Aspen’s culinary scene has become even more chic, thanks to the February debut of Sant Ambroeus, the latest in a growing collection of cafés with a cult following among the well-connected and well-heeled in Milan, Manhattan, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, and Paris. Established in 1936 in Italy, family-owned and -operated Sant Ambroeus has long been known for impeccable ambiance, decadent pastas, and strong espresso.

“I moved [from New York] to Aspen 10 years ago, and it was immediately clear that Sant Ambroeus would be an amazing addition to the community here,” says director of operations Federica Pauli, who grew up working in her family’s restaurants. “During the pandemic, my father [Dimitri Pauli, one of the founders of SA Hospitality Group, which brought the Sant Ambroeus to the United States in 1982] and I began looking for spaces. Now, after a five-year journey, we finally have both [Aspen] locations open.”

The first is the Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar, which quietly debuted in the downtown core at 520 East Hyman Avenue in 2023, offering caffeinated creations, warm-pressed paninis, and slices of Principessa, the café’s signature lemon sponge cake layered with vanilla creme and wrapped in pink almond marzipan.

The restaurant side (at 201 East Main Street) welcomed its first guests in February, after years of renovation of what was once the Main Street Bakery, which shuttered after a nearly three-decade run in 2016. Admittedly, Sant Ambroeus a departure for those who once lined up for hot doughnuts or shared a seat at the community table to discuss the morning headlines.

Three plates holding identical slices of pink, white, and yellow cake.
The famous Principessa dessert. Photo courtesy of Sant Ambroeus
Fancy restaurant appetizers on white plates.
Appetizers at Sant Ambroeus. Photo by Alberto Blasetti
A twirled mound of fettuccini with tomao sauce and a piece of rare fish.
Pasta with seafood at Sant Ambroeus. Photo by Alberto Blasetti
Saffron infused risotto in a wide shallow bowl
Sant Ambroeus’ risotto. Photo by Alberto Blasetti

Aspen-based firm DJArchitects, in close collaboration with the City of Aspen’s Historic Preservation Commission, was charged with bringing the protected 1889 building back to life while restoring its Victorian bones. “From the outset, we understood we weren’t just designing a restaurant—we were working within a living piece of Aspen’s shared memory,” says DJArchitects principal Collin Frank. The firm even coined a phrase—Milanese Alpinism—to describe the design.

Giampiero Tagliaferri, SA Hospitality Group’s design firm partner, dreamt up interiors that combined the classic aesthetic of Italy’s fashion capital city with more natural, brutalist elements suited for a mountain setting. The result features warm wood paneling, vintage brass fixtures, stonework, and midcentury modern accents.

Dimly lit restaurant interior with textured midcentury modern art on one wall
Inside Sant Ambroeus Aspen. Photo courtesy of Sant Ambroeus

Expect white-tablecloth service and a menu that delivers the familiarity and consistency of its best-known staples—from housemade pastas ($32 to $41) and delicate crudos ($36 to $42) to imported 24-month-aged Dok Dall’ava San Daniele prosciutto plates topped with oozing buffalo mozzarella ($42). Culinary director Iacopo Falai has also incorporated Aspen-only items to showcase locally sourced ingredients such as lamb scottadito with caponata ($72) alongside a rotating seasonal polenta special.

“I began my culinary journey as a young child in Abruzzo, Italy,” says executive chef Angelo delle Donne. “I would cook with my nonna every day, and I began working in kitchens around Italy at the age of 15. After I attended culinary school, my passion for cooking expanded. I’ve been in town for two years by way of New York City, and Sant Ambroeus Aspen feels like home.” He is joined in the kitchen by executive chef Tony Brummel, a longtime local.

The third Sant Ambroeus element is SA Hospitality Group’s first-ever cocktail lounge, Il Baretto, located next door to the restaurant, connected with a shared patio for imbibing and dining al fresco. Here, après ski meets apertivo hour—fellow Italian-based heritage brand Moon Boot marked the Aspen opening with an exclusive, limited edition release of the Icon Low in bright Sant Ambroeus blue, detailed with its dove logo.

In a town that values history as much as high style, Sant Ambroeus strikes a rare balance, bringing European sophistication to Aspen while honoring the stories baked into its walls. If you’re heading up for Jazz Aspen Snowmass this weekend (today through Sunday, August 31), a slice of Principessa or a dinner reservation might be in order.

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