Aspen Nightlife – Syzygy

Syzygy, which is located on East Hyman Avenue in 

Aspen, Colorado, has repeatedly won awards for 

being one of the best restaurants in this ski town. 

Featuring outstanding jazz music and food that is 

out of this world, Syzygy is the place to be when it 

comes to Aspen nightlife and fine dining. This is an 

Aspen landmark that is not to be missed.

The chef at Syzygy combines European and Asian 

dishes, and presents them in a modern American 

way. These combinations are what set the cuisine 

at Syzygy apart from the food you find at most 

restaurants. Along with this outstanding fare, you 

can select wine from a list of over 300 Italian, 

American, and French wines. If you aren’t sure 

which wine will work with the fine food you have 

ordered – simply ask your waiter. They always 

seem to know exactly which wine will enhance the 

flavor of the food the best.

One of the nice touches about the service at 

Syzygy’s is that the Chef likes to send gifts to the 

table, such as goat cheese, potato crisps, and 

osemary bread. Syzygy is famous for their 

atmosphere as well. The glass enclosed waterfalls 

inside the restaurant are talked about all over the 

world – and they are really something to see! Every 

part of the interior of this Aspen landmark works 

well together to create a mood that makes the 

food, the wine, the music, and the company 

absolutely enjoyable. 

You may be overwhelmed with all of the wonderful 

menu choices, and all of the delicious smells 

coming from nearby tables. You may not be able to 

make a choice! Syzygy’s has you covered. Simply 

order the Tasting Menu, and sample everything. 

Enjoy the music while you are eating – and after 

your meal as well. Some of the finest jazz artists in 

the world have performed at Syzygy’s. Call ahead 

to find out who will be performing – you will be glad 

that you did.

Syzygy’s is closed on Monday’s and Tuesdays 

during the off-season. During the season, they are 

open from 6pm to 10pm each day, and you should 

definitely call ahead for a reservation. Remember, 

this is an integral part of experiencing Aspen 

nightlife, so make sure you get by Syzygy’s at 

least once while you are in Aspen – the chances 

are very good that your first visit will not be your 

last! If possible, try to make it to the Sunday Jazz 

Brunch.

Aspen Nightlife – How to Find the Entertainment

No matter what time of year it is when you visit 

Aspen, there is always something going on – 

even in the off season. The town is small, but 

there are usually several types of entertainment 

offered each evening in different parts of the 

small town. Generally, you won’t have to search 

too hard to find some entertainment – but it is 

better to know exactly what is going on all over 

town, so you can choose the Aspen nightlife 

that best suits your interests.

First, call the Chamber of Commerce in Aspen 

a few months before your trip if possible. Ask 

them what events are planned for the time 

period that you will be there. Events are usually 

scheduled well in advance, and finding out 

about these events well in advance will not only 

help you to better make your plans, but it will 

also allow you to purchase needed tickets in 

advance. Nothing will be more disappointing 

than arriving in Aspen and finding out that your 

favorite band is in town for a sold out show!

Events can come up at the last minute as well. 

Upon your arrival to your lodge or hotel, ask the 

concierge about events that will be taking place 

during your stay. If you have already contacted 

the Chamber of Commerce, you will know most 

of what is going on around town – but there may 

be a few surprises in store for you.

Don’t forget to check with the Chamber of 

Commerce offices in nearby towns and villages! 

Snowmass is a village that almost seems to 

be a part of Aspen – but it isn’t. Contact the 

Snowmass town hall to find out what events 

are scheduled in the village during your visit.

Have a plan before you arrive in Aspen. Use 

Internet resources, as well as the information 

that you learn from the various Chambers of 

Commerce and your lodge to plan your daytime 

and night time activities while you will be in 

Aspen. Again, there is always something to do 

in Aspen, and if you don’t plan ahead, you will 

waste a lot of time trying to decide what you 

want to do. 

While you want to go in with a plan, leave a 

day or two open – with no plans. Use these 

days for shopping expeditions or simply take a 

quiet walk through the quiet Victorian 

neighborhoods. Go to a restaurant that isn’t in 

your plans, or spend some time in the Great 

Room at your lodge. There is always 

something to do…but sometimes, it is nice to 

have nothing to do as well!

Aspen Nightlife – Harris Concert Hal

There is always something going on in Aspen, 

Colorado and the Aspen nightlife is very active. 

You can find a wide variety of things to do – but 

if you want a little culture, you should definitely 

find out what events are planned at the Harris 

Concert Hall. 

At the Harris Concert Hall, you will find 

everything from Piano Recitals to Rock-n-Roll 

Concerts. Events are planned well in advance, 

so you should be able to find out what concerts 

and events are scheduled to coincide with your 

Aspen vacation. 

The Harris Concert Hall is located in the West 

end of Aspen, in a quaint residential 

neighborhood. Due to parking and traffic 

problems, you should strongly consider 

walking to the concert hall. It is a short ten 

minute walk from the downtown area. Other 

transportation options include biking or taking 

the bus. When there are events at the concert,

it is very difficult to find parking.

The Aspen Music Festival and School were 

founded in 1949 by Walter and Elizabeth 

Paepcke from Chicago. Many music 

professionals train here and all of the school 

and festival performances take place in the 

Harris Concert Hall, which seats over 2000 

people.

You should definitely try to visit Aspen during 

the Music Festival. This takes place over a nine 

week period in the summer, and there are 

usually more than 200 planned events. People 

from all over the world come to the Aspen 

Music Festival, so be sure that you make your 

plans and reservations early!

Another exciting event that takes place at the 

Harris Concert Hall is the Aspen Film Festival. 

This festival takes place three times each year. 

The Aspen Shortsfest is held in the Spring. The

 Aspen Filmfest is held during the Fall, and the 

Aspen Academy Screenings are held during the 

Winter. Again, people come from all over the 

world for these events, so make your plans 

early.

The Harris Concert Hall is full of history, even 

though the newest section of it wasn’t built 

until recently. This is a major part of Aspen’s 

history and culture, and you should try to attend 

at least one event at the Harris Concert Hall 

while you are in Aspen. Most events take place 

in the evening; however there are also events 

that take place during the day. You can check 

with your lodge or hotel to find out what events 

are planned at the Concert Hall each day. Also 

inquire about the need to purchase advance 

tickets for specific events.

Aspen Nightlife – Getting Around

After a day on the slopes, you may be 

wondering what there is to do for the rest of the 

evening. Well, don’t use up all of your energy, 

and leave the slopes early enough to get in a 

short nap – you will need all of the energy you 

can muster for the Aspen nightlife. No matter 

how much skiing you get in or how many of 

the runs you have mastered, you have not truly 

experienced Aspen until you venture out after 

dark!

Aspen has three basic areas: downtown, the 

West end, and the East end. The town is 

remarkably small, considering how many 

people venture here each season – but 

surprisingly, everyone and everything just fits. 

The town is actually small enough to leave 

your car parked at your lodge or hotel and walk 

anywhere that you want to go. In fact, this is 

recommended. 

Not everyone pays heed to this advice, which 

can make driving around and parking very 

difficult. You can also take a free shuttle from 

one mountain to another, take the Roaring Fork 

Transit Authority Bus, or go to the Rubey Park 

Transportation Center to get a ride anywhere in 

the valley. 

Don’t worry about getting lost. The town is well 

laid out. Starting on the West end, you will find 

a quiet Victorian neighborhood. While this is a 

residential district, where locals live, you will 

also find many hotels and condos on the West 

end, particularly on Main Street. You will also 

find the Aspen Meadows Conference Center 

and Hotel. This is a 40-acre area where you 

will also find the Aspen Institute, the Music Tent, 

the Harris Concert Hall, the Paepcke Auditorium, 

the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, 

the Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, and the 

Aspen Center for Physics. 

In the East end of Aspen you will find another 

residential area, as well as the Roaring Fork 

River and the Aspen Club and Spa. The East 

end features more forests than the West end, 

which has been developed a great deal more. 

Between the West End and the East End, you 

will find downtown Aspen. Downtown is where 

most of the action is. Featuring old Victorian 

buildings, downtown Aspen boasts pubs, 

restaurants, shops, and everything else you 

could ever possibly need – all housed in 

beautiful historical landmark buildings. 

Down the valley a ways, you will find Snowmass 

Village. To the west, you will also find Roaring 

Fork Valley. These two villages are 

compliments of Aspen, and you should take 

the time to visit them as well.

Aspen Nightlife – Country & Western Dancing

Believe it or not, there is only one place in 

Aspen where you can scoot a boot across the 

dance floor to the sounds of George Strait, and 

other Country & Western favorites – Shooter’s 

Salon. Shooter’s Salon is located on South 

Galena Street, and they are open from 6:30pm 

to 2am every day, and again, this club has the 

distinction of being the only Country & Western 

club in the whole town of Aspen, Colorado.

Here, cowboy hats, creased jeans, and boots 

are the expected attire. During the week, the 

music is provided by a DJ, and on weekends 

live bands provide the tunes. If you don’t know 

how to do the Texas Two-Step, you can learn 

how on any Thursday night which is when 

Shooter’s offers free Country dance lessons. 

Good beer, good music, great dancing, friendly 

games of pool or darts – Shooter’s is a place 

where all cowboy’s and cowgirl’s will feel right 

at home. If you want to let your hair down, 

without having to worry about breaking any of

the rules set by ‘polite society’ in the other fine 

establishments located in Aspen, Shooter’s is 

the place to do it!

Aspen Nightlife – Club Chelsea

The Club Chelsea is a fashionable club that is 

a traditional part of the Aspen nightlife social 

scene. Featuring a piano bar, a dining area, a 

dance floor, and a private smoking room, this 

is high-toned entertainment at its very best. 

The Club Chelsea bar offers single malts, 

cognacs, martinis, and ports, and in the 

smoking room, you will find Havana and A. 

Fuente cigars. The club is open from 8pm to 

2am daily, and is located on East Hyman 

Avenue. A light menu is offered, featuring 

gourmet dishes such as pastas, tenderloins,

and tamales. Everything about Club Chelsea 

screams elegance. 

The chances are good that you will not run into 

the college crowd here. The majority of the 

patrons seem to be older – starting with the 30 

and 40 year old crowds, with some seniors 

thrown in for good measure. This is elegant 

‘grown up’ entertainment, where you won’t find 

a lot of noise or people who have had too much 

to drink. 

So, if you are past the college drinking contests 

and wet T-shirt competition age, you will find 

Club Chelsea a delightful and elegant place 

where you can while away the evening with 

great food, fabulous drinks, wonderful piano 

music, and outstanding cigars.

Aspen Nightlife – Aspen Recreation Center

While the Aspen Recreation Center closes just 

before 9pm, there is quite a bit of enjoyment to be 

had here after a day on the slopes. If you get there 

right after leaving the slopes, and eat a late dinner 

– after the center closes – you will have plenty of 

time to enjoy what the ARC has to offer.

The climbing walls at the center are the biggest 

attraction. The ARC features approximately 3100 feet 

of climbing walls for your enjoyment. There is also a 

3-D climbing tower with more than 25 routes and four 

auto belays. 

Another nice feature at the Aspen Recreation Center 

is the pool area. The James E. Moore Pool area 

features two pools. One pool is 25 yards in length 

and features six lanes, while the other pool is for 

recreation and has a two story slide, a lazy river, and 

spray features. You will also find a dry sauna, a steam 

room, and hot tubs in the pool area.

The Lewis Ice Arena is also located at the Aspen 

Recreation Center. Completed in the Spring of 2003, 

the arena features an NHL regulation size skating 

surface, grandstand seating for 450, a skate shop, 

locker rooms, and shower rooms. Public skating, 

skating lessons, figure skating, youth and adult 

hockey, and skating shows are available. You can 

also host private parties at the arena. High altitude 

training is also offered here.

You will also find cardio and weight rooms at the 

center, and many fitness classes are also offered. 

The Aspen Recreation Center hosts many off-site 

activities in the Aspen area as well, such as golf, 

tennis, climbing, aquatics, sailing, skateboarding, 

ceramics classes, baseball, softball, soccer, 

hockey, and various camps. 

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Babysitting services are available at the center as 

well. This place is a great way to wrap up a day of 

activity and wind down before your evening meal. 

Again, the Aspen Recreation Center closes just 

before 9pm, so make sure you head there right after 

leaving the slopes for the day.

Admission for guests is $13 for youths and $15 for 

adults. Admission includes access to the climbing 

towers, swimming pool area, ice skating rink, weight 

room, cardio room, adult fitness classes, water 

aerobics, climbing wall and playhouse, and tennis 

courts. The Aspen Recreation Center is a great place 

for every member of the family. Call ahead to find out 

about any planned events that are going on for even 

more entertainment options.

Aspen Nightlife – Aspen Dance Fest

If you have the opportunity to visit Aspen during 

July and August, you absolutely must use the 

opportunity to see many of the performances 

that are part of the Aspen Dance Fest. The 

Aspen Dance Fest features critically acclaimed 

contemporary dance companies from around 

the United States.

The Aspen Dance fest runs for five consecutive 

weeks each summer. The Aspen Santa Fe 

Ballet Company hosts and performs in the 

Aspen Dance Fest. The company is made up 

of eleven dancers who were all classically

trained. The school was founded in 1995 by 

Bebe Schweppe. The company’s debut was 

in 1996 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the 

Performing Arts.

All performances for The Aspen Dance Fest 

are held at the Aspen District Theatre, which is 

located inside the Aspen Elementary School on 

Maroon Creek Road. For a wonderful evening of 

entertainment and culture, be sure to catch at 

least one performance during the Aspen Dance 

Fest – even if you have to make a special 

summer trip to Aspen to do it. You may also catch

performances by the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 

Company closer to home when they go on tour 

each year.

Aspen Nightlife and the Altitude

There is more to do in Aspen than ski! The 

Aspen nightlife is like nothing you will 

experience elsewhere. The warmth and 

camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the 

different lodges is quite special, and remarkable. 

You will have a good time in Aspen, no matter 

what you choose to do, but there is one thing 

that you should be very aware of before you 

start your party – the altitude.

Aspen sits about 8000 feet above sea level. 

Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will 

need to adjust to this altitude. You may find 

yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you 

may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude 

Sickness is a serious problem, and if your 

symptoms become extreme, you should seek 

medical attention.

If you will be drinking, you need to know that the 

altitude will have a large impact on the way your 

body handles the alcohol. Many people who are 

not used to such a high altitude find that they 

become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very 

short period of time. It is best that you avoid 

drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted 

to the altitude. 

It is also important to recognize the signs of 

both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain 

Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be 

recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of 

breath during exertion, increased urination, 

changed breathing patterns at night, strange 

dreams, and frequently waking from sleep 

during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on 

the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite, 

nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness, 

dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping, 

confusion, and a staggering gait.  

As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude 

Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness 

somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking 

too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being 

drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after 

your arrival in the higher altitude. You should 

also seek medical attention if your symptoms 

last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs 

of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be 

deadly if it is not treated.

Health care professionals suggest that you 

avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are 

magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous 

activity for the first couple of days after arriving 

at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit 

a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS 

immediately for treatment.

Aspen Nightlife

Finding things to do in Aspen, Colorado during the 

day isn’t difficult – get out on the slopes and ski or 

enjoy one of the other winter sports that you love. 

At night, however, Aspen really comes to life with 

Aspen nightlife! No matter how old or young you are, 

there is something to do in Aspen twenty-four hours 

a day, seven days a week.

Music and dancing are the biggest Aspen nightlife 

attractions, but there is more to do than just that – 

so if you aren’t quite old enough to get into the 

various bars and clubs in the area, don’t think that 

you will be bored at night – you won’t be! Start by 

finding out what activities are planned for the 

evening at your lodge or hotel. Most lodges and 

hotels have events planned throughout the season 

– and this is a good place to start finding things to 

do after the slopes have closed for the day.

Shopping in Aspen is another highlight. There are 

many galleries and specialty shops that you won’t 

find in your own hometown. Take advantage of this. 

Most shops are open after the slopes have closed 

for the day, and many stay open late because they 

understand that you want to spend your daylight 

hours out on the slopes.

If you aren’t old enough for the club scene, take 

advantage of the teen nights that are offered by many 

of the resorts. These are safe fun nights for teens, 

which parents will approve of.  Teens also enjoy the 

offerings at many of the spas. Spas aren’t just for 

adults. Enjoy the skin treatments, massages, 

saunas, and hot tubs. Some resorts also have game 

rooms for the teens and younger kids.

If you are old enough for the bars and clubs – finding 

something to do won’t be hard at all. Again, find out 

what is happening in the evening at your lodge or 

hotel first. If you aren’t interested, hit the streets. 

Almost everything is within walking distance in Aspen, 

and anything that is out of walking distance is 

accessible by bus or taxi. If you will be drinking, 

do not drive your car to the bar or club – find 

alternate transportation.

The Aspen Recreation center has many planned 

events throughout the season that are appropriate for 

adults and kids. However, if you are planning to bring 

the kids, but you want to enjoy some adult Aspen 

nightlife as well, child care may be available through 

your lodge or hotel.