Aspen Editor Picks

The Jerome emanates Aspen Highlands’ authentic vibe – albeit from a century ago – with 92 individually decorated, period rooms, complimentary chauffeur service, and plush comforts like down bedding. The mahogany J-bar next to the lobby was one of Gary Cooper’s favorite watering holes in the 1950s and is the perfect venue in which to recount surviving Highlands’ steeps. Guest rooms at the RockResorts property mix comfort with rich fabrics.

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
19th-Century Authenticity; 21st-Century Luxury

Opened in 1889 by Macy’s co-owner Jerome B. Wheeler during Colorado’s silver boom, Hotel Jerome blends historic preservation with modern-day luxury. Wheeler modeled his hotel after Europe’s greats of the day, like London’s famed Claridge’s. With indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, steam heat, and an elevator, Wheeler’s grand hotel fast became an oasis of elegance – and a hub for socializing and business-dealing – in the bustling mining town. The lavishly restored hotel manages to stay true to its roots (Aspen Crud, a Bourbon-spiked vanilla milkshake born of Prohibition, is still on offer) while keeping up with the times (with complimentary luxury SUV chauffer service, twice-daily maid service, and plush comforts like down bedding and oversized bathtubs). The Garden Terrace offers outdoor eating with invigorating mountain views, Jacob’s Corner sources sustainable and organic produce from local farms, and the mahogany J-bar next to the lobby (one of Gary Cooper’s favorite watering holes in the 1950s) is the perfect venue for trading tall tales of surviving Highlands' steeps. See more Smart Luxury Award winners

 

The Hotel Lenado is really a Bed & Breakfast, with neo-Victorian styling inside and out. The two-story lodge has a unique look, most striking is its spacious atrium’s colored stone walls. Just two blocks from the town center and steps from the nearest ski bus stop, the 19-room property offers spacious accommodations, most with shared balconies. The rooftop deck and hot tub overlook Aspen Mountain and are great for lounging after a day’s skiing. The breakfast spread is massive and fantastic, a must for guests.

Explore the mountain’s 1,500-acres and 14,000 vertiginous vertical feet with an experienced guide, and discover the gnarliest bump skiing anywhere, deep glades, and classic cruisers. Book in advance.

This remote log cabin restaurant offers round-trip dog-sled transport for the adventurous. Once...more

Come for the best breakfast (and gossip) in town. Inside this friendly brick house with its...more

Film luminaries and Wall Street moguls enjoying high-end bottle service and fresh sushi or fondue are sensuously backlit for maximum exposure at Aspen’s primo see-and-be-seen bar.

Have fun at Thirty-Nine, where polka-dot pillows, animal-print rugs, and a Quentin Tarantino-esque soundtrack set the tone. Friendly international waitresses serve surprisingly affordable drinks in form-fitting designer outfits that change seasonally.

Shop for to-die-for coats and cardigans and then retire to the decadent upstairs restaurant to sink into Italian cashmere chairs while you savor foie gras with truffle ice cream.