This is a collaborative feature on the best of Breckenridge based upon my explorations while there and recommendations from Holly Battista-Resignolo, the Owner & Editor In Chief of MTN Town Media Productions which includes; Mountain Town Magazine, Mountain Women Magazine, and MountainTown: Breckenridge magazines and their digital components.
Dining in Breck
Rootstalk Breck
Holly made reservations for us at Rootstalk, a charming restaurant located in a Victorian on Main Street in the town of Breckenridge.
What a treat it was to experience fine dining without combusting our wallets. It has been a while since I enjoyed the restaurant experience with a girlfriend and I was so happy to experience great service and delicious food in a cozy environment with beautiful light streaming in the windows.
The evening began with a glass of Champagne paired with the Cured Steelhead appetizer with grilled baby beets, crispy shallots, watercress and the most unbelievable preserved Meyer lemon yogurt that almost tasted like a sorbet.
For our entree we shared the perfectly tender Alaskan Halibut with crispy dashi potato risotto, Crème Fraîche, artichoke, and an exotic flavor popping Escargot & mushroom salad. That mix of flavors and textures still lingers on my palate.
Patrick Murphy, the General Manager of Rootstalk, took very good care of us, at the ready for our requests, and filling us in on the crew who came with Chef Matt Vawter from Mercantile in Denver to open Rootstalk in 2020.
“During Matt’s tenure with Fruition and Mercantile, he was recognized as Zagat’s 30 under 30, Star Chefs Rising Star, and Eater Young Guns. In 2018, Matt was the chef de cuisine when Seidel won the James Beard Foundation Best Chef: South West. Matt’s experience and the opportunities he was afforded during his time with Mercantile, Fruition, and Fruition Farms gave him the confidence to bring his family home to Breckenridge and grow new roots at Rootstalk.”
indiechefs.com,
”It’s an ode to upscale comfort food featuring dishes such as Vawter’s French onion soup (which will ruin you forever on other versions), dreamy duck cassoulet, and the most perfect of house-made pastas, situated in a small Victorian house built in 1889.”
5280 Magazine
Meta Yoga
The temps were quite frigid while we were there and with all of the powder I had been skiing in March, my body needed nurturing. It was a rare phenomenon for me to have an entire day by myself and I was ready to wander the paths where the locals steered me, which began with Holly’s suggestion to take a yoga class at Meta Yoga, right on Main St.
The room was warm and cozy with soft lights, wood floors, and glazed amber walls. My teacher was Hjordes Robinson and she led the perfect Vinyasa class, awakening my travel bug and compelling me to break out of my routine and visit more teachers and yoga studios when I got home.
When the class was over Hjordes graciously shared her local gems to visit on my journey to find the soul of a town that I used to visit when my husband’s family had a cabin up French Creek, but never explored because of the crowds. Thankfully, this week was quiet with many locals traveling for spring break. With the weather so frigid the streets were empty and the town was mine, if just for a few hours.
Cuppa Joe
After yoga, I entered the adjacent coffee shop and immediately felt welcome as mountain chic professionals smiled at me from their computers while Barisata and I shared stories about our changing mountain towns. Founded by a few friends with a passion for sustainability and a love of incredible coffee, Breck Coffee Roasters started out small, committed to quality and producing “Summit Worthy” coffee. Today they are proud to present delicious, authentic mountain coffee with 100% compostable packaging and minimal waste generation.
Favorites of Hjordes
Amazing Grace
Cozy up to their wood-burning stove in this historic cabin, grab a coffee, and contemplate all of the delicious breakfast and lunch items on the chalkboard. This is a local hub for conversation and community.
Modis
Fusion food, craft cocktail
Apres on Main St.
Craft cocktails, wine, music, and games
RMU
Local bar with ski shop attached. See and be seen at RMU. The vibe is high with skiers, snowboards, and locals all getting in on the party right there along Main Street.
Kingdom Massage
Hjordes recommended that after my massage I try to book a massage with Erika Tobias at Kingdom Massage. While sipping my absolutely needed hot and steaming coffee I texted Erika and discovered that she miraculously had just gotten a cancellation in her schedule that seemed to be bulging at the seams. She came out into the cold to meet me on the street and took me back to her studio to give me one of the best massages I have had in a while. I had never experienced her technique before, which seemed to reset my muscles and bones that I had no idea were so out of wack. When I asked her what her technique was she replied that it was something she made up over 13 years ago. She received her degree in massage therapy from the Colorado School of Healing Arts and has been a practicing certified massage therapist for 13 years. She has continued her education in ortho-bionomy and is certified in sports massage, neuromuscular massage, neck and head pain management, and Ashiatsu deep feet bar therapy.
Giampietro Pasta & Pizzeria
When I asked Holly which pizza place to go to for the “kids” Holly instantly replied, “Giampietro,” which proved to be the perfect place to take a large group of big mountain skiers and their parents.
“At Giampietro's, we make everything in-house, from our balsamic vinaigrette to our pizza sauce. We strive for food full of clear, genuine flavors.”
Mi Casa
The last night we were there we met at Mi Casa, a Mexican restaurant with big windows framing the snow squall that was blowing sideways, threatening to cancel nationals. We sat at a ten-top circular table, sucking down our margs to calm our nerves. The plates were plentiful and my steak fajitas were delicious.
Holly’s Picks
Aurum
Aurum continues to Wow! with its American cuisine restaurant on Ridge Street. The elegant, casual atmosphere allows for an intimate dining experience inside their stylish dining space or on their outdoor patio. We love everything on their seasonal menus. Be sure to check out their Happy Hour too.
Briar Rose
There is a distinctive aroma of grilled dry-aged beef, freshly baked breads, garlic, candles, and the starch of white tablecloths fused together in the air of a fantastic steakhouse. That is the first thing you will experience when you enter The Briar Rose Chophouse and Saloon in Breckenridge. The restaurant has been in the business of preparing the finest aged beef and fresh wild game in its landmark restaurant for over 40 years. The unique building is named after the old Briar Rose Mine on Peak 10, which began operation in the late 19th century. The building had originally operated as a boarding house serving meals to tired miners.
If a full meal is not in your plans then a visit to the back bar/saloon is highly recommended. Their bar menu is filled with a great selection of appetizers and snacks. I always order their Shishito Peppers and Parmesan popcorn when I hit the restaurant’s Happy Hour. Try the Beef Short Rib Egg Rolls, Carolina Short Rib Sliders, or Rosemary-Skewered Shrimp Romesco. All of it is delicious and well-prepared. Please note that the bar is very popular amongst locals and visitors.
Hearthstone
The Hearthstone Restaurant is located within a cozy, historic 125-year-old Victorian home on Ridge Street. With spectacular views across town to the slopes of the Breck Ski Resort & the Ten Mile Range it is a go-to for special occasions. Offering world-class cuisine this farm-to-table restaurant features local produce from family farms around Colorado. Start with a house-infused martini, choose a wine from over 200 selections from their Wine Spectator award-winning list, & enjoy the friendly service & hospitality they’ve been famous for over 30 years.
Ember
There is inspiration cooking up at Ember every day in Breckenridge. Chef/Owner Scott Boshaw is a culinary artist who combines international textures and flavors for the new American palate. Their motto is “Uncommon food for the common man”. The restaurant will warm your soul with professional service, contemporary décor, and inspired drinks in a beautiful Victorian home. His meals are more than sustenance; they are works of art.
Higgle's Ice Cream
Anna Sones started selling her handcrafted Ice Cream with her children from a mobile stand at Colorado farmer’s markets and a location in Silverthorne. For over five years now Anna has been churning out fresh ice cream at her Main Street location featuring both traditional and seasonal flavors alike. Honey Lavender, Pumpkin Pie, Peanut Butter & Banana, Nutella, Eggnog, and more. Exceptional!
Sancho Tacos
Come in, sit down, and select from a large list of authentic Mexican street taco fillings. We love the ala carte selections, Order one or ten and wash it all down with a great margarita. Tacos and Tequilas are served up in their Breckenridge La Cima Mall location.
THE SURF HOTEL IN BUENA VISTA, CO
By Karen Hawkes, Chair, Post Secondary Counseling Office & Travel Writer
Just 62 miles from Aspen, Buena Vista is a hidden gem that is an easy and gorgeous 1.5 hour drive over Independence Pass. Never thought about visiting Buena Vista? Well, think again. This town is happening, and happening in a great way.
With a population of under 3000 residents, Buena Vista has that wonderful small town charm. Ringed on one side by the Arkansas River, and surrounded by the glorious Collegiate Peaks, Buena Vista is an outdoor person’s dream. Hiking, biking, rafting, hot springing, bagging 14ers? BV has got it all. And this small town boasts some excellent restaurants and fun shops as well.
The town is divided into the historic section, and the newer “South Main” section, which was envisioned by whitewater kayaker, Jed Selby, as a walkable urban development. Both are charming and you can walk between the two in under ten minutes. The Historic area houses most of the restaurants and shops and feels a bit like the Carbondale of ten years ago. The South Main area sits alongside the river and is anchored by the Surf Hotel and Surf Chateau, a boutique hotel concept that offers luxury without pretension. South Main also is home to a coffee shop, a bike shop, a brewery, a clothing store, a village green, and super cute houses.
South Main Buena Vista
The Surf Hotel is a lovely whitewashed, 3 story building abutting the Arkansas River. The owner of the hotel, Jed Selby, was a professional kayaker, and upon purchasing the land where the Surf Hotel is located he and his sister Katie Urban built several "surfing" waves for kayakers and paddle boarders to enjoy on the renown stretch of the Arkansas River. Now, anytime you walk down the river or look over the balcony of the Surf Hotel you are bound to see children and adults "surfing" the waves throughout the warm summer months.
The first floor houses the terrific restaurant and bar Wesley & Rose, with both indoor and outdoor patio dining. Some Surf Hotel rooms look over a courtyard, and others open to a balcony either overlooking the central village green area, or the rapids of the Buena Vista Whitewater Park. A sister property, The Surf Chateau, is adjacent and offers independent cottages which circle a private courtyard, with a stone tunnel connecting to the Whitewater Park.
Afternoon 1: I had a most fabulous lunch on the outside patio at the Simple Eatery in the historic downtown area. I devoured the Buena Kist Wedge salad ($10) – a nod to BV’s heritage, iceberg lettuce, with cherry-wood bacon, smoked blue cheese, heirloom tomatoes, red onions and ranch dressing. I only meant to have one glass of chardonnay, but darn it, I ended up ordering a second – and thus precipitated my afternoon shopping spree and a search for a hotel!
After lunch, I browsed through the Trailhead, a locally owned and operated outdoor gear store, akin to our own Ute Mountaineer or Bristlecone Mountain Sports. I bought a few colorful hair bands at the Village Store, a responsibly sourced, fair trade gift store, and perused the unique home décor and jewelry items at Rock, Paper, Scissors. I strolled through town and checked out the menu at House Rock Kitchen and made a mental note to have a meal there another time, and I stopped at The Jailhouse, an 1880’s jailhouse that has been turned into a craft beer bar, for a late afternoon pick me up.
After exploring the historic downtown, I checked into the hotel, and was upgraded to a patio room (rack rate $230) overlooking the central green area. While I could have taken a nice afternoon snooze, I walked around South Main, checking out the menu at Eddyline Brewery, a casual restaurant with a lively outdoor space, and then walked along the Buena Vista Whitewater Park, which has a lovely 15 minute path along the riverfront where you can watch the kayakers frolicking in the river or take a dip yourself in one of the swimming holes.
Back at the hotel, I collapsed into a chair on the veranda of the hotel which houses Wesley & Rose bar and restaurant. I sampled both house margaritas – the spicy watermelon margarita ($11) and the Shacked Margarita ($10) and munched on a delish calamari appetizer with black garlic aioli, marinara, hot peppers and caramelized lemon ($12). All I can say is “Yum” – and the people watching was fab! After a few hours of sitting, plus the cocktails, I headed upstairs and sat on my balcony, to gratefully watch the sun go down.
I slept like a baby that night. The room was not big but had everything I needed. The hotel was quiet, my sheets and pillows were soft and fluffy, and the windows had blackout drapes.
Day 2: I awoke early the next morning – 6 am, and sat on my patio reading while the sun began to warm up the town. Around 7 am, I walked across the village green to the Midland Stop to set myself up for the day with a delicious mug of "haus chai latte". After this super-charge, I walked along the waterpark and crossed the Barbara Whipple bridge to hike the Bridge to Bridge Trail, an intermediate loop hike created by volunteers. I saw three other people on the 1.5-hour hike – and all were friendly and stopped to chat – Covid-style, behind our masks. After the hike, I opted for the veggie breakfast burrito ($7) at Midland Stop, rather than eat a big breakfast at my hotel. What a great way to start my day.
Checking out of the hotel, I made my way to Mt Princeton Hot Springs and Resort, about a 30-minute drive from Buena Vista. Mt Princeton is a rather large facility, with lodge rooms and cabins, a historic bathhouse with two hot springs pools, and also several pools across the street, one of which houses an enormous 400-foot water slide. The place was jammed, and there was a waiting list to enter the main pools, but it was July 6th so I'm not sure if this is the new normal there. My day pass cost $20, and so I spent an hour or so relaxing in the historic bath areas, where the pools were fairly quiet and the chaise lounges plentiful. Given the number of families at Mt Princeton, I would say this is a real family destination.
Afterward, I drove back towards Buena Vista to check out Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa – which is about a 15-minute drive from BV. Cottonwood was like a blast from the past. It is a much smaller facility that has a handful of motel-like rooms, and about 6 hot spring pools (many rock-lined), which can each hold probably 20 + people comfortably. On July 6, there were probably 12 people total in all the pools. I paid my $20-day pass fee and spent about an hour trying out the various pools. I preferred the old school vibe of Cottonwood to the frenzy of Mt Princeton.
By now, it’s the late afternoon, and I head back for my glorious drive back over the Pass to Aspen. If I had a bit more daylight, I would have stopped at Twin Lakes for some paddleboarding -- but the sun was beginning to fade. All in all, 1 ½ days well spent. I encourage all Aspenites to take advantage of this jewel in our backyard.
¡Buena Vista es muy buena!
Always aspiring for a life of adventure and travel, Karen received her BA in International Relations and Russian from Colgate University, followed by a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University, and an MBA in International Business from New York University, Stern School of Business. Since that time, Karen has founded five companies, and has worked in the non profit, public relations, media and tech sectors. Most recently, she has been a treasure-hunter (yes, for real), an expedition organizer, and a purveyor of custom luxury submarines. She is currently working as a college counselor, running a private practice, as well as working in a public high school guiding students on life after high school. Originally from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, with long stints in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, Karen now calls Aspen, Colorado home. When she isn’t out discovering new places, she’s visiting with her children, or outdoors skiing, hiking, biking, pickleballing, or paddleboarding
I have always had wanderlust, and have spent significant chunks of time living in or visiting different countries. When the pandemic came, I satiated my desire to travel by visiting places closer to home. Despite my children's distress that their 60 something Mom drove solo cross country on a whim, visiting the Surf Hotel in Buena Vista, CO was a welcome adventure.
