Food Matters
A group of women make a toast on the outside patio of Dante at The Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
People enjoy apres on the patio at Dante at The Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
People enjoy apres on the patio of Dante at The Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Winter in Aspen on a weekend night has never before looked like it does in 2021. See for yourself: On clear evenings, downtown sidewalks are dotted with tables of diners huddled beside flaming tower heaters. Everyone is bundled up in puffy jackets, thick hats, scarves, sometimes gloves, chatting and laughing as if it were lunchtime on a bluebird day. Even when the sky’s been dark for almost two hours and it’s a snappy 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Snow Lodge, which occupied the space at the base of Aspen Mountain during what became a shortened 2019-20 ski season because of COVID-19, made the decision to opt out of returning to Aspen this winter. In its place will be Dante Caffe, to open this weekend.
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Aspen, how about a toffee apple Manhattan for après ski?
This weekend, Dante, officially the best bar in America, opens its first location outside of New York City in partnership with the Snow Lodge. Whereas Danteâs metropolitan haunts go heavy on the negronis, their mountain menu offers spiked coffees, boozy affogatos, gourmet hot chocolate and several spritzes on tap. (Perhaps after a long day on the slopes you want the classic aperol, or maybe one with clementine and saffron will do.) âWe re tying more to what you may see in the Italian Alps as opposed to the American Rockies,â Linden Pride, Danteâs owner, tells
Today
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 34F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 34F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: April 12, 2021 @ 9:48 pm