On-Mountain Dining at Snowmass: Where to Eat on the Hill

Illustrative image: a warm lunch outdoors on a snowy winter day in the Colorado mountains.

Snowmass is a big mountain, and lunch is part of the plan. Where you eat decides which lifts you ride before noon, whether the kids get a real break, and whether the afternoon starts on the side of the mountain you actually want to ski. This guide walks through every on-mountain restaurant Aspen Snowmass lists for Snowmass this winter, where each one sits, and what the official pages say about hours, season dates and reservations as of November 4, 2026.

One honest note before the list: restaurant hours and opening dates are set by the ski area and can change with snow, staffing and weather. We quote what each official page says today and link to it so you can check again before you go. For dinner and drinks off the hill, see our après-ski dining guide.

Elk Camp: the gondola-top hub

Elk Camp sits atop the Elk Camp Gondola, which makes it the easiest sit-down stop for families and for anyone spending the morning in the Elk Camp area. Aspen Snowmass lists it as open November 26, 2026 through April 11, 2027, with hours of 9:15am to 3:30pm. Market-style lunch runs 11am to 3pm, and the page lists a Sunday brunch from 11am to 3pm. It also mentions dining outside on the expanded deck.

Two family details from the Elk Camp page are worth knowing. Kids meal boxes are available for groms 12 and under, and Elk Camp is one of the locations that offers them. And Aspen Snowmass runs a food passport: pick one up at any of its on-mountain restaurants, collect stamps, and redeem them for prizes at any cashier. If you have never ridden up there, our Elk Camp Gondola guide explains how the gondola works and what is at the top.

Ullrhof: rebuilt at the base of the Big Burn

The Ullrhof sits at the base of the Big Burn lift and has been rebuilt. Aspen Snowmass says the new building has more than twice the seating of the original, with four dining concepts under one roof, and calls it "our first all-electric on-mountain restaurant." Its page lists the season as open December 5 and closing April 11, with overall hours of 9am to 3:30pm.

The four parts, as the page describes them:

• Ullrmarket, 9am to 3pm.
• Food Hall, 11am to 3pm, with American lunch.
• Ullrgrill, 11am to 3pm on sunny days only.
• Ullrbar on the top floor, 9am to 3pm, for gastropub food, cocktails and drafts.

Because it sits at the bottom of the Big Burn lift, the Ullrhof works well as a mid-day reset between laps on the wide-open terrain above. Our Big Burn guide covers what that side of the mountain skis like.

Up 4 Pizza: atop the Big Burn lift

Up 4 Pizza is at the top of the Big Burn lift and keeps things simple: pizza, soups and cookies baked through the day. Aspen Snowmass lists it as open December 5, 2026 through April 11, 2027, with snacks and drinks from 9am to 3:30pm and lunch from 11am to 3pm. It is a good grab-and-go option when the group wants to keep skiing the upper mountain.

Sam's: Italian at the top of Village Express

Sam's sits atop the Village Express lift, on Sam's Knob, and Aspen Snowmass lists its cuisine as Italian, with reservations recommended. The page lists the bar from 9am to 3:30pm and lunch from 11am to 2pm, with a season of December 5, 2026 to April 11, 2027. Reservations are made through the booking link on the restaurant's page. If you want to know what to ski before or after lunch there, our Sam's Knob guide has the runs around the summit.

The Cabin: mid-mountain off Velvet Falls

The Cabin is mid-mountain off Velvet Falls, at the Coney Express mid station, and Aspen Snowmass describes it as "Western meets old-world." Reservations are recommended for the full-service lunch, which the page lists from 11:30am to 2pm. After that, the page lists après from 2:30pm to 4pm and says no reservations are needed during après. The listed season is December 5, 2026 to April 4, 2027.

The Cabin also hosts snowcat dinners after dusk. The Cabin's page describes the setting as "amplified after dusk" and links to the details; check there for dates and booking.

Alpin Room and High Alpine: atop Alpine Springs

Two restaurants share the top of the Alpine Springs lift, and they could not be more different.

Alpin Room

The Alpin Room is the sit-down option. Aspen Snowmass lists its cuisine as French and describes it as "a thoughtful, handcrafted reimagination of French home cooking at high elevation." Reservations are recommended, lunch is listed from 11:30am to 2pm, and the season runs December 18, 2026 to April 4, 2027.

High Alpine

High Alpine is the quick-service neighbor. Its page lists the cuisine as continental, with a menu that includes Chinese food, cinnamon rolls, pizzas, soups and an American grill. Market-style lunch runs 11am to 3pm and snacks from 9am to 3:30pm, with the same December 18 to April 4 season as the Alpin Room.

Note the later opening date for both: if your trip is in early December, these two may not be open yet.

Two Creeks Café: at the base of Two Creeks

Two Creeks Café is at the base of the Two Creeks lift, a handy stop for skiers coming down from the intermediate runs above it. The café serves barbecue from its partnership with Planet Barbecue, plus baked goods and coffee in the morning and hot chocolate and drinks in the afternoon. Aspen Snowmass lists hours of 8:45am to 4pm, lunch from 11am to 3pm, and a season of December 22, 2026 to April 4, 2027.

Quick reference: Snowmass on-mountain restaurants

Dates as listed on each restaurant's Aspen Snowmass page on November 4, 2026. Check the pages again before your trip.

Ullr Nights: dinner on the mountain after dark

A few evenings each winter, Elk Camp turns into what Aspen Snowmass calls "a nighttime, winter wonderland party." Ullr Nights are listed for December 23, January 1, February 12, February 19, March 12 and March 19, from 5pm to 8pm. Guests ride the gondola up to Elk Camp Restaurant and Elk Camp Meadows. General admission includes gondola access and activities such as bonfires (with s'mores for purchase) and kids' strider bikes, and you can buy an à la carte dinner at Elk Camp Restaurant with a live band from 6 to 8pm.

Tickets are required for everyone 7 and older, passholders included; children 6 and under are free. Tubing and the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster have a 38-inch height minimum.

Tips for lunch on the mountain

• Book the sit-down places early. Sam's, the Alpin Room and The Cabin all list reservations as recommended. Holiday weeks fill first.
• Eat early or late. Most lunch service starts at 11am. Eating at 11 or after 1:30 tends to beat the midday rush.
• Plan around opening dates. Only Elk Camp is listed as opening with the mountain on November 26; most others open in December.
• Check on the day. Each official page carries current hours, and weather can close a deck or a grill.

Lunch on the hill, dinner at home

Stonebridge Condominiums is ski-in/ski-out next to the Village Express lift at Fanny Hill, the same lift that takes you up to Sam's. After a long day of lunches on the mountain, many families like an easy evening in: every condo has a fully equipped kitchen, a balcony and a fireplace, and the pool deck has a heated outdoor pool, two outdoor hot tubs, a firepit and a barbecue area. Base Village, with its shops and restaurants, is "just a quick 3-5 minute walk away."

Planning a winter trip? Check availability or call 1-800-323-2577.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Elk Camp Restaurant open for the 2026-27 season?

As of November 4, 2026, Aspen Snowmass lists Elk Camp as open November 26, 2026 through April 11, 2027, with hours of 9:15am to 3:30pm. Check its page before you go, since hours and dates can change.

Which Snowmass mountain restaurants take reservations?

Aspen Snowmass lists reservations as recommended at Sam's, The Cabin (for full-service lunch) and the Alpin Room, each with a booking link on its restaurant page. The Cabin's page says no reservations are needed during après.

Is the Ullrhof open again?

Aspen Snowmass describes the rebuilt Ullrhof at the base of the Big Burn lift as its first all-electric on-mountain restaurant, with four dining concepts under one roof. Its page lists an opening date of December 5.

Are there kids' meals on the mountain at Snowmass?

Aspen Snowmass's Elk Camp page says kids meal boxes are available for groms 12 and under and lists Elk Camp among the locations that offer them.

What is Ullr Nights?

Aspen Snowmass describes Ullr Nights as a nighttime winter party at Elk Camp on select peak-season evenings, listed for 2026-27 on December 23, January 1, February 12, February 19, March 12 and March 19, from 5pm to 8pm. Dinner at Elk Camp Restaurant is à la carte, with a live band from 6 to 8pm.

Sources

1. Snowmass Dining — Aspen Snowmass
2. Elk Camp Restaurant — Aspen Snowmass
3. Ullrhof, Snowmass Restaurant — Aspen Snowmass
4. Sam's — Aspen Snowmass
5. The Cabin — Aspen Snowmass
6. Alpin Room — Aspen Snowmass
7. High Alpine — Aspen Snowmass
8. Up 4 Pizza — Aspen Snowmass
9. Two Creeks Café, Snowmass — Aspen Snowmass
10. Ullr Nights at Snowmass — Aspen Snowmass