Review Author

Juliet Izon

Contributing Writer

HOTEL SNAPSHOT

Located in the heart of America’s toniest winter playground, Aspen’s Hotel Jerome has been one of the town’s most famous landmarks since its opening in 1888. Today, the 99-room Auberge Resorts Collection property almost serves as a local clubhouse for those in the know: whether that’s grabbing the famed burger at J-Bar or enjoying al fresco cocktails during the summer on the hotel’s expansive patio.

Design & Character

Like much of Aspen, the interior decor here is upscale Western. Walking inside the handsome, red brick building is like stepping back in time to an elegant home at the height of the Gold Rush. Think oversized, yellow leather Chesterfield sofas in the lobby, and moody, navy blue paneled walls in The Living Room, the hotel’s sleek ground-level lounge. The guest rooms are similarly styled with accents of dark wood, leather, and striking Native American-inspired textiles.

The Rooms

Lodgings here range from the 545-square-foot Premier King rooms to three residential suites that clock in at over 2,000. All feature floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over town and the nearby mountains, plus luxe touches like dual marble vanities, cashmere curtains, and curated local artwork.

Food & Drink

For its size, Hotel Jerome offers a surprising amount of on-site options for meals and beverages. Most guests will opt to stay on property for breakfast, thanks to the sizable portions at American seasonal spot Prospect (I recommend the huckleberry skillet cake served with Meyer lemon butter). Lunchtime brings a crowd to the aforementioned J-Bar, whose vintage-inspired tipples and jaw-breaking burger are the stuff of legend. 

Other drink options include the craft cocktails at Bad Harriet, the open-air Prospect Courtyard, and the clubby The Living Room lounge. For daytime coffee and pastries, Felix Roasting Co. is one of the more popular spots in town, and guests can also take advantage of the sun-filled Garden Room to order drinks and snacks all day.

Amenities

Apart from the bars and restaurants, other on-site perks include a small heated pool and hot tub, fitness center, complimentary pick-up and drop-off at the Aspen airport and around town (plus Lexus test-drive vehicles available on a first-come, first-served basis), and complimentary shuttle service to all four nearby mountains during the ski season. The hotel can also organize off-site activities, like fly fishing and river float trips in the summer, or snowmobiling to Maroon Bells and cross-country skiing in the North Star Nature Preserve during the colder months.

Spa & Wellness Scoop

On-site boutique spa Yarrow has recently undergone a facelift and is the ideal way to relax into your Rocky Mountain vacation. All services include a complimentary (and personalized!) botanical foot soak pre-treatment as well as hand-blended herbal fruit teas to help you relax. The spa menu includes everything from herbal stone massages to oxygen renewal facials.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

Hotel Jerome is located in the heart of Aspen’s downtown, which means you can walk to all of the town’s plentiful bars, restaurants, and boutiques in no more than about ten minutes. And, of course, during ski season, you can also walk straight to Aspen Mountain (also known as Ajax). While there are enough places to eat on the property to keep you busy, Aspen is known for its culinary scene, and anyone visiting should do their best to explore it. 

My personal favorites are Spring Cafe Aspen’s organic morning smoothies (perfect before a hike or bike ride), and for a special occasion, the Michelin-starred Bosq, which serves an innovative and beautiful tasting menu made from locally sourced and foraged goods. During the warmer months, a visit to the stunning Maroon Bells peaks is also a must: a shuttle leaves from town to take you straight to the trail.

Fast Facts

Location: Aspen, Colorado

Vibe: Rocky Mountain luxury

Rating: Five stars

Room Count: 99

Pricing: From $1,295 a night

Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The sheer number of places to hang out: inside, outside, and at all hours.

Dining: Guests can dine at Prospect and its courtyard (in season), J-Bar, The Living Room, and Felix Roasting Co. Room service is also available.

Amenities: Heated outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, spa.

Nearby Attractions: Four ski mountains (Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass), Maroon Bells for hiking, the town of Aspen itself for spectacular shopping and dining.

Airport: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is around a 10-minute drive away. Some guests also fly into Vail (Eagle County Regional Airport), which is about an 80-minute drive without traffic.