The Little Nell

It’s no mean feat to be considered the toast of Aspen. This cozy little town in the Rockies is considered the American winter destination for anyone with style, whether they can ski or not. Named after a madam who used to run the town, Little Nell has not dishonored her legacy of hospitality. In all other ways, however, like the rest of Aspen, it’s gone upscale.

Little Nell is the heart of Aspen’s sophistication, where Gary Cooper once clinked glasses with Hedy Lemarr. It’s America’s answer to Badrutts in St Moritz. Perhaps it is the location that makes it so grand—just steps away from the status-symbol Silver Queen Gondola. With its sloping ceilings and fireplaces in each room, Little Nell is less opulent than its rival, the St. Regis, but in a way, it’s more elite. The best room, hands down, is the Elizabeth Paepcke suite, with its 20-foot ceilings, its heated marble floors and a private exit straight out to Silver Queen so you can jump the lift line. Locals and guests alike flock to the warmly lit environs of the restaurant, which serves up cuisine you wouldn’t have thought possible in the Mountain West – foie-gras, crab and avocado ravioli, and an 11,000-bottle wine cellar. It’s considered to be the best restaurant in town.