Review Author

Jen Murphy

HOTEL SNAPSHOT

MOLLIE Aspen is proof that a slopeside stay is overrated. This Bauhaus-inspired boutique hotel was built on the location of the former MOLLIE Gibson Lodge (named for the town’s most successful 19th-century silver mine), across from Paepcke Park. Ajax Mountain’s Silver Queen Gondola—and most of downtown’s attractions—are still walking distance away. And the house shuttle is always on call to whisk you to your desired destination. The upside of being ever so slightly off-the-beaten-path is a low-key vibe and design-forward base that lets you dip in and out of Aspen’s flashy social scene.

Design & Character

Bauhaus-meets Scandinavian-meets-Japanese modernism in the mountains. Post Company took the lead on interiors, which eschew mountain kitsch and instead embrace a contemporary aesthetic that reflects Aspen’s deep cultural roots. The entrance spills into a lobby anchored by a black-marble fireplace. The space doubles as an all-day café on the right and a restaurant-bar on the left. Both feel comfortable enough to kick off your shoes as if you were at home (and some guests do).

The Rooms

Rooms are done up in serene neutral tones, and even the smallest categories (dubbed cozy and snug) are beautifully appointed with Parachute Egyptian cotton sheets, Coyuchi organic robes, Maison Balzac handblown glassware, and complimentary Sightglass coffee and tea. Splurge on a room with a view (most overlook Paepcke Park or Ajax Mountain) and a freestanding bathtub.

Food & Drink

A lobby cafe serves excellent coffee drinks and fresh-baked pastries, plus quick, grab-and-go bites such as breakfast burritos and yogurt parfaits. The in-house restaurant and bar serve three meals a day, spotlighting crowd-pleasers such as chips and onion dip, steak frites, and a downright great burger. MOLLIE’s food and beverage program is now fully in-house, and come early December, the restaurant will relaunch as Petit Trois by Chef Ludo Lefebvre—the cult-favorite brand’s first foray outside Los Angeles.

Amenities

MOLLIE is one of the few hotels in town with a rooftop pool and bar with mountain views. Guests have complimentary shuttle access around downtown and to the slopes, plus can test out the hotel’s fleet of Rivians for up to two hours. The gym is tiny, but the concierge can suggest plenty of other ways to work up a sweat outdoors. The retail boutique lets you take home your favorite amenities, like the Era ceramic mugs.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

Steps from Paepcke Park (where the Food&Wine Classic hosts many of its marquee events each June), MOLLIE is close enough to the action without being in the thick of things. In winter, guests are a 13-minute walk to the Silver Queen Gondola at Ajax Mountain and under a 15-minute shuttle (or free bus ride) to beginner-friendly Buttermilk, the fantastic on-mountain dining of Snowmass, and the test-your-mettle bowl of Aspen Highlands. In summer, the trailheads of bucket-list hikes like Cathedral Lake, Conundrum, and American Lake are less than a 30-minute drive.

Reward your outdoor efforts with a serious stretch session at Shakti Shala or O2 yoga studio, or an infrared sauna-cold plunge session at Base State Longevity. The town’s top cultural venues including the Aspen Art Museum and the new Jazz Aspen Snowmass center are walking distance from MOLLIE and the Aspen Institute, home to the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, is less than a 10-minute drive. If you want to dip into Aspen’s nightlife, make a reservation at Matsuhisa, score a table at speakeasy Bad Harriet, or catch a show at Belly Up.

Fast Facts

Location: Downtown Aspen, Colorado Vibe: Alpine urban cool. 

Rating: 4-Star

Room Count: 68

Pricing: Starting rates from $599 per night.

Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Live music and one-of-a-kind events that let you feel part of the Aspen community.

Dining: MOLLIE’s food and beverage program is now entirely in-house, serving crowd favorites like steak frites and a top-tier burger. Next month, it transitions into Petit Trois by Chef Ludo Lefebvre—the acclaimed brand’s first restaurant beyond Los Angeles.

Amenities: A small, rooftop pool, Bluejay electric bikes, Rivian electric vehicles to borrow, complimentary shuttle service to town and the mountains, fitness center, two bars, a well-curated boutique.

Nearby Attractions: The trails and slopes of Aspen-Snowmass’s four mountains are a short drive away. Cultural venues including the Aspen Art Museum and the new Jazz Aspen Snowmass center are walking distance and the Aspen Institute, home to the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, is less than a 10-minute drive.

Airport: About a 20-minute drive from the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.