Restaurant in Aspen, United States
Nobu's first restaurant, still delivering.
Matsuhisa Aspen is the original namesake restaurant in the Nobu Matsuhisa line — predating New York, Los Angeles, and every other outpost — and it backs that history with an OAD North America ranking of #465 (2025). Under chef Philip Tanaka, it is one of Aspen's most credentialed dinner options. Book 1–2 weeks out in shoulder season, earlier during peak ski weeks.
Matsuhisa Aspen ranks #465 on Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in North America for 2025 (up from #362 in 2024 and Recommended in 2023), which makes it one of the most credentialed Japanese restaurants in the Rocky Mountain region. If you are already planning a dinner in Aspen and want sushi with a track record, book here with confidence. If you are debating between this and a broader contemporary menu, read the comparison section below before committing.
There is a historical footnote worth knowing before you sit down: Aspen, not Los Angeles or New York, was the city where Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first eponymous restaurant. Vail came second. Denver came third. That origin story matters less as a trivia point and more as a structural signal — this is not a franchise outpost that opened to capitalize on a famous name. The Aspen location has genuine seniority in the Matsuhisa line, and the cooking under chef Philip Tanaka reflects a kitchen that has been running this format for longer than most of its peer set in Colorado.
The room operates dinner-only, every night from 5:30 to 9 pm. That closing time is firm — Matsuhisa Aspen is not a late-night option. If your group is finishing a long day on the mountain and arriving at 8:30 pm expecting to linger, plan differently. The kitchen closes at 9 pm across all seven nights of the week, which makes early reservations the right call. The energy in the first seating tends to be controlled and focused; by the time 7:30 pm arrives, the room fills with Aspen's characteristic blend of regulars and destination diners, and the ambient noise rises accordingly. If a quieter experience matters to you, request early and ask about seating position when you book.
The cuisine is Nobu-style Japanese , meaning the format blends traditional Japanese technique with South American-influenced preparation, a style Matsuhisa pioneered and which has since been broadly adopted across the industry. At this location, the menu execution sits under Philip Tanaka rather than Matsuhisa himself, and OAD's year-on-year improvement in ranking (Recommended in 2023, #362 in 2024, #465 nationally in 2025) suggests the kitchen is performing at a level consistent with the brand's broader reputation. That said, price range data is not available in our records, so verify current pricing directly with the restaurant before booking , Aspen's cost of living means dining here will sit in the higher range for the market.
For food and travel enthusiasts who want context: Matsuhisa Aspen sits in an interesting position relative to the global Nobu network. The London location (Nobu London) and the Austin-based Uchi represent different expressions of Japanese-influenced fine dining, but neither occupies the same founding-location status that Aspen does within the Matsuhisa story. Compared to destination tasting-menu experiences like The French Laundry in Napa or Alinea in Chicago, Matsuhisa Aspen offers a more accessible format , no fixed tasting menu commitment, and a dinner window that works for a mountain-town schedule.
The Google rating of 4.5 across 605 reviews is a practical signal: this is not a restaurant propped up by hype or a single wave of press attention. Volume at that score, in a market like Aspen where seasonal visitors and local regulars both weigh in, suggests consistent execution. That consistency is what makes it a reliable choice for a special occasion or a first-time visitor to the city who wants a high-confidence dinner booking.
For more options across the city, see our full Aspen restaurants guide, or explore hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences across Aspen.
Address: 303 E Main St, Aspen, CO 81611. Hours: Monday through Sunday, 5:30–9 pm (dinner only). Booking difficulty: Easy , reservations are available and not notoriously difficult to secure, though Aspen's peak ski season (December through March) and summer festival periods will tighten availability. Book 1–2 weeks ahead in shoulder season; 3–4 weeks ahead during peak periods. Chef: Philip Tanaka. Price: Not confirmed in our records , contact the restaurant directly for current pricing. Dress: No confirmed dress code in our records; given the Aspen market and the restaurant's position, smart casual is a safe baseline. Ratings: OAD Leading Restaurants in North America #465 (2025), #362 (2024), Recommended (2023); Google 4.5/5 (605 reviews).
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matsuhisa Aspen | Amazingly, chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s first and second namesake restaurants were not in Denver but, rather, Aspen and Vail respectively. If the third time’s a charm then this can be no truer than Denver’s...; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #465 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #362 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended (2023) | — | |
| Element 47 | $$$$ | — | |
| Hotel Jerome Century Room | — | ||
| French Alpine Bistro | — | ||
| Mawa's Kitchen | $$$ | — | |
| The Little Nell | — |
Comparing your options in Aspen for this tier.
Aspen's dress culture runs upscale-casual: people arriving from ski days or heading to gallery openings often land somewhere in between. At a restaurant with Matsuhisa's OAD ranking and history, dressier casual — clean, put-together, no ski boots — is the practical baseline. Nothing in the venue record mandates formal attire, so leave the tie at home.
This is not a Nobu franchise outpost — it is the original Matsuhisa, the first restaurant Nobu Matsuhisa opened under his own name, which gives it a different weight than later Nobu-branded properties. Chef Philip Tanaka leads the kitchen. Hours are dinner only, 5:30–9 pm every day of the week, so plan accordingly. The OAD ranking has climbed three years running (Recommended in 2023, #362 in 2024, #465 in 2025), which signals a kitchen performing consistently at a high level.
Bar seating is common at Japanese restaurants of this format and is worth asking about when you call or book, but the venue record does not confirm or deny a dedicated bar dining option. Reach out directly to the restaurant at 303 E Main St, Aspen, CO 81611 to clarify before you arrive.
Yes — the combination of Nobu Matsuhisa's founding story, a climbing OAD ranking (#465 in North America for 2025), and Aspen's high-spend dining context makes it a credible choice for a milestone dinner. It works better for couples or small groups who want a serious Japanese meal than for large parties expecting a celebratory banquet format. If you need a private room or specific event setup, confirm availability directly with the venue.
Dinner is your only option — service runs 5:30–9 pm daily, and the venue record lists no lunch hours. There is no trade-off to weigh here.
Element 47 at The Little Nell is the most direct comparison for high-end dining with comparable prestige positioning. Hotel Jerome's Century Room offers a different format — more classic American than Japanese. French Alpine Bistro skews European and is a better call if your group wants fondue and Alpine cooking over sushi. Mawa's Kitchen is the pick for something more casual and local in feel. Matsuhisa holds the advantage if Japanese cuisine is specifically what you're after.
Japanese restaurants at this level routinely accommodate common restrictions — vegetarian, gluten-free, shellfish allergies — but specific policy is not documented in the venue record. Call ahead and be explicit about your needs; a kitchen operating at OAD North America ranking level is generally equipped to adapt, but advance notice matters.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
