{"id":2455688,"date":"2020-03-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=322433"},"modified":"2020-03-12T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T17:00:00","slug":"the-2020-aspen-apres-ski-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/the-2020-aspen-apres-ski-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2020 Aspen Apr\u00e9s-ski Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8725490196078\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-322433-777\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-704x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A man sips Veuve Clicquot during an Apr\u00e9s pop-up at the Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A man sips Veuve Clicquot during an Apr\u00e9s pop-up at the Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-704x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A man sips Veuve Clicquot during an Apr\u00e9s pop-up at the Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People enjoy Apr\u00e9s and the view of Aspen Mountain on the rooftop of The W on Thursday, March 5, 2020.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People enjoy Apr\u00e9s and the view of Aspen Mountain on the rooftop of The W on Thursday, March 5, 2020.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People enjoy Apr\u00e9s and the view of Aspen Mountain on the rooftop of The W on Thursday, March 5, 2020.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-2-1024x650.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A skier joins in on the dance party at the Veuve Clicquot Apr\u00e9s popup at Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A skier joins in on the dance party at the Veuve Clicquot Apr\u00e9s popup at Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-2-1024x650.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A skier joins in on the dance party at the Veuve Clicquot Apr\u00e9s popup at Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-3-1024x721.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Brady McNeill, left, and Kendall Kraus enjoy Apr\u00e9s on the rooftop of The W in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Brady McNeill, left, and Kendall Kraus enjoy Apr\u00e9s on the rooftop of The W in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-3-1024x721.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Brady McNeill, left, and Kendall Kraus enjoy Apr\u00e9s on the rooftop of The W in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-4-1024x684.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-4-1024x684.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge at the base of Aspen Mountain on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge for Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge for Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge for Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A Snow Lodge employee pours tequila into shot skis during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A Snow Lodge employee pours tequila into shot skis during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A Snow Lodge employee pours tequila into shot skis during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-7-1024x740.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s party on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s party on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-7-1024x740.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People dance as a DJ performs at the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s party on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People enjoy the hot tub on The W rooftop during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People enjoy the hot tub on The W rooftop during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-8-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People enjoy the hot tub on The W rooftop during Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-9-1024x697.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People take shot skis during the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People take shot skis during the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-9-1024x697.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People take shot skis during the Snow Lodge Apr\u00e9s on Thursday, March 5, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-10-1024x717.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | People cheer on a man as he dances during Apr\u00e9s at Ajax Tavern in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. \" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People cheer on a man as he dances during Apr\u00e9s at Ajax Tavern in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. <\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cover-atw-031220-2-10-1024x717.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"People cheer on a man as he dances during Apr\u00e9s at Ajax Tavern in Aspen on Saturday, March 7, 2020. \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/the-2020-aspen-apres-ski-guide\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/the-2020-aspen-apres-ski-guide\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Aspen\u2019s apr\u00e8s-ski scene for the 2019-20 season has gone to another level \u2014 literally \u2014 with the W Hotel\u2019s debut of its top-floor WET Deck, which offers spectacular views of Aspen Mountain and the valley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The 8,000-square-foot rooftop area is a bit of a spectacle itself, with a mix of tourists and locals alike partying as a DJ blares loud music through the sound system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A wall of soundproof glass surrounds the deck, which on a recent sunny spring day was filled with people mingling at the pool and hot tub, and at the cabanas, couches, fire pits and the U-shaped bar where a professional hockey game was being aired on the outdoor TV.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Just a few hundred feet away, three different DJs were spinning music at other apr\u00e8s venues: Chair 9, the Ajax Tavern and gondola plaza\u2019s newest addition, the Snow Lodge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The apr\u00e8s scene doesn\u2019t take a break from opening day to closing day, but springtime is prime time \u2014 when the afternoon sun stays up and the temps don\u2019t go quite so far down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The unofficial launch for spring apr\u00e8s, since 2013, has been the Apr\u00e9s-Ski Cocktail Classic, the locally run festival of mixology and off-mountain boozing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Its three days of tastings, talks and parties culminates in the Great Apr\u00e8s Ski Pub Crawl and Cocktail Competition, a ticketed event that sends revelers from bartender to bartender for Sunday apr\u00e8s as local establishments square off to crown the best drink of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Aspen apr\u00e8s has taken on its famed status thanks to the resort\u2019s penchant for decadence but also due to the town\u2019s 19th-century layout and its barroom variety. The downtown core has just the right amount of ski town and European hospitality, with places for those who want the in-your-face, see-and-be-seen crowds (Ajax Tavern and the W) to the hyper-local hangouts where happy hour still means inexpensive items offered during a brief period of time (the Red Onion and Mezzaluna).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">After crushing the slopes all day, it\u2019s a short ski-boots walk to that well-deserved cocktail and social hour with friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cApr\u00e8s ski,\u201d of course, is French for \u201cafter ski,\u201d and generally describes the social activities that take place after a day on the hill, though it\u2019s come to take on fashion and socio-economic connotations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A few tips to remember first, before directions on where and how to apr\u00e8s in Aspen successfully:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u2022 Be sure to drink water<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">We are at 7,908 feet in altitude and the air is thin, we have to stay hydrated for skiing and boozing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u2022 Pace yourself<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Chances are you\u2019ll be out later than you think and you\u2019ll need to keep yourself in line so you don\u2019t become baggage, or miss the fun.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u2022 Don\u2019t find yourself being an Apr\u00e9s Jerry<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Walking home in ski boots after the sun sets is a gaper move. It\u2019s perfectly fine to make an Irish exit in order save yourself. Go home, take a nap and primp for the evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Though taking a break might be hard to do. Along with the W\u2019s fresh-this-season scene beckoning, there are other options galore at the base of the mountain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Next door is the Little Nell Hotel, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this season with specials and events like a March 30 apr\u00e8s wine-tasting inside the Nell\u2019s legendary wine cellar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The hotel recently remodeled two of its drinking venues \u2014 Ajax Tavern and Chair 9, which gave the interior spaces a facelift and better functionality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The Tavern is an indoor and outdoor restaurant and bar next to the Silver Queen Gondola, which is beachfront property at the base of Ajax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Springtime is the right time for the tavern. It is the place to be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in March when Clicquot in the Snow makes the party scene a destination event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">It\u2019s the perfect place to watch skiers and boarders make their final descents on the Little Nell run while soaking in the sunshine, drinking Champagne and dancing to a DJ.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A rival scene unfolds across gondola plaza at the Snow Lodge, which also has a DJ and attracts a young, out-of-town crowd on most days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A pop-up in the former Shlomo\u2019s space on gondola plaza, the Snow Lodge is the brainchild of the promoters behind the Surf Lodge in the Hamptons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">For a good chunk of the ski season, the Snow Lodge has been booking top international DJs for apr\u00e8s but bouncers behind its velvet rope have aggressively turned walk-up customers away (more on the Snow Lodge in Food Matters, page 6).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Chair 9 in the Little Nell Hotel is a more chill option. There is a DJ until 7:30 p.m., three TVs to watch sports on the weekends and an approachable apr\u00e8s menu with plenty of bar food.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cWe want the locals to feel at home and not pretentious,\u201d says the Nell\u2019s Janelle Patrick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Of course, Chair 9 does have four private elevated seating areas that have bottle service.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">For a quieter, luxurious experience, folks can walk down the hallway of the Little Nell Hotel and have a glass of wine or cocktail in the Living Room, where there is a wood burning fireplace and Gray Malin photos on the wall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt\u2019s nice to have all three places with different energies,\u201d Patrick says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">So what about the other haunts around town that show the many facets of Aspen apr\u00e8s in 2020?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Red Onion is the classic. Established in 1892, Aspenites have been bellying up at the bar since the mining days at this brick-walled, American tavern. For apr\u00e8s, the Onion hosts live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons with drink specials that include $1 off draft beers and wine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The Hotel Jerome\u2019s J-Bar and the Wheeler Opera House\u2019s Aspen Public House, both also dating to the mining era, are the other history buffs\u2019 must-stop for apr\u00e8s (more on historic Aspen bards in Libations, page 10).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The Limelight Hotel lounge boasts the longest happy hour in town (3 to 7 p.m.) and live music Thursday through Monday, in the winter from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. along with apr\u00e8s specials and the lounge\u2019s signature menu of oven-fired pizzas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Ryno\u2019s Pub &amp; Pizzeria has a kid-friendly arcade and some of the best pizza in town.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Mezzaluna, a block and a half from the gondola, runs an apr\u00e8s happy hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the table and 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the bar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Clark\u2019s Oyster Bar took the place of the beloved Little Annie\u2019s bar and restaurant a few years ago, but has tried to hold onto the Annie\u2019s apr\u00e8s tradition with a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. that includes $8 martinis and oyster specials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Other walkable downtown hotspots: Hops Culture has 30 beers on tap and 200 more in bottles and cans; French Alpine Bistro has the most romantic setting in town and along with fondue, Swiss racelette, French onion soup and savory crepes; Aspen Tap is the spot to sample microbrews from Aspen Brewing Co.; Zane\u2019s Tavern is the unpretentious locals\u2019 go-to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">But clearly the apr\u00e8s action is at the base of the mountain with the addition of a couple of new chic spots this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">It\u2019s been a slow start for the W in gaining the traction it was hoping for in the apr\u00e8s scene. But with some adjustments, like offering less-expensive drinks, management at the Marriott-owned property hopes to draw in more locals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Still, the friendly music war between DJs at the base of Aspen Mountain can be heard throughout town, whether you\u2019re walking the pedestrian malls, skiing down the Little Nell ski run or hiking Smuggler Mountain across the valley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt\u2019s great energy,\u201d said May Selby, director of public relations and social media for the Aspen Skiing Co., \u201cand really cool to hear it when you are in town.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/the-2020-aspen-apres-ski-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A man sips Veuve Clicquot during an Apr\u00e9s pop-up at the Ajax Tavern on Friday, March 6, 2020. Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times People enjoy Apr\u00e9s and the view of Aspen Mountain on the rooftop of The W on Thursday, March 5, 2020.Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times A skier joins in on the dance party at the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2455688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 11:03:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2455688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455688\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2455688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2455688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2455688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}