Ajax Tavern

There are so many upscale restaurants in Aspen – most with tasting menus and breath-taking wine lists – that it’s hard sometimes to just find a great burger and a beer. You have to remember, most of the people working in Aspen are in their 20s, so there are great, affordable joints scattered around town. I’m not sure Ajax is that affordable (cue the $19 cheeseburger), but hidden behind the Little Nell Hotel, there are fewer places in town as perfect for people-watching with the backdrop of Aspen Mountain as a canvas. Tuck into a torchon of foie gras, a massive seafood platter, or just a thick, juicy burger with a side order of truffle fries.

Ajax Tavern

685 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, CO 81611; (970) 920-6334