, chicken, beef or rib dinner platters for around $15.

Main Street Bakery Café 201 E Main St (tel 970/925-6446). Scrumptious, inventive New American cuisine, and an excellent wine list in a casual, chatty setting. Always busy in the morning for massive, fresh fruit-packed breakfasts.

Mezzaluna 624 E Cooper Ave (tel 970/925-5882) Mid-priced Northern Italian dishes for lunch or dinner, including wood-fired pizzas.

Poppycocks 609 E Cooper Ave (tel 970/925-1245). Open from 7am until 2pm, serving tasty crepes and smoothies.

Takah Sushi 420 E Hyman Ave (tel 970/925-8588). Phenomenonally good sushi and pan-Asian cuisine, in a buzzing, cheerful atmosphere. Highly recommended yet quite expensive.

Wienerstube 633 E Hyman Ave (tel 970/925-3357). The best breakfast in Aspen: eggs Benedict, Austrian sausage and Viennese pastries among other things. A great value. Tues-Sun 6.30am-2.30pm.