Aspen is Getting a Trendy New Restaurant – and it’s a New York Icon

One of Manhattan’s favorite Italian spots is transferring to the Rockies for winter. 

No longer is the preferred ski resort chosen based on the perfect piste – destinations are chosen based on crowd, accommodations, shopping opportunities, and, more and more often, restaurants. Throwing its hat into Aspen’s hospitality ring is beloved NYC spot Marea, which is opening at the St Regis Aspen Resort on December 22.

Marea at The Snow Lodge marks the restaurant’s third outpost, following on from the successes of Marea Beverly Hills in 2024 and the launch of the first-ever Marea just off Central Park back in 2009. 

In NYC and LA, it is Marea’s take on Italy’s ‘coastal cuisine’ that has seen it amount to a loyal set of diners. Dishes guided by the ocean might sound jarring in a mountain resort just about as far away as one can get from the sea, but Marea has gone to efforts to refine its menu to suit snowy scenes. New additions include a white bolognese with kale, ricotta and fennel, and a poached egg salad with Barolo vinaigrette. 

A few icons remain though – octopus and bone marrow fusilli pasta is a long-standing favorite, as is butter-poached lobster with burrata and the crudo selection. The accompanying wine list has been created by senior brand director Francesco Grosso and prioritizes Italian varietals.

Hosted inside St Regis Aspen’s The Snow Lodge – an outpost of Montauk’s The Surf Lodge – Marea is planning to embody the resort’s infamous après-ski scene (the Fountain Courtyard regularly hosts world-class DJs) while adding a touch of fine-dining refinement.

Marea’s move to the Rockies marks but the latest in an ever-growing group of restaurants taking up residence in the snow. Over in Montana, Grant Achatz is offering M by the Alinea Group at Big Sky for a limited run from December 19 through March 31. Chef Enrico Bartolini is briefly leaving his Italian restaurant empire (laden with a total of 14 Michelin stars) behind for two nights at Deer Valley Resort, Utah, from January 9. And over in St Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace is hosting both Copenhagen’s two-Michelin-starred Kong Hans Kælder (December 22, 2025 — January 26, 2026) and Chile’s award-winning Boragó (February 18, 2026 — March 1, 2026).