High-Mountain Hangouts & Winter Warm-Ups

Cozy Watering Holes

They may be modest in size, but these establishments are big on charm and laid-back vibes. 

Whether or not you dine in the Ranch House Restaurant & Saloon at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash (hint: you should, and try the ranch-raised Wagyu beef), at least sidle up to the wooden bar for a beverage during Social Hour. 

Housed in an 1890s bakery in the former mining community of Silver Plume, Bread Bar — open Friday through Sunday — slings drinks named for historical figures of the town and region, like the Clifford Griffin: rye, Colorado amaro, lemon and a red-wine float. 

Walk in the footsteps of Old-West outlaws at The Jailhouse in Buena Vista, which once served as the town’s 1800s lockup. Nowadays, inmates — er, visitors — sip on an ever-rotating selection of hard-to-find craft beers from independently owned breweries across the state. 

Boulder’s License No. 1, a speakeasy-style bar located in the basement of the Hotel Boulderado, operates with one of the state’s first liquor licenses, first issued in 1969. Classic potables, billiards and a photo booth are all part of the scene.

Ski-In Eats

Preserving precious shredding time, you won’t even need to head back to the base to refuel at these high-elevation options.

At Steamboat Ski Resort, the Taco Beast snowcat is a roving version of a food truck that’s the first of its kind in Colorado. Check Twitter for its on-mountain location each day to track down lunchtime offerings like beef barbacoa and elk chorizo, plus a salsa bar.

Inside Uley’s Cabin at Crested Butte Mountain Resort you’ll find a warm ambiance perfect for a mid-day break feasting on delicious dishes such as elk bourguignon. Outside, the literally frozen Ice Bar is a scenic spot to savor a cocktail.

Long a fixture of Keystone Resort, Alpenglow Stube is open for lunch and Sunday brunch to skiers (a dinner service is for gondola passengers only) atop North Peak. Check your boots at the door and slip into the warm slippers provided — a welcome reprieve from snug bindings.

Catch a lift to the top of A-Basin to dine at Il Rifugio, the highest elevation restaurant in North America. Inside you'll find amazing charcuterie boards — starring locally sourced meats and cheeses as well as imported deliciousness — along with salads, flatbreads and espresso drinks. Once you've satisfied your cold-weather cravings, carve your way back to the base on a sweet blue. 

Swanky Après-Ski

There’s nothing like a well-earned libation at the end of a successful powder day, especially if you can sip it in style.

The clubby atmosphere at The Living Room in the Hotel Jerome is quintessential Aspen, from the plush arm chairs to the roaring fireplace. But the real draw is an imaginative hot-chocolate menu, with flavors like salted butterscotch and smoked cinnamon.

With floor-to-ceiling mountain views, Grand Hyatt Vail’s Fireside Lounge in Vail makes a strong case for your post-snow festivities. Don’t miss the daily Champagne sabering, sample tasty bites while listening to live music and catching up with your companions about the day’s most epic moments. 

Intimate yet elegant, Bachelors Lounge is an adults-only haunt within The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, located in Avon and a stone’s throw from Beaver Creek Resort. Peruse the sommelier-curated wine selection, snack on small plates, smoke a cigar and transition right into nighttime revelry during Après After Dark.

Find more fun places for après ski.

Pinkies Up

Colorado is rich in another time-honored tradition: afternoon tea. Discover where you can get in on this classy ritual around the state.

Brown Palace Hotel, Denver: Pile straight-from-England Devonshire cream onto your homemade scones in the presence of a live pianist.

The Lumber Baron Inn and Gardens, Denver: Sip afternoon tea the English way, with crumpets, while the owner, Elaine, gives you an eerily on-point Lenormand card reading (similar to tarot). 

Glen Eyrie Castle, Colorado Springs: Enjoy fragrant teas and seasonal treats within an elaborate English-Tudor-style stone castle.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, Sedalia: Relish royal treatment in an architectural masterpiece that echoes 1450s Scotland.

Queen’s Parlour Tearoom at Miramont Castle, Manitou Springs: Choose from a variety of packages depending on your appetite.

St. Regis Aspen: Take your spot of local loose-leaf tea as the hotel founder’s mother, Lady Astor, would have in the early 1900s.

Dushanbe Tea House, Boulder: A special Dim Sum & Oolong Tea service puts a global spin on the original.

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Photo Credits: Arapahoe Basin/Il Rifugio, Bread Bar, Grand Hyatt Vail