Located next to the Silver Queen Gondola, this popular restaurant combines location with style to create one of the premier ski restaurants in the world. A sun-drenched deck makes for a perfect viewing spot. The wood-dominated interior has a classy feel. For true Mediterranean tradition, try the Tuscan Barbecue Short Ribs, or for pasta fans, opt for the Venison and Pork Bolognese. The full bar has built a reputation for its martinis.

In a swanky area, this local favorite snubs its nose at the chic and proudly embraces its dive bar feel. Formerly known as "Cooper Street Pier", the dining room remains rich with a "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" character. Six overhead TV screens make the place the closest thing Aspen has to a legitimate sports bar. Pool, darts and shuffleboard provide good drinking diversions.Burgers are the king of the menu. There are sandwiches and a great offering of barbecued ribs.

Located in the historic and world-famous Hotel Jerome, this little alcove of peace is a perfect perch for shifting the brain into relaxation mode. High-back leather chairs with ottomans, sofas, and coffee tables are scattered about, making it a perfect setting for reading a book, engaging in a game of chess, or quiet conversation. In a sense, it is comparable to a present day coffee house but with a sophisticated, up-scale look. You do not need to be a hotel guest to visit. Cigar smoking is encouraged. The menu offers light appetizers such as Spinach Crab Dip, and peel-and-eat Rock Shrimp. A full bar includes cognacs, single malts and wines.

It is not often that you will find a restaurant that describes itself as serving "fierce" American food. But this Aspen favorite is so popular that no one ever stops to puzzle what "fierce" food actually means. This is one of those rare restaurants that knows how to blend casual with elegance and make it work. The main course menu features certified Black Angus steaks such as filet mignon, 35 day dry-aged rib eye, and a porterhouse for two, which is so big it looks like a throw pillow. The bar offers the largest tequila and mescal list (over 50 choices) in the nation.

If you seek escape from the usual mountain bar scene of lift attendants in backward baseball caps and guitar players singing "Margaritaville" non-stop, then saunter over to this oasis of decorum. Though exposed to hotel lobby traffic, the bar offers a cozy and quiet atmosphere normally only found in mountain cabins. A huge granite fireplace, which is surrounded by overstuffed chairs, blazes in the center of the room, and soft, live piano music plays nightly, making this an ideal setting for exchanging coy glances over wine. It is also a great nest for celebrity-watching. The bar features a strong selection of wines, apertifs, and domestic and imported beers.

This Tuscany-inspired restaurant is an authentic trattoria. The dimly lit dining room's low ceilings and closely positioned tile-topped tables exude an intimate, family feel. The main entrees feature authentic Northern Italian dishes in hearty portions, along with meaty offerings like grilled veal and filet mignon. The pasta dishes are the most affordable entrees on the menu and come in all sorts of varieties. An excellent wine list features a wealth of Italian offerings. Restaurant opens daily at 5:30p.

Attempting to find seats at this contemporary coffee house on a sunny day is akin to trying to find tickets for one of Barbara Streisand's annual final-ever concert tours-it is always busy. It is an ideal location for people gazing, or reading one of Aspen's seemingly infinite number of daily newspapers. Every type of hot water variation including lattes, mochas, teas and hot chocolates are available. There are also smoothies, freshly squeezed juices and espresso frappes. For a quick holdover bite, try one its soups, or dare yourself with one of its sugar-bomb cookies, tarts or cakes.

Few, if any, Aspen restaurants can match Mezzaluna for its combination of great food and a lively bar scene. But it is this fusion that makes it so popular and prompted Gourmet Magazine to rank it as one of the top three restaurants in Aspen. The interior is Los Angeles hip: marble tables, big glass windows and tall potted plants. If you can secure a window table it is a great perch for people watching both inside and outside. If you covet booze-addled Happy Hours this is the place to go. The entrées feature an array of pasta, fish and meat dishes. There is also an audacious selection of avant-garde pizzas including one that features French onion with Swiss cheese and smoked bacon.

Even those with the most discriminating of tastes can find their libation of choice at this popular Aspen shop. It stocks over 900 wines from around the globe including a good selection of the now-popular Australian chardonnays. The beer selection, including microbrews, is so vast that it is the equivalent of an Oktoberfest starters' kit. And for you mixologist fans, there are over 250 liquor labels. If you are hosting a social event, the staff is libation-articulate and can assist you in selecting the perfect wines to match your meal. And for true party convenience it offers free delivery. Take note that due to Colorado law the shop closes on Sundays.

To walk into this cafe with a newspaper would be considered "so passé", as its long bank of computers makes Google and Yahoo the object of focus rather than the New York Times. Cappuccinos, mochas and lattes constitute its coffee choices and the small food menu features pastries, cookies, sausage rolls and Australian meat pies. Overall, a nice place to be while surfing the net.