How do I get to Montagna?
Montagna is easy to get to from inside the Little Nell - all you have to do is walk right through the lobby. The Four-Star restaurant is about a 10-minute drive from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Aspen and a four-hour drive from Denver International Airport. If you make the drive, valet parking is free for anyone who dines in Montagna, even if you are not a guest of the hotel. This proves helpful because metered parking in downtown Aspen is expensive and required between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. To make an Aspen-style appearance, ski directly to Montagna, which is accessible from the base of Aspen Mountain if you head down the stairs at Ajax Tavern. After your meal, you can strap your boots back on and be back on the slopes in no time.
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The colorful, explosive food presentation at Montagna is so striking, you'll want to whip out your iPhone and start taking pictures of your food. It's hard to say where the food goes first -- into your stomach or onto Facebook -- but either way, the temptation is to preserve the artfulness of each dish before you eat it. Montagna executive chef Robert McCormick believes people eat as much with their eyes as they do with their stomachs, and that point of view comes through in food that looks good enough to hang up on the wall. But don't think the fancy presentation compromises its quality -- the dishes taste as delicious as they look, so after you've snapped enough photos to email to your friends, dig in and enjoy.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna has a bar with a French-café style that’s located right outside the main entrance to the restaurant. The long bench under the windows and the small tables are reminiscent of a European restaurant — complete with red-and-cream woven leather chairs and red tile floors. Behind the vintage bar, you’ll also see photo-imprinted wallpaper with images of Aspen Mountain and the surrounding peaks. One thing we should note about the bar: It allows dogs. When we sipped our pre-dinner cocktails there, a small cockapoo with a ponytail on top of its head decided to waddle over and join us. The vibe is laid-back (to say the least) and everyone is welcome.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The menu at Montagna changes with the seasons and is created from the freshest possible ingredients with a big focus on sustainability and local goods. So while you’re likely to find a new menu each time you visit the Four-Star restaurant, keep your eyes peeled for these five dishes:
1. The Wagyu steak. This is available year-round and comes from Emma Farms, a ranch just 20 miles from Aspen. The meat is tender, velvety and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It comes with red pepper, paprika and spaetzle.
2. The Colorado lamb loin. Also from Emma Farms, this is another outstanding cut of meat that would be hard to find elsewhere.
3. Chicken liver pâté. Montagna is also known for this dish that’s served with seasonal preserves and crusty bread.
4. Chilled Maine lobster, octopus and shrimp soup. One of the Four-Star restaurant’s classics, this soup is topped with cilantro, avocado, tomato and cucumber.
5. Pasta. All the pastas here are handmade and their presentations vary from season to season.
The good news is that the menu is designed as a prix fixe, three-course meal, so there are plenty of opportunities to try several different dishes in one sitting.
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The Restaurant’s central location in The Setai in Miami’s South Beach makes it easy to get to. The Setai is on Collins Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares on the island of Miami Beach, so if you’re in South Beach, consider taking a sunshine-filled stroll to The Restaurant. Or for a quicker fix, hail one of the plentiful cabs in the area and have the driver drop you off at the Four-Star hotel’s main entrance.
If you’re driving to Miami Beach from the north, take I-95 southbound to the I-195, which becomes 41st Street. Continue east 10 blocks and turn right on Indian Creek Boulevard, which becomes Collins Avenue. The Setai is located between 20th and 21st streets.
If you’re coming by way of downtown Miami, Coral Gables or anywhere south, take I-95 northbound and exit at I-395. Once you reach the island, stay in the left lane and head north on Alton Road. At 17th Street make a right, heading east until you reach Collins Avenue, then take a left.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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With its intimate banquette seating, hushed volumes, quiet jazz music and low lighting, Montagna is a romantic restaurant both in atmosphere and in the experience of indulging in the extravagance of ultra-fine dining. It would be hard not to impress a date with the all-around quality of dining at the Four-Star restaurant, from the extensive wine list (including a large selection of exquisite champagnes) to the lengthy three-course meal. Whether you visit for a cozy lunch before heading back to the slopes or come for a special-occasion dinner, the intimacy never wavers.
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When you bring your kids along to Montagnafor a meal, thechildren’s menuserves a dual function: It serves as both a menu and a coloring book. It’s great for keeping kiddies occupied while they wait for their food to arrive, or when you’re still deciding between the Colorado lamb loin and the Wagyu tenderloin. The kid’s menu is fairly substantial, especially for a fine dining establishment, and offers everything from peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese to more adult fare like steak, roasted chicken, and grilled shrimp. Parents can rest assured that all of the kid’s meals are created with the freshest and healthiest possible ingredients, and are simple enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Like the rest of the offerings at Montagna, the mocktails change often and with the seasons. Order one of these refreshing, non-alcoholic drinks, and you’ll be served a mix of local and farm-fresh ingredients. For example, summer inspires peach drinks, while winter offers hot cocoa with whipped cream and housemade marshmallows. The Four-Star restaurant offers a wide selection of non-alcoholic beers, too, as well as a variety of teas, coffee, juices, natural sodas and sparkling and still water. And since you’re in Aspen, even the tap water is pure and clean.
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The wine list at Montagna is 72 pages long and features special bottles from around the world, including Italy, France, Spain, Australia and the United States. Maybe you’d like to try a bottle of Krug “Clos du Mesnil” champagne ($1,675) or a Domaine Michel Niellon from 1996 ($2,125), or sip from an Aloxe-Corton Bourgogne J.F. Coche Dury ($1,040). Request a guided tour of the wine cellar and get the inside scoop on what will pair best with your three-course meal.
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Like most restaurants in Aspen, Montagna offers “Aspen Tap” or sparkling water for the table. It turns out that Aspen tap water is better for you than most bottled water and much better for the environment, too. The city of Aspen is so invested in promoting its drinking water thatit’s installed water stations (basically glorified drinking fountains that are a little beefier and easier to use to fill a bottle) all over town and has started selling aluminum water bottles that say “Aspen Tap” on them. So when you visit the Four-Star restaurant, just try the tap. If you still aren’t convinced, there’s always Pellegrino sparkling water available, as well
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna only offers seasonal dishes for the most part. Executive chef Robert McCormick is dedicated to using as many local, sustainable and fresh ingredients as possible. The Four-Star restaurant does have some staples and favorites that have become fixtures on the menu, but most dishes are created day-by-day depending on what is in season. Summer dishes will feature more fresh vegetables and fruits, while winter might focus on the freshest fish that can be flown in for same-day preparation. The season will also dictate the mood of the menu, with warmer dishes in winter and more cold plates in summer.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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There are many specialty cocktails available at Montagna, but the signature drink is definitely the Montagna Martini, a rare and stiff combination of prosecco, St-Germain and Van Gough Wild Apple Vodka. The martini is then garnished with a ginger-pickled apple bonbon, made in-house at
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna’s executive chef Robert McCormick sends out a special gift at the start of your meal. It varies seasonally, but when we enjoyed the summer menu, we received a small plate with three amuse-bouches: a fish and chips-style housemade fingerling potato with salmon tartare; an eggplant tapenade on a popadom; and a peach- ginger soda to cleanse the palate. This special gift from the Montagna kitchen is always the most exciting part of the meal — it titillates the senses and gives you a sense (or a taste, rather) of what’s to come.
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Because the menu changes constantly at Montagna, there are no signature desserts per se. But the Four-Star restaurant does have a signature style when it comes to fresh, artistic and whimsical treats. The best time to satisfy your sweet tooth at Montagna is during breakfast, when the scent of fresh-baked pastries wafts through the lobby and seduces almost anyone who walks by. Don’t miss the cinnamon buns, chocolate chip banana muffins and warm zucchini or banana breads. Wrap them up and take them back to your room at The Little Nell — they’re perfect when you need a sugar fix.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The colorful, explosive food presentation at Montagna is so striking, you'll want to whip out your iPhone and start taking pictures of your food. It's hard to say where the food goes first -- into your stomach or onto Facebook -- but either way, the temptation is to preserve the artfulness of each dish before you eat it. Montagna executive chef Robert McCormick believes people eat as much with their eyes as they do with their stomachs, and that point of view comes through in food that looks good enough to hang up on the wall. But don't think the fancy presentation compromises its quality -- the dishes taste as delicious as they look, so after you've snapped enough photos to email to your friends, dig in and enjoy.
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With an award-winning wine cellar and three master sommeliers on staff (and two poised to take the exam), The Little Nell prides itself on its wine pairings. The Four-Star restaurant goes so far as to include it as a fixed-price offering on its dinner menu. For $72, your personal sommelier will select wines for you and introduce them at your table with each course, explaining the finer details of taste, aroma, body and why it will pair well with your meal. With 20,000 bottles in its collection, which received the Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine, a little guidance goes a long way.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna’s pastry chef and executive chef share a similar food philosophy and work closely together to create the Four-Star restaurant’s desserts. The sweets here capitalize on the freshest produce and other ingredients in and around Colorado. The menu changes constantly with the seasons, and pastry chef Danielle Riesz is known for her whimsical, artistic creations that put a spin on classic childhood desserts. You can count on familiar, comforting flavors with a more modern, ingredient-conscious twist.
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Montagna does not have a specific gluten-free or allergy-sensitive menu, mostly because the menu changes nightly. But with advance notice, Montagna can provide a gluten-free version of whatever is offered on the menu and will always address any allergy sensitivities. It’s always a good idea to inform the restaurant manager, or whomever you make a reservation with, of any food sensitivities you have to ensure that your needs are met. Because the Four-Star restaurant’s dishes are so focused on local and seasonal ingredients, chances are there are plenty of options for foods that are not processed and much less likely to contain common allergens, such as gluten and other additives.
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The menu at Montagna changes constantly, but there is almost always a vegetarian or vegan option included — particularly in the first or second course. For example, the summer vegetable garden is a simple dish of heirloom baby vegetables like squash, beets and tomatoes. It’s topped off with goat cheese that’s made in Basalt, which is located 18 miles down valley from Aspen. Other examples of vegetarian dishes on the summer menu include heirloom tomato risotto, wild mushroom tortellini (with delectable handmade pasta) and three different fish entrées. Montagna will also cater to your vegetarian or vegan preferences, so be sure to notify the staff prior to your meal and the kitchen will whip up something to fit your needs.
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In keeping with chef Robert McCormick’s philosophy of using local ingredients, the cheese course at Montagna focuses on cheeses from Avalanche Cheese in Basalt, Colo., which is 18 miles west of Aspen. Avalanche’s cheeses range from pasteurized, fresh selections to aged, hard varieties. The company’s specialty is cheese made from the milk of a herd of Saanen, Alpine and Nubian goats. But it isn’t only the cheese that’s made locally — the mixed-breed goats are locals, residing at a farm in Paonia, which sits about 90 miles from the Four-Star restaurant.
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Montagna’s bar menu is a local’s favorite, serving up an Aspen-style combo where extravagance meets comfort, with everything from chicken liver pâtéand shrimp cocktail to sliders. It’s a great way to sample the flavors of the Four-Star restaurant in small doses, both in terms of size and price. You also can order from the Montagna bar menu in the Living Room bar, where the deep chairs and the comfy couches offer some of the best seats in the house when it comes to people-watching. The Montagna bar menu is designed to encouraged après ski (or hike or bike) grazing and social dining. It’s a good place to grab a quick cocktail as you wait for your table, ororder from the extensive wine list, complete with by-the-glass selections.
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At Montagna you’ll find a multi-course menu with wine pairings. The Four-Star restaurant offers its three-course prix fixe menu for $72, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $72. The wine pairings are worth the extra cost considering Montagna’s wine-centric vibe — it has an award-winning, 20,000-bottle collection and three master sommeliers on staff.
The food menu varies with the seasons, but it always features fresh and local ingredients and artfully presented dishes. Highlights include the Wagyu beef and Colorado lamb tenderloin that both hail from Emma Farms, which is located 20 miles outside of Aspen. All the pastas are handmade (we suggest the wild mushroom tortellini, which has a rich, velvety texture), and the menu also features a few extravagant delicacies like foie gras and caviar. The food is considered contemporary American — it draws from other cultures, but it’s still centered on what’s local and seasonal.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna has a bar with a French-café style that’s located right outside the main entrance to the restaurant. The long bench under the windows and the small tables are reminiscent of a European restaurant — complete with red-and-cream woven leather chairs and red tile floors. Behind the vintage bar, you’ll also see photo-imprinted wallpaper with images of Aspen Mountain and the surrounding peaks. One thing we should note about the bar: It allows dogs. When we sipped our pre-dinner cocktails there, a small cockapoo with a ponytail on top of its head decided to waddle over and join us. The vibe is laid-back (to say the least) and everyone is welcome.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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As the pastry chef at Montagna, Danielle Riesz uses Colorado’s local ingredients to create dishes that are all her own. Sharing executive chef Robert McCormick’s food philosophy, she takes a whimsical approach to her desserts and presentations. Riesz lures diners into her confections by playing off childhood flavors that are relatable and comforting. The interpretation of strawberry shortcake we sampled was a perfect example: The presentation was artful, sophisticated and light, but those old familiar flavors were all there.
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Montagna executive chef Robert McCormick says his diverse culinary training and background helped him find his own brand of cooking, which he describes as “European-based food created with strict technique and a lot of soul.” McCormick is also a firm believer in using and highlighting local ingredients, including farm-fresh meats, vegetables and cheeses. But for McCormick, food isn’t only about the taste. He adds that people eat with their eyes as well as their stomachs, so he puts a lot of thought into a colorful and explosive presentation. The dishes we ate lived up to that expectation, with an artful aesthetic so creative and detail-oriented, we almost felt bad about eating it.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The menu at Montagna changes with the seasons and is created from the freshest possible ingredients with a big focus on sustainability and local goods. So while you’re likely to find a new menu each time you visit the Four-Star restaurant, keep your eyes peeled for these five dishes:
1. The Wagyu steak. This is available year-round and comes from Emma Farms, a ranch just 20 miles from Aspen. The meat is tender, velvety and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It comes with red pepper, paprika and spaetzle.
2. The Colorado lamb loin. Also from Emma Farms, this is another outstanding cut of meat that would be hard to find elsewhere.
3. Chicken liver pâté. Montagna is also known for this dish that’s served with seasonal preserves and crusty bread.
4. Chilled Maine lobster, octopus and shrimp soup. One of the Four-Star restaurant’s classics, this soup is topped with cilantro, avocado, tomato and cucumber.
5. Pasta. All the pastas here are handmade and their presentations vary from season to season.
The good news is that the menu is designed as a prix fixe, three-course meal, so there are plenty of opportunities to try several different dishes in one sitting.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The service at Montanga adds a fun component to the fine-dining experience. Throughout the meal, there is lots of interaction with several different servers, from the bussers who fill your water glasses and the waiter who takes your order, to the sommelier and restaurant manager - and, if you’re lucky, the chef - who visit to say hello and check up on you. Everyone is professional but friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Better yet, they all seemed to take immense pride in their jobs, which struck us as unusual in today’s culinary scene. Dining at the Four-Star restaurant has a European feel because of its multi-course meal and strong emphasis on wine, so it seems less rushed than a typical American-style restaurant, with more time for conversation and to really enjoy your meal.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Because of its focus on wine, Montagna puts a tremendous amount of thought and research into the kind of glassware its uses. The restaurant pours its more expensive wines in the exclusive Riedel Sommelier Series. Each glass is hand-blown and comes in different shapes specifically designed to enhance different wines and vintages, and accentuate the bouquet and flavor profile. The shape and thickness of the glass will allow the wine to hit your palate differently and affect the taste. “Most people wouldn’t know the difference, but for connoisseurs who are drinking a $3,000 bottle of wine, it makes for a more special, more beautiful experience,” the sommelier told us. “But they’ll break if you look at them wrong. They’re extremely delicate.”
Montagna also has a collection of hand-blown regal decanters for red wines that cost between $600 and $800 each.
The water glasses, tumblers and other non-wine drinking glasses are made by Zwiesel out of Germany. But unlike the wine glasses,they are selected mostly based on aesthetics.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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At Montagna, there are 23 tables inside and 14 on the outdoor patio, weather permitting. It’s definitely intimate, with banquette tables offering a cozy feel that even resonates for larger parties. The room is divided into two levels with a mezzanine, so all the tables have a view of the courtyard and pool, and of each other. The dining room at Montagna only occupies one room, so it’s not hard to get a glimpse of who is in the Four-Star restaurant (people-watching could almost be considered a sport during the busy winter and summer seasons). It’s Aspen, so you never know who might make an appearance during New Year’s, when celebrities flood the town for the holidays.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna and The Little Nell are renowned for their location at the base of Aspen Mountain, and there aren’t many areas in the hotel that don’t have something nice to look at (well, except for maybe the parking garage). All the tables at Montagna have special views of the courtyard and pool area, and in the summertime the patio looks onto Aspen Mountain. The dining room layout has an elevated mezzanine level, so all the tables come with a view and the dining room occupies just one large space (without any offshoots). So really, it’s a room — not just a table — with a view.
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Montagna has three private dining rooms that are adjacent to the main dining room. The largest is the Wine Room — it can accommodate up to 80 people and is richly appointed with wood-paneled walls, a stone fireplace and custom wine bins for a masculine yet sophisticated look. Sitting behind the Wine Room is the residential-style Alpine Room. It offers maximum privacy and a large dining table that seats 12, plus rich wooden buffets, wall mirrors and original artwork. Lastly, the Red Room is part of the main dining room, but it’s enclosed behind large glass French doors and seats up to 15.
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The price range for meals at Montagna varies from breakfast to dinner. At breakfast, simple dishes like cereal go for $10 and egg entrées hover around $18. Light fare and appetizers at lunch start at $9 and go up to $26 for entrées. There is also a two-course prix fixe for $26 and a three-course for $32 (the restaurant is big on the multi-course meal, especially if it means pairing it with Montagna’s extensive wine collection). Dinner is, again, focused on the three-course prix fixe for $72 and wine pairing is an additional $72 (the pairings are well worth the cost considering the education that the Four-Star restaurant’s sommeliers can give you). Dinner can also be purchased à la carte, with first and second courses for $18 and entrées for $41. If you want to indulge in some Petrossian caviar, you have that option for an additional $150.
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Montagna is an excellent place for group dining. Not only does the restaurant have banquette-style seating that offers intimacy for larger groups, but it also has three private group rooms available that are all adjacent to the main dining room. The Wine Room — which looks like a den or a library and has wood-paneled walls, a stone fireplace and handcrafted wine bins — can accommodate up to 80 people. The Alpine Room can hold parties of up to 12 and is more of a private dining room, featuring a single large table and the residential vibe that The Little Nell is known for. There’s also the Red Room, which has a table for 15 and is enclosed behind large glass French doors.
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The interior design of Montagna is elegant but not very contemporary, so the restaurant is slated for a major overhaul in 2012. The space will be gutted and renovated, and the name and the menu will eventually change as well. Montagna’s current space has a distinct European flair with wood-paneled walls, wall-to-wall carpeting and several banquettes for cozy seating. One thing that will remain is the Four-Star restaurant’s mezzanine that elevates some of the tables, giving each seat at Montagna views of the courtyard and pool.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Tucked inside The Little Nell in Aspen, Montagna is one of the ski town’s most popular restaurants. Here are five more things you should know about the eatery:
1. All ingredients are sustainable. Tremendous effort is made on behalf of executive chef Robert McCormick to source local ingredients of the highest quality and freshness.
2. The menu at Montagna is seasonally driven and constantly changing to utilize whatever is fresh. So that squash risotto may not be on the menu on your next visit.
3. Montagna has an award-winning wine selection (a recipient of the Grand Award by Wine Spectator magazine) with more than20,000 bottles. And speaking of wine…
4. There are three master sommeliers on staff (out of 180 in the world) who are more than willing to guide you through wine pairings and provide an education that will greatly enhance your knowledge of wine and your experience at the restaurant.
Montagna is a Four-Star restaurant, and after you dive into its European-influenced dishes you’ll understand why.
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To make a reservation at Montagna, book online, call or simply walk into the lobby of The Little Nell, and the concierge will be more than happy to assist you. It’s always a good idea to reserve a spot in advance, since the tables are in high demand during the busy winter and summer seasons. Also keep in mind that Montagna serves a prixfix three-course menu (à la carte is optional), so the meals tend to be long and tables do not turn over often throughout the course of an evening. The Four-Star restaurant requests that if you must cancel your reservations, you do so 24hours in advance.
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At Montagna, like anywhere you go in Aspen, there is no dress code. Some places won’t let you in with ski boots, but the Four-Star restaurant isn’t one of them. Wear whatever you want, be it ski clothes, jeans and a T-shirt or a ball gown - anything goes. Montagna’s dining room is an elegant space, but “dressed up” in the mountains means a collared shirt for men and a blouse for women, and maybe a nice pair of shoes, but jeans are standard and rarely do you see jackets or ties-except on the waiters.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Valet parking is free for anyone who dines at Montagna, whether you are a guest of
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A 24-hour cancellation policy at Montagna is requested, but not really enforced, since no credit card imprint or deposit is required when you book a reservation. If something comes up last minute, whether it’s a day of skiing that runs long or an early flight home, let Montagna know as soon as possible simply for courtesy’s sake, and so the staff can open up a table for someone else. Reservations are necessary for dinner because Montagna does sell out, especially during the busy winter and summer seasons. To truly enjoy the Four-Star dining experience, be sure to leave enough time for a long, multi-course dinner with wine pairings and dessert-and to let the flavors linger.
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Montagna is easy to get to from inside the Little Nell - all you have to do is walk right through the lobby. The Four-Star restaurant is about a 10-minute drive from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Aspen and a four-hour drive from Denver International Airport. If you make the drive, valet parking is free for anyone who dines in Montagna, even if you are not a guest of the hotel. This proves helpful because metered parking in downtown Aspen is expensive and required between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. To make an Aspen-style appearance, ski directly to Montagna, which is accessible from the base of Aspen Mountain if you head down the stairs at Ajax Tavern. After your meal, you can strap your boots back on and be back on the slopes in no time.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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When you bring your kids along to Montagnafor a meal, thechildren’s menuserves a dual function: It serves as both a menu and a coloring book. It’s great for keeping kiddies occupied while they wait for their food to arrive, or when you’re still deciding between the Colorado lamb loin and the Wagyu tenderloin. The kid’s menu is fairly substantial, especially for a fine dining establishment, and offers everything from peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese to more adult fare like steak, roasted chicken, and grilled shrimp. Parents can rest assured that all of the kid’s meals are created with the freshest and healthiest possible ingredients, and are simple enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
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With its intimate banquette seating, hushed volumes, quiet jazz music and low lighting, Montagna is a romantic restaurant both in atmosphere and in the experience of indulging in the extravagance of ultra-fine dining. It would be hard not to impress a date with the all-around quality of dining at the Four-Star restaurant, from the extensive wine list (including a large selection of exquisite champagnes) to the lengthy three-course meal. Whether you visit for a cozy lunch before heading back to the slopes or come for a special-occasion dinner, the intimacy never wavers.
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Like most restaurants in Aspen, Montagna offers “Aspen Tap” or sparkling water for the table. It turns out that Aspen tap water is better for you than most bottled water and much better for the environment, too. The city of Aspen is so invested in promoting its drinking water thatit’s installed water stations (basically glorified drinking fountains that are a little beefier and easier to use to fill a bottle) all over town and has started selling aluminum water bottles that say “Aspen Tap” on them. So when you visit the Four-Star restaurant, just try the tap. If you still aren’t convinced, there’s always Pellegrino sparkling water available, as well
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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There are many specialty cocktails available at Montagna, but the signature drink is definitely the Montagna Martini, a rare and stiff combination of prosecco, St-Germain and Van Gough Wild Apple Vodka. The martini is then garnished with a ginger-pickled apple bonbon, made in-house at
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Because of its focus on wine, Montagna puts a tremendous amount of thought and research into the kind of glassware its uses. The restaurant pours its more expensive wines in the exclusive Riedel Sommelier Series. Each glass is hand-blown and comes in different shapes specifically designed to enhance different wines and vintages, and accentuate the bouquet and flavor profile. The shape and thickness of the glass will allow the wine to hit your palate differently and affect the taste. “Most people wouldn’t know the difference, but for connoisseurs who are drinking a $3,000 bottle of wine, it makes for a more special, more beautiful experience,” the sommelier told us. “But they’ll break if you look at them wrong. They’re extremely delicate.”
Montagna also has a collection of hand-blown regal decanters for red wines that cost between $600 and $800 each.
The water glasses, tumblers and other non-wine drinking glasses are made by Zwiesel out of Germany. But unlike the wine glasses,they are selected mostly based on aesthetics.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The service at Montanga adds a fun component to the fine-dining experience. Throughout the meal, there is lots of interaction with several different servers, from the bussers who fill your water glasses and the waiter who takes your order, to the sommelier and restaurant manager - and, if you’re lucky, the chef - who visit to say hello and check up on you. Everyone is professional but friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Better yet, they all seemed to take immense pride in their jobs, which struck us as unusual in today’s culinary scene. Dining at the Four-Star restaurant has a European feel because of its multi-course meal and strong emphasis on wine, so it seems less rushed than a typical American-style restaurant, with more time for conversation and to really enjoy your meal.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna’s bar menu is a local’s favorite, serving up an Aspen-style combo where extravagance meets comfort, with everything from chicken liver pâtéand shrimp cocktail to sliders. It’s a great way to sample the flavors of the Four-Star restaurant in small doses, both in terms of size and price. You also can order from the Montagna bar menu in the Living Room bar, where the deep chairs and the comfy couches offer some of the best seats in the house when it comes to people-watching. The Montagna bar menu is designed to encouraged après ski (or hike or bike) grazing and social dining. It’s a good place to grab a quick cocktail as you wait for your table, ororder from the extensive wine list, complete with by-the-glass selections.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Montagna executive chef Robert McCormick says his diverse culinary training and background helped him find his own brand of cooking, which he describes as “European-based food created with strict technique and a lot of soul.” McCormick is also a firm believer in using and highlighting local ingredients, including farm-fresh meats, vegetables and cheeses. But for McCormick, food isn’t only about the taste. He adds that people eat with their eyes as well as their stomachs, so he puts a lot of thought into a colorful and explosive presentation. The dishes we ate lived up to that expectation, with an artful aesthetic so creative and detail-oriented, we almost felt bad about eating it.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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At Montagna, like anywhere you go in Aspen, there is no dress code. Some places won’t let you in with ski boots, but the Four-Star restaurant isn’t one of them. Wear whatever you want, be it ski clothes, jeans and a T-shirt or a ball gown - anything goes. Montagna’s dining room is an elegant space, but “dressed up” in the mountains means a collared shirt for men and a blouse for women, and maybe a nice pair of shoes, but jeans are standard and rarely do you see jackets or ties-except on the waiters.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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At Montagna, there are 23 tables inside and 14 on the outdoor patio, weather permitting. It’s definitely intimate, with banquette tables offering a cozy feel that even resonates for larger parties. The room is divided into two levels with a mezzanine, so all the tables have a view of the courtyard and pool, and of each other. The dining room at Montagna only occupies one room, so it’s not hard to get a glimpse of who is in the Four-Star restaurant (people-watching could almost be considered a sport during the busy winter and summer seasons). It’s Aspen, so you never know who might make an appearance during New Year’s, when celebrities flood the town for the holidays.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The Restaurant’s central location in The Setai in Miami’s South Beach makes it easy to get to. The Setai is on Collins Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares on the island of Miami Beach, so if you’re in South Beach, consider taking a sunshine-filled stroll to The Restaurant. Or for a quicker fix, hail one of the plentiful cabs in the area and have the driver drop you off at the Four-Star hotel’s main entrance.
If you’re driving to Miami Beach from the north, take I-95 southbound to the I-195, which becomes 41st Street. Continue east 10 blocks and turn right on Indian Creek Boulevard, which becomes Collins Avenue. The Setai is located between 20th and 21st streets.
If you’re coming by way of downtown Miami, Coral Gables or anywhere south, take I-95 northbound and exit at I-395. Once you reach the island, stay in the left lane and head north on Alton Road. At 17th Street make a right, heading east until you reach Collins Avenue, then take a left.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Valet parking is free for anyone who dines at Montagna, whether you are a guest of
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Complimentary valet parking for Montagna diners is available at the front drive of the Little Nell at 675 East Durant Ave. Parking is also available on the street, should guests choose to park there. -
At Montagna, like anywhere you go in Aspen, there is no dress code. Some places won’t let you in with ski boots, but the Four-Star restaurant isn’t one of them. Wear whatever you want, be it ski clothes, jeans and a T-shirt or a ball gown - anything goes. Montagna’s dining room is an elegant space, but “dressed up” in the mountains means a collared shirt for men and a blouse for women, and maybe a nice pair of shoes, but jeans are standard and rarely do you see jackets or ties-except on the waiters.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna is located inside the Little Nell at 675 East Durant Avenue in Aspen, Colorado. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Complimentary valet parking for Montagna diners is available at the front drive of the Little Nell at 675 East Durant Ave. Parking is also available on the street, should guests choose to park there. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 am; and lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday, with first seating beginning at 6 p.m. Brunch is served Sundays from 11 a.m to 2:30 pm. -
At Montagna, like anywhere you go in Aspen, there is no dress code. Some places won’t let you in with ski boots, but the Four-Star restaurant isn’t one of them. Wear whatever you want, be it ski clothes, jeans and a T-shirt or a ball gown - anything goes. Montagna’s dining room is an elegant space, but “dressed up” in the mountains means a collared shirt for men and a blouse for women, and maybe a nice pair of shoes, but jeans are standard and rarely do you see jackets or ties-except on the waiters.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Guests should cancel 24 hours in advance of their reservation. -
To make a reservation at Montagna, book online, call or simply walk into the lobby of The Little Nell, and the concierge will be more than happy to assist you. It’s always a good idea to reserve a spot in advance, since the tables are in high demand during the busy winter and summer seasons. Also keep in mind that Montagna serves a prixfix three-course menu (à la carte is optional), so the meals tend to be long and tables do not turn over often throughout the course of an evening. The Four-Star restaurant requests that if you must cancel your reservations, you do so 24hours in advance.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We would recommend diners make reservations in advance to dine at Montagna. Lunch and dinner reservations during high season are strongly recommended. -
Tucked inside The Little Nell in Aspen, Montagna is one of the ski town’s most popular restaurants. Here are five more things you should know about the eatery:
1. All ingredients are sustainable. Tremendous effort is made on behalf of executive chef Robert McCormick to source local ingredients of the highest quality and freshness.
2. The menu at Montagna is seasonally driven and constantly changing to utilize whatever is fresh. So that squash risotto may not be on the menu on your next visit.
3. Montagna has an award-winning wine selection (a recipient of the Grand Award by Wine Spectator magazine) with more than20,000 bottles. And speaking of wine…
4. There are three master sommeliers on staff (out of 180 in the world) who are more than willing to guide you through wine pairings and provide an education that will greatly enhance your knowledge of wine and your experience at the restaurant.
Montagna is a Four-Star restaurant, and after you dive into its European-influenced dishes you’ll understand why. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna is an excellent choice for dining with a group. There are a variety of private rooms, as well as larger tables located in the general dining area. For large groups, reservations should be made well in advance. The entire restaurant may also be booked by private groups for events and meals. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
There are several private dining spaces at Montagna. The apex of luxurious private dining at the Little Nell occurs in the Wine Room. This space is richly paneled, with its own stone fireplace, handsome artwork and handcrafted wine bins. The unique linens and Wedgwood china used in the Wine Room create a warm and elegant atmosphere for an occasion accommodating up to 50 seated guests or up to 80 guests for a reception. The Alpine Room provides an intimate and regal meeting space or private dining room for up to 12 guests. It features a rich mahogany table, set with delicate linens and exquisite place settings and total privacy. The Red Room offers semi-private dining with sliding glass doors separating the space from the larger dining area. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Current pricing for dinner is $72 for a three course, prix fixe dinner. Wine pairing is an additional $72. Lunch entrées are priced around $20. -
Montagna and The Little Nell are renowned for their location at the base of Aspen Mountain, and there aren’t many areas in the hotel that don’t have something nice to look at (well, except for maybe the parking garage). All the tables at Montagna have special views of the courtyard and pool area, and in the summertime the patio looks onto Aspen Mountain. The dining room layout has an elevated mezzanine level, so all the tables come with a view and the dining room occupies just one large space (without any offshoots). So really, it’s a room — not just a table — with a view.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We are a family-friendly restaurant and have a children’s menu available at all meal periods. There are no age requirements to enjoy a good meal here. -
Reservations are needed at The Little Nell’s Montagna most of the time, especially during the winter months, when the hotel is busy and outside patio seating is closed. Montanga is definitely one of Aspen’s most popular fine dining restaurants and has a following among locals, part-time residents and repeat visitors, so the demand for the 23 indoor tables can be high. The Four-Star restaurant also books out occasionally for private parties and wedding receptions, so it’s always a good idea to call in advance. Table turnover is much higher during breakfast and lunch so you can almost always walk in or get a table after a short wait.
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The price range for meals at Montagna varies from breakfast to dinner. At breakfast, cereal goes for $10 and egg dishes hover around $18. Light fare and appetizers at lunch start at $9 and go up to $26 for entreés. There is also a two-course prix fix for $26 and a three-course menu for $32 (the restaurant is really big on the multi-course meal, especially if it means pairing it with Montagna’s extensive wine collection). Dinner is, again, focused around the three-course prix fix for $72 and wine pairing is an additional $72 (it sounds steep at first, but well worth it when you consider the education Montagna’s sommeliers can give you). You can also purchase dinner dishes à la carte with first and second courses for $18 and entrées for $41. For an especially indulgent meal, order the Petrossian caviar for an additional $150.
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It’s hard to pick a “best” table at Montagna. The Four-Star restaurant’s dining room is smartly laid out with a mezzanine level, which ensures that every table has a view of the outside courtyard and pool. In the warmer months, the patio tables afford clear views of Aspen Mountain, and the dry and sunny Colorado climate makes eating breakfast or lunch outside very pleasant (though in the evenings it can get a little cool). If you’re after some privacy, request Montagna’s Red Room (if you want to be seen) orits Alpine Room (if you want to hide away).
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Inside there are 23 tables; and outside, there are 19. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We use Riedel and Schott Zweisel glassware. -
The service at Montanga adds a fun component to the fine-dining experience. Throughout the meal, there is lots of interaction with several different servers, from the bussers who fill your water glasses and the waiter who takes your order, to the sommelier and restaurant manager - and, if you’re lucky, the chef - who visit to say hello and check up on you. Everyone is professional but friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Better yet, they all seemed to take immense pride in their jobs, which struck us as unusual in today’s culinary scene. Dining at the Four-Star restaurant has a European feel because of its multi-course meal and strong emphasis on wine, so it seems less rushed than a typical American-style restaurant, with more time for conversation and to really enjoy your meal.
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With its intimate banquette seating, hushed volumes, quiet jazz music and low lighting, Montagna is a romantic restaurant both in atmosphere and in the experience of indulging in the extravagance of ultra-fine dining. It would be hard not to impress a date with the all-around quality of dining at the Four-Star restaurant, from the extensive wine list (including a large selection of exquisite champagnes) to the lengthy three-course meal. Whether you visit for a cozy lunch before heading back to the slopes or come for a special-occasion dinner, the intimacy never wavers.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The interior design of Montagna will be changing. Currently the restaurant can best be described as French country, with sumptuous wood adorning the space. In the spring of 2012, the restaurant will close briefly for a complete redesign led by restaurant design giant Bentel & Bentel. Expect a more contemporary space with a better integration of the kitchen and wine program with the dining area. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Inside there are 23 tables; and outside, there are 19. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The Montagna Bar and the Living Room at the Little Nell offer a comfortable place for diners to wait for a table at Montagna. Drinks and food are served in both spaces, and both offer a lively atmosphere throughout the year. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We use Riedel and Schott Zweisel glassware. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Table settings at Montagna are formal without being stuffy. We use Christofle and Villeroy & Boch items on our tables. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We typically play jazz music at Montagna, with live music on Wednesday nights during the winter and summer seasons. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The noise level is moderate at Montagna, so it’s easy to converse with your fellow diners. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Table arrangements at Montagna are comfortable, featuring upholstered chairs as well as stylish banquettes. Private dining spaces provide additional comfort for diners seeking additional privacy and space. There is ample room between tables at Montagna for diners to move about without running into other guests or bumping into chairs. -
The service at Montanga adds a fun component to the fine-dining experience. Throughout the meal, there is lots of interaction with several different servers, from the bussers who fill your water glasses and the waiter who takes your order, to the sommelier and restaurant manager - and, if you’re lucky, the chef - who visit to say hello and check up on you. Everyone is professional but friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Better yet, they all seemed to take immense pride in their jobs, which struck us as unusual in today’s culinary scene. Dining at the Four-Star restaurant has a European feel because of its multi-course meal and strong emphasis on wine, so it seems less rushed than a typical American-style restaurant, with more time for conversation and to really enjoy your meal.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna is an excellent place to bring a date, particularly if you want to impress him or her. Many plates are excellent for sharing, and the menu is varied to allow for a variety of food allergies or dietary preferences. The extensive wine and cocktail selection allows diners to choose from a simple glass of wine to a bottle, or even shots from the bar.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Executive chef Robert McCormick credits his diverse culinary training and background in helping him find his own brand of cooking, which he describes as “European-based food created with strict technique and a lot of soul.” McCormick is also a firm believer in using and highlighting local ingredients, including farm-fresh meats, vegetables and cheeses. His cuisine at Montagna can best be described as contemporary American � sustainable and seasonally driven with global influences. -
When you bring your kids along to Montagnafor a meal, thechildren’s menuserves a dual function: It serves as both a menu and a coloring book. It’s great for keeping kiddies occupied while they wait for their food to arrive, or when you’re still deciding between the Colorado lamb loin and the Wagyu tenderloin. The kid’s menu is fairly substantial, especially for a fine dining establishment, and offers everything from peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese to more adult fare like steak, roasted chicken, and grilled shrimp. Parents can rest assured that all of the kid’s meals are created with the freshest and healthiest possible ingredients, and are simple enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
It is not uncommon for chef Robert McCormick to visit the table during a dining experience at Montagna. Chef McCormick is always delighted to meet with a diner and discuss his food. In fact, McCormick is often found accompanying groups on foodie outings, like mushroom forays, which are led through the Little Nell Adventure Program. -
The menu at Montagna changes with the seasons and is created from the freshest possible ingredients with a big focus on sustainability and local goods. So while you’re likely to find a new menu each time you visit the Four-Star restaurant, keep your eyes peeled for these five dishes:
1. The Wagyu steak. This is available year-round and comes from Emma Farms, a ranch just 20 miles from Aspen. The meat is tender, velvety and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It comes with red pepper, paprika and spaetzle.
2. The Colorado lamb loin. Also from Emma Farms, this is another outstanding cut of meat that would be hard to find elsewhere.
3. Chicken liver pâté. Montagna is also known for this dish that’s served with seasonal preserves and crusty bread.
4. Chilled Maine lobster, octopus and shrimp soup. One of the Four-Star restaurant’s classics, this soup is topped with cilantro, avocado, tomato and cucumber.
5. Pasta. All the pastas here are handmade and their presentations vary from season to season.
The good news is that the menu is designed as a prix fixe, three-course meal, so there are plenty of opportunities to try several different dishes in one sitting. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Executive chef Robert McCormick credits his diverse culinary training and background in helping him find his own brand of cooking, which he describes as “European-based food created with strict technique and a lot of soul.” McCormick is also a firm believer in using and highlighting local ingredients, including farm-fresh meats, vegetables and cheeses. His cuisine at Montagna can best be described as contemporary American � sustainable and seasonally driven with global influences. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The pastry chef at Montagna is Danielle Riesz. Riesz began her career at the age of 3 in her family owned and operated hotel and restaurant in upstate New York, where she developed a feel for all aspects of the industry. It’s also where she discovered her passion for making desserts. After graduating from Johnson and Wales University with a degree in baking and pastry arts, Danielle proceeded to train abroad in the Netherlands. She continued to sharpen her culinary skills while working in New York, Jackson Hole, Washington, D.C., Dallas and San Francisco. Danielle moved back to the mountains in September 2010, bringing her creativity to the pastry team at the Little Nell. -
At Montagna you’ll find a multi-course menu with wine pairings. The Four-Star restaurant offers its three-course prix fixe menu for $72, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $72. The wine pairings are worth the extra cost considering Montagna’s wine-centric vibe — it has an award-winning, 20,000-bottle collection and three master sommeliers on staff.
The food menu varies with the seasons, but it always features fresh and local ingredients and artfully presented dishes. Highlights include the Wagyu beef and Colorado lamb tenderloin that both hail from Emma Farms, which is located 20 miles outside of Aspen. All the pastas are handmade (we suggest the wild mushroom tortellini, which has a rich, velvety texture), and the menu also features a few extravagant delicacies like foie gras and caviar. The food is considered contemporary American — it draws from other cultures, but it’s still centered on what’s local and seasonal. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
With advanced notice, we are happy to customize menus for any of our guests with any type of allergies. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Since Montagna’s menu is ever-changing and seasonally driven, no item is always available on the menu. However, a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes are available throughout the year. For example, in th summer, heirloom tomato salad with watermelon and the wild mushroom tortellini are both excellent vegetarian options. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We have fresh-baked bread from Udi’s Bakery in Denver, Colorado, and we feature whipped Pulgra butter. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We feature a selection of locally made cheeses from the Avalanche Cheese Company in nearby Basalt, Colorado. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Our desserts are creative and whimsical. They are inspired by the seasons and the bounty of Colorado fruits. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We currently serve rosemary, citrus-scented madeleines. -
Because the menu changes constantly at Montagna, there are no signature desserts per se. But the Four-Star restaurant does have a signature style when it comes to fresh, artistic and whimsical treats. The best time to satisfy your sweet tooth at Montagna is during breakfast, when the scent of fresh-baked pastries wafts through the lobby and seduces almost anyone who walks by. Don’t miss the cinnamon buns, chocolate chip banana muffins and warm zucchini or banana breads. Wrap them up and take them back to your room at The Little Nell — they’re perfect when you need a sugar fix.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The chef offers a nightly amuse-bouche that changes based on what is locally in season. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Food presentation at Montagna is artistically put together so that our guests can eat with their eyes as well as their stomachs. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We have a wide variety of dishes on our menu each evening, with several vegetarian options that highlight fresh and healthy local produce. The chef is also happy to prepare any items on the menu in a lower-calorie fashion. Special low-calorie menus may also be prepared with advance notice. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
The menu at Montagna is driven by the seasons and what is available from local and sustainable sources. Because of this, the menu changes often and features the bounties from the garden and the field. Montagna also has a special relationship with a nearby farm and greenhouse, which supplies the majority of its ingredients, particularly in the summer months. -
When you bring your kids along to Montagnafor a meal, thechildren’s menuserves a dual function: It serves as both a menu and a coloring book. It’s great for keeping kiddies occupied while they wait for their food to arrive, or when you’re still deciding between the Colorado lamb loin and the Wagyu tenderloin. The kid’s menu is fairly substantial, especially for a fine dining establishment, and offers everything from peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese to more adult fare like steak, roasted chicken, and grilled shrimp. Parents can rest assured that all of the kid’s meals are created with the freshest and healthiest possible ingredients, and are simple enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
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Montagna’s menu constantly changes, but there is almost always a vegetarian or vegan option included, particularly in the first or second course. We tried the Summer Vegetable Garden, a simple dish featuring heirloom baby squash, beets and tomatoes with goat cheese made in Basalt, 18 miles down valley from Aspen. It was one of our favorite dishes of the night, with intense fresh-from-the-garden flavors. Other examples of vegetarian dishes you may find are heirloom tomato risotto, wild mushroom tortellini (also excellent, with delectable handmade pasta) and three different entrées featuring fish, for you pescaterians out there. The Four-Star restaurant is also willing to cater to your vegetarian or vegan preferences, so be sure to notify the staff prior to your meal and the kitchen can whip something up to fit your meatless needs.
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Chef Robert McCormick only recently took the reins as executive chef at Montagna. He brings with him an extensive background after having worked with some of the best restaurants and chefs in the country. McCormick worked with Daniel Boulud for five years as corporate sous chef, helping him open The Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn Las Vegas, where he and his team earned critical praise. Other career highlights include time with Michel Richard at Citronelle in Washington D.C., and a stint at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.
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Jonathan Pullis, Montagna’s master sommelier, is dedicated to selecting special and interesting wines from all over the world. The Little Nell’s 20,000-bottle wine cellar has consistently earned Montagna recognition for its deep passion for wine and its pairings. Pullis first developed an interest in wine while waiting tables in college. In 1998 he joined the waitstaff of The Little Nell, where he worked with Bobby Stuckey, lead sommelier at the time, and then longtime wine director Richard Betts. Pullis worked his way into the wine department as a sommelier in 2001 and took over the title of wine director in June 2009.
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Montagna’s bar menu is a local’s favorite, serving up an Aspen-style combo where extravagance meets comfort, with everything from chicken liver pâtéand shrimp cocktail to sliders. It’s a great way to sample the flavors of the Four-Star restaurant in small doses, both in terms of size and price. You also can order from the Montagna bar menu in the Living Room bar, where the deep chairs and the comfy couches offer some of the best seats in the house when it comes to people-watching. The Montagna bar menu is designed to encouraged après ski (or hike or bike) grazing and social dining. It’s a good place to grab a quick cocktail as you wait for your table, ororder from the extensive wine list, complete with by-the-glass selections.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna offers a variety of specialty cocktails, which change according to the season. A favorite is the Montagna Martini, which features Prosecco, St. Germain and Van Gogh Wild Apple Vodka. A winter favorite is the Hot Buttered Peach, a play on hot buttered rum that uses local peach bourbon and a deliciously sweet topping that’s perfect for an afternoon by the fire. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna offers natural, house-filtered water fresh from the Aspen Tap, which is some of the purest and finest water in the world. -
Montagna has a bar with a French-café style that’s located right outside the main entrance to the restaurant. The long bench under the windows and the small tables are reminiscent of a European restaurant — complete with red-and-cream woven leather chairs and red tile floors. Behind the vintage bar, you’ll also see photo-imprinted wallpaper with images of Aspen Mountain and the surrounding peaks. One thing we should note about the bar: It allows dogs. When we sipped our pre-dinner cocktails there, a small cockapoo with a ponytail on top of its head decided to waddle over and join us. The vibe is laid-back (to say the least) and everyone is welcome.
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Montagna’s bar menu is a local’s favorite, serving up an Aspen-style combo where extravagance meets comfort, with everything from chicken liver pâtéand shrimp cocktail to sliders. It’s a great way to sample the flavors of the Four-Star restaurant in small doses, both in terms of size and price. You also can order from the Montagna bar menu in the Living Room bar, where the deep chairs and the comfy couches offer some of the best seats in the house when it comes to people-watching. The Montagna bar menu is designed to encouraged après ski (or hike or bike) grazing and social dining. It’s a good place to grab a quick cocktail as you wait for your table, ororder from the extensive wine list, complete with by-the-glass selections.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna offers wine pairings with its three-course prix fixe dinner for an additional $72. The expert wine team at Montagna, led by master sommelier Jonathan Pullis, carefully curates the restaurant’s 20,000-bottle Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning cellar. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Overseeing an award-winning wine cellar at the Little Nell is master sommelier Jonathan Pullis. Wine director since 2008, Pullis is passionate about the restaurant’s wine program, as well as its vast array of unique cocktails. Lured to Aspen and Montagna in 1998, Pullis worked his way up the ranks on the restaurant floor and through the four levels of the Court of Master Sommeliers educational program. He received the Master Sommelier Diploma in 2009. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We have a variety of special and rare liquors available for our diners. A few examples include the R. Giard “Pays d’Auge” Calvados 1967 and the Adelphi Distillery Glen Spey Scotch 1977 (28 yr.). -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna offers a variety of specialty cocktails, which change according to the season. A favorite is the Montagna Martini, which features Prosecco, St. Germain and Van Gogh Wild Apple Vodka. A winter favorite is the Hot Buttered Peach, a play on hot buttered rum that uses local peach bourbon and a deliciously sweet topping that’s perfect for an afternoon by the fire. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
We offer Café Ibis Fair Trade Coffee, Illy Espresso and T-Tea at Montagna. -
The wine list at Montagna is 72 pages long and features special bottles from around the world, including Italy, France, Spain, Australia and the United States. Maybe you’d like to try a bottle of Krug “Clos du Mesnil” champagne ($1,675) or a Domaine Michel Niellon from 1996 ($2,125), or sip from an Aloxe-Corton Bourgogne J.F. Coche Dury ($1,040). Request a guided tour of the wine cellar and get the inside scoop on what will pair best with your three-course meal.
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- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Just because there’s no alcohol doesn’t mean a mocktail can’t be fun. We offer a popular Lemon Ginger Spritz as well as “No-jitos,” which features fresh Rocky Mountain mint. These are both in addition to other seasonal beverages. -
- John Speers
- Montagna
- General Manager
Montagna offers natural, house-filtered water fresh from the Aspen Tap, which is some of the purest and finest water in the world.