Cloud Nine

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Perched atop the Cloud Nine Lift at Aspen Highlands, with the Maroon Bells as a backdrop, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro has built a genuine legend around one simple idea: bring the warmth of a European alpine cabin to the Rocky Mountains. The cozy, ski-in, ski-out setting does exactly that — and then some.

Alps-Inspired American Dining on the Mountain

The menu channels Switzerland more than Colorado at lunch, anchored by fondue and raclette alongside steak tartare, caviar, and rotating daily specials. Chocolate fondue closes the meal. The wine list — recognized with Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence — moves through an ever-changing selection of international varieties and fine Champagne, a fitting companion to the altitude and the atmosphere. A brunch menu, available Monday through Wednesday starting at $40 per person, has quietly become a locals' favorite.

As afternoon sets in, the room shifts. The après seating at 1:45 PM brings a DJ and champagne showers — the kind of mountain afternoon that's hard to replicate anywhere else.

The Chef Behind It

Executive Chef Michael Johnston has shaped the kitchen since arriving at Aspen Skiing Company in 2009. He moved through the Snowmass Club before taking on the role of Chef de Cuisine at Cloud Nine in 2012, earning the Executive Chef title by 2015. His philosophy is grounded in simplicity, seasonality, and sourcing: local ingredients, classic technique, bold results. The approach has earned him Aspen Skiing Company's Mountain Dining Chef of the Year twice — in 2014 and again in 2022 — and in 2025, USA Today ranked Cloud Nine the 3rd Best Ski Restaurant in the Country.

After Dark and Special Occasions

When the lifts stop running, Cloud Nine doesn't. Snowcat dinners on Aspen Highlands open the mountain to a different kind of evening — the cabin-in-the-woods atmosphere amplified after dark. For a more intimate experience, four-course winemaker dinners pair library-release wines with a curated Alps-inspired American menu on select dates. Private events and weddings are also possible here, with the Maroon Bells framing the kind of backdrop that needs no decoration.

Reservations are required for all seatings, and non-skiers can access the après experience via the Snowmobile Experience — so the mountain is no barrier to the table.