# Lunch in Aspen

> Where to have lunch in Aspen: the Sundeck, Cloud Nine and the Merry-Go-Round on the mountain, Ajax Tavern and Meat & Cheese in town, Pine Creek Cookhouse by sleigh.

Canonical page: https://aspenprive.com/aspen-lunch/  
Updated: 2026-11-08 · Publisher: Aspen Privé (local Aspen stay planning and concierge)

On a ski day, lunch is on the mountain: the **Sundeck** atop Aspen Mountain (11am–3pm), **Cloud Nine** or the **Merry-Go-Round** at Highlands. In town, **Ajax Tavern** at the gondola serves lunch from 11:30am (book on Resy), and **Meat & Cheese** on Hopkins opens at noon, first come, first served. For an occasion, **Pine Creek Cookhouse** serves lunch Wednesday to Sunday, reached by ski, snowshoe or sleigh. Most of Aspen's dinner-led rooms, including the Italian ones, don't serve lunch.

Hours from each venue's own site and Aspen Snowmass, checked November 8, 2026; several close in November. We live in Aspen and know the people who run its dining rooms. Ask us for the table and we book it, with the car there and back.

## Lunch on the mountain

- **Sundeck, Aspen Mountain**: Atop the gondola; grab-and-go from 9:15am, lunch 11am–3pm, bar to 3:30pm. Non-skiers ride up on a sightseeing ticket.
- **Cloud Nine, Highlands**: Fondue and the famous après; book ahead. [Cloud Nine](https://aspenprive.com/cloud-nine-aspen/)
- **Merry-Go-Round, Highlands**: The casual mid-mountain stop, Southwestern-inspired.
- **Kids**: Kids' meal boxes at Ullrhof, High Alpine, Merry-Go-Round, Sundeck, Cliffhouse, Buttermilk Mountain Lodge and Elk Camp.

## Lunch in town

- **Ajax Tavern**: 685 E. Durant, at the gondola: lunch daily from 11:30am, the patio and the double cheeseburger with truffle fries. Resy; 48-hour cancellation or $100 a person. Closed October 19 to November 19.
- **Meat & Cheese**: 301 E. Hopkins: boards, sandwiches and plates from noon, no reservations. Closed in November.
- **Breakfast into lunch**: [Best breakfast in Aspen](https://aspenprive.com/best-breakfast-aspen/) · [where locals eat](https://aspenprive.com/where-locals-eat-aspen/)

## Lunch, arranged (what Aspen Privé arranges)

We book the Cloud Nine table, the sleigh to Pine Creek or a [picnic](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-picnic/), and the car. [Plan the lunch](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=day-out&from=aspen-lunch).

## The lunch worth a sleigh ride

- **Pine Creek Cookhouse**: 11399 Castle Creek Road, 9,750 ft. Lunch Wednesday to Sunday; ski, snowshoe or sleigh in. 970-925-1044.

## Questions

**Where should I have lunch in Aspen?**  
Skiing: the Sundeck, Cloud Nine or the Merry-Go-Round. In town: Ajax Tavern at the gondola or Meat & Cheese. For an occasion: Pine Creek Cookhouse.

**Do Aspen restaurants serve lunch?**  
Many dinner rooms don't, including Campo de Fiori, Ellina and Acquolina. Ajax Tavern serves lunch daily from 11:30am in season.

**Where can non-skiers have lunch on Aspen Mountain?**  
At the Sundeck, by sightseeing ticket on the Silver Queen Gondola; lunch 11am–3pm.

## What Aspen Privé can arrange for this

The table, the sleigh, the picnic.

- [A day out, planned](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=day-out): Reservations, timing, a driver and a picnic for Maroon Bells or a day in the valley, arranged around your group.
- [Private ski instructor](https://aspenprive.com/private-ski-instructor-aspen/): A private lesson matched to the skier and the mountain.
- [A driver for the evening](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=evening-driver) (From $210 per hour): A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
- [Private chef](https://aspenprive.com/private-chef-aspen/): Dinner at the house, menu agreed in advance.

## Sources (checked November 8, 2026)

- [Aspen Snowmass: Sundeck](https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/dining/aspen-mountain/sundeck)
- [Aspen Snowmass: Aspen Highlands dining](https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/dining/aspen-highlands)
- [Aspen Snowmass: dining](https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/dining)
- [The Little Nell: Ajax Tavern](https://www.thelittlenell.com/dining/ajax-tavern)
- [Meat & Cheese](https://meatandcheeseaspen.com/)
- [Pine Creek Cookhouse](https://www.pinecreekcookhouse.com/)

## Related

- [On-mountain dining](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-on-mountain-dining/): Every lodge.
- [Restaurants with a view](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-restaurants-with-a-view/): Summit, bowl, valley.
- [Italian in Aspen](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-italian-restaurants/): The three rooms.

To plan or request any of this: https://aspenprive.com/plan-your-trip/ · https://aspenprive.com/contact.html