THE ASPEN JANUARY TRAVEL GUIDE
- Elizabeth Le Bourdonnec
- Dec 15, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 31
Ski, Savor & Slow Down in Colorado’s Most Iconic Winter Town
Photo by: Alberto E.
There’s something about Aspen in January that shifts your whole internal tempo. Maybe it’s the way the mountains hold the early light, or how the town feels quieter before the February rush. Or maybe it’s just the simple reminder that winter can be soft, intentional, and deeply luxurious when it wants to be.
This guide gathers the places, hotels, restaurants, rituals, and small discoveries that make Aspen such a special winter retreat. Consider it a warm introduction to the town, written the way you’d share a favorite destination with someone you care about.
WHERE TO STAY IN ASPEN
Iconic lodges, boutique newcomers, and a modern option for younger luxury travelers.
Hotel Jerome (Auberge Resorts)
If Aspen has a heartbeat, it might be inside the lobby of Hotel Jerome. The space feels timeless — leather chairs softened by years of stories, art that hints at the town’s mining past, and lighting that flatters everything it touches. It’s historic without being heavy, luxurious without trying too hard.
Why it’s special: Hotel Jerome blends old-Aspen soul with modern warmth. It’s the hotel that makes you slow down the moment you step inside.
Maison Note:If you come in from the cold, order something warm at the bar — it’s one of Aspen’s most atmospheric corners.
Mollie Aspen
A newcomer, but already one of Aspen’s most thoughtfully designed hotels. Everything in Mollie feels curated with intention: soft wood, sculptural lighting, gentle textures. It’s clean and modern, but still warm — perfect for travelers who prefer their luxury quiet.
Why it’s special: It feels like a home designed by someone who understands the rhythm of winter.
St. Regis Aspen Resort
If you love polished winter luxury, this is your place. Grand fireplaces, generous suites, and one of Aspen’s most renowned wellness destinations: the Dior Spa.
Why it’s special:It carries that unmistakable winter elegance, the kind you expect from St. Regis properties around the world.
The Little Nell
Aspen’s most iconic luxury stay, and its only five-star, five-diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel. Every detail feels elevated: the service, the design, the location. And its restaurant, Element 47, is a standout.
Why it’s special:This is where luxury travelers come when they want the very best Aspen has to offer.
Maison Note:If you can, catch sunset from the base of the mountain — The Little Nell has the perfect vantage point.
HOW TO RESTORE IN ASPEN
Wellness, warmth, and winter rituals
Dior Spa at the St. Regis
One of the most refined wellness spaces in the Rockies. Treatments here feel both grounding and indulgent — winter oils, warm stones, and soft lighting designed to ease you into the season.
What to expect: Quiet luxury. Elevated care. A sense of being held.
Aspen Hot Springs
Whether you visit Glenwood or Iron Mountain, sitting in naturally heated pools while snow drifts around you is one of winter’s simplest and most restorative pleasures.
Maison Note:Go at twilight. The water feels warmer when the sky turns that soft alpine blue.
Remède Spa
Known for its oxygen lounge, steam rooms, and copper soaking tubs. A classic Aspen wellness stop.
O2 Aspen
A lovely local studio offering yoga, breathwork, and Pilates. If you want a slow morning, this is where to begin.
THINGS TO DO IN ASPEN IN JANUARY
From classic ski moments to soft escapes
Ride the Silver Queen Gondola
Even if you don’t ski, you have to take this ride at least once. There’s a moment near the top where Aspen opens beneath you like a winter painting. It’s calm, expansive, and quietly cinematic.
Create a Custom Hat at Kemo Sabe
Part boutique, part workshop — and entirely Aspen. Designing your own Western hat is one of the town’s most memorable experiences.
Maison Note:Ask them to torch the edges. It gives the hat that lived-in warmth Aspen is known for.
Sleigh Ride to Pine Creek Cookhouse
A winter fairytale. Horses lead you through a snowy valley to a glowing cabin at the base of mountains. Inside: candlelight, wine, and beautifully rustic dishes.
Aspen Art Museum
A must for art lovers. The architecture alone is an experience, and the exhibitions tend to lean modern, textural, and contemplative; very Maison Comblé energy.
Boutique Shopping & Winter Walks
Prada
Gorsuch
Kith (seasonal)
Great for wandering after lunch or before dinner.
Après-Ski & Wine
Whether or not you ski, après in Aspen is almost its own attraction.The Little Nell and Hotel Jerome both offer elevated wine and cocktail programs.
WHERE TO EAT IN ASPEN
Elegant evenings, cozy winter settings, and memorable meals
Element 47 — The Little Nell
Refined, calm, and beautifully executed. The menu shifts with the seasons, and the wine list is exceptional.
Why go:For a dinner that feels like a special winter moment.
Clark’s Oyster Bar
Warm lighting, excellent oysters, and that buzzy but comfortable energy that makes a place instantly likeable.
Why go:Perfect for a lively but elegant evening out.
Wayan Aspen
Indonesian-French flavors in a refined, intimate setting. A beautiful import from NYC that elevates Aspen’s global dining scene.
Optional additions
Matsuhisa Aspen — iconic Nobu-style sushi
Casa Tua — moody, romantic Italian-European atmosphere
Bosq — Michelin-starred, exceptional for food lovers
A FLEXIBLE 3-DAY WINTER ITINERARY
Soft structure for slow, luxurious days
Day 1 — Arrival & Warmth
Check into Hotel Jerome, Mollie Aspen, or The Little Nell
Afternoon winter walk through downtown
Dinner at Clark’s Oyster Bar
Nightcap in a cozy lounge
Maison Note: Aspen feels best when you don’t rush your first night.
Day 2 — Ski, Spa & Discovery
Morning ride on the Silver Queen Gondola
Skiing or snowshoeing
Afternoon wellness at the Dior Spa
Dinner at Element 47
Optional après at The Little Nell
Day 3 — Art, Flavor & Farewell
Morning at Aspen Art Museum
Custom hat session at Kemo Sabe
Lunch at Betula
Scenic sleigh ride if time allows
Maison Note: Betula is especially beautiful during daytime winter light.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
January in Aspen has a way of revealing winter’s softer side. Between the mountains, the meals, the wellness rituals, and the little discoveries tucked into each day, this town carries a warmth you don’t expect to find in the stillness of snow.
It’s a place to reset — not just through luxury, but through pace.And if you give yourself a few unplanned moments, Aspen usually finds a way to offer something unexpectedly beautiful in return.
Follow along as Maison Comblé continues to explore thoughtful travel, design, and hospitality.
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