The Best Restaurants in Aspen, Colorado | Eater Denver

"Ellina has been an Aspen anchor of Italian cuisine since 2009, but after a complete interior refresh over the spring offseason (including soundproofing of the wine cave-like dining room), it feels even more polished. Owner and sommelier Jill Carnevale, a former server-turned-wine wizard, still oversees one of the region’s most compelling cellars (with more than 1,500 thoughtfully curated bottles). Chef Miguel Diaz stays true to the restaurant’s roots — housemade pastas, braised artichokes with lemon-thyme aioli, calamari fritti, black-pepper fettuccine, and classic chicken Milanese. The renovation has elevated the experience without changing the vibe. Claim a horseshoe-bar seat for a quick Negroni or grab a patio table on the Hyman pedestrian mall with blankets and heat lamps provided on cool summer nights." - Katie Shapiro