If you want the best dining in Aspen, it’s a nondescript entrance on Mill Street, but through the front door and up a flight of stairs you’re greeted with hearty peals of laughter and the harmonious clink of silverware. With a reservation secured, you pass into the warm, subdued light, past the diners, the bar, and onto the back patio. From this second-floor vantage point is the best view in Aspen, framing a perfect panoramic of Aspen Mountain itself. The setting is a feast for the eyes, the glorious garnish to the magnificent menu at Piñons Restaurant. 

When guests step inside, the warm atmosphere is just as delightful as the aromas from the kitchen. Airy ceilings and mountain contemporary décor harmonize with the rustic mountain views from second-floor windows, a timeless ambiance for regulars and newcomers alike.

Founded in 1988, Piñons has been the most coveted reservation in town for dining in Aspen since its menu came onto the map. Adding local flavor to refined American favorites, this hearty, artful fare attracts a large ski crowd in the winter as the perfect source of satiety after a full day on the slopes. But the most distinguished recognition comes from the locals, who have been patrons at Pinons for over 30 years, designating this alpine watering hole as the preferred eatery among Aspenites. Pinons’ warm, welcoming staff create a familial atmosphere that has become a family tradition.

Piñons serves seasonal, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and much of their produce is farmed straight from the Aspen Valley, adding a uniquely Aspen flavor to each dish. Patrons can taste the attention to detail within fresh, familiar flavors, like the pasta made in house—the fundamentally fresh base to a different pasta special every few days, from smoked chicken ravioli to rock shrimp carbonara.

The Sashimi Tuna Tacos are a favorite, savored appetizer, drizzled with wasabi crème fraiche and so tantalizing they’ve become a perennial staple on a seasonal menu. But dining in Aspen on a crisp winter day, a favored, heartier entrée is the herb-roasted rack of Colorado Lamb, which offers the best of Aspen ingredients. A succulent, savory delight that will warm the appetite and satisfy the soul, this local lamb is piquant to perfection in a carrot-ginger broth. But other perennial plates that persist through every season are the espresso-seared Buffalo Tenderloin and whole roasted Dover Sole, whose winter garnishes include sauces of huckleberry and lemon caper.

The most popular item on the menu, however, is the Freddy Salad, a humble house salad that has been on the menu as long as Piñons has been serving. Romaine hearts, roma tomatoes, crispy bacon, and signature creamy Freddy dressing. Simple, but so good it’s kept guests coming back for decades.

The bar boasts one of the top wine lists in the state. With a selection of 1,000 bottles, there’s something to pair with each dish and every palate—and the sommelier will ensure that each pairing is perfect. But for those with an après-ski hankering for more adventurous drinks, the bartender will mix up a selection of scrumptious cocktails. Among the favored and savored libations are the savory-sweet cucumber mule and slightly spicy roasted jalapeno margarita—with a salted rim and wedge of lime, of course.

And for dessert, the chocolate bread pudding served with chocolate chip ice cream is epicurean indeed, but if there’s no room after a wholesome meal, a chocolate bread pudding espresso martini makes for a decadent digestif and an all-around exquisite encore.

Piñons Restaurant, with an ever-evolving twist on each season of Aspen flavors, attracts locals and visitors alike, and has kept regulars returning for three generations to continue dining in Aspen. Patrons delight in the promise of classy comfort food on a winter’s day, and the unparalleled view of Aspen Mountain—the restaurant’s widely-renowned secret ingredient.