Wintertime Glitterati Make Aspen Migration

A dressy collection of locals, Terrace Bar is especially popular with over-40 singles lurking with cocktail in hand and snacking on an upgraded tapas menu. For something with a bit more gourmet appeal, grab a table at the Nell's Montagna Restaurant, where chef Ryan Hardy whips up a Christmas Day menu of sturgeon and caviar latkes, foie gras ravioli and sole with white truffles for $175 per person.

Two of the season's most anticipated restaurant openings aren't so much new as new to Aspen or refreshed. From its Snowmass location last year, Junk relocates to the old D-19 space with a novel feel-good food concept ideal for families and younger couples. Its modern design with indoor-outdoor dining options features innovative pop art on walls with recycled mosaics from crushed aluminum cans and booths of vintage denim jeans that literally makes use of old junk.

Outside, a covered patio is surrounded in corrugated metal sheeting with walk-up bar and groovy vibe ideal for Aspen's youthful snowboarder contingent. The menu includes a selection of international street foods, from Chicago hot dogs and Mexican steak tortas to Asian garlic noodle and crispy pork belly skewers.

In a year that has seen the arrival of membership houses to Los Angeles and Miami, Casa Tua Aspen brings its Miami eatery and membership lounge to the historic Guido's building (home of the short-lived Ruth's Chris Steak House (RUTH) a few seasons back). The iconic South Beach eatery, which counts Rosie O'Donnell and Alex Rodriguez as members, is known for its sexy terrace dinners and upstairs lounge. The Aspen location looks to give Caribou Club a run for its membership money.

Unlike Caribou Club, which offers weekly memberships for upward of $500, Casa Tua will offer exclusively full-time memberships with access to the Miami and Aspen locations. The two-level restaurant and lounge will feature an Italian-inspired restaurant and bar that is open to the public. Upstairs, the starry action is to feature an all-year membership lounge with bar and private dining area that should have been available to members of the Aspen club set as of Monday and will likely dominate the season.

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Michael Martin is the managing editor of JetSetReport.com, a luxury travel and lifestyle guide based in Los Angeles and London. His work has appeared in InStyle, Blackbook, Elle, U.K.'s Red magazine and on ITV and the BBC.

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