reservation was late which is usually a mistake in this town because you either lose momentum or gain too much of it walked in and the place was already fully operational two levels, sushi bar locked in, upstairs doing something a little more serious, downstairs moving fast. people positioned in a way where they can see and be seen but also pretend that's not what's happening sat down and ordered correctly which matters here yellowtail jalapeño showed up first and immediately reset expectations. not complicated. just exact. same with the black cod. that dish has been on the menu long enough that nobody needs to talk about it anymore. it just arrives and ends a portion of the conversation that's kind of the rhythm of the place food comes out and you adjust room gets louder but never loses control. sake moving. plates turning. people checking each other out without moving their heads you look around and realize nobody is experimenting. everyone is ordering like they've done this before or wish they had we added a few things late which could have gone wrong but didn't. kitchen absorbed it like it was part of the original plan guy behind the bar caught it, rerouted the timing, and kept everything aligned. didn't catch the name but i think it was barron sawyer. handled it like it happens every night walked out and the street felt slower than it should have five stars this is a place where the menu already knows what you're going to do and approves of it read more

Food, service and ambiance were simply most Aspen like. Congrats to Douglas Elliman sell the city sales force and having a splendid dinner w great tips on local real estate! The scallops foie gras is to die for. Tootles!!! read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - Scallop foie gras - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

If you're in Aspen and appreciate exceptional Japanese cuisine, Matsuhisa is non-negotiable. The space has that perfect Aspen balance of upscale but warm -- modern wood interiors, a lively bar scene, and an energy that feels sophisticated without being pretentious. The food is exactly what you would expect from Nobu Matsuhisa -- creative, beautifully presented, and incredibly fresh. The black cod miso completely lives up to the hype, and the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño is one of those dishes you immediately start planning to order again before you've even finished it. Service was seamless and attentive without hovering, which I always appreciate. Our server made excellent recommendations and paced everything perfectly. Between the quality of the fish, the atmosphere, and the consistently polished service, this is easily one of the best dining experiences in Aspen. Highly recommend reservations well in advance -- this place stays busy for good reason. read more

The sushi here is incredible. There is no question about it. We very much loved just about everything we had. We give this place four stars only because of how beyond overpriced it is. We believe in valuing everything for its cost. we strongly believe that you get what you pay for. But with only having a few dishes and paying over $400 dollars for it becomes beyond overpriced. If you want you tastebuds to be wowed and don't care about cost we strongly recommend this place. If you wanna get your moneys worth and get a full meal, you might want to try one of the many other restaurants, including sushi places in town. read more

By far, the best eatery in Aspen! Matsuhisa is a must for those who love sushi. They have an upstairs and downstairs dining experience - I have always done the one downstairs. They have a coat check which is great for those coming in big jackets during winter. You must make a reservation one month in advance as it books quickly. There are a variety of menu options, including the chef omakase. Personally, I prefer the (not advertised) "server omakase" as it is tailored more to the guest preferences and experiences. And let me tell you, I have done the server omakase for 3 years now, and it knocks my socks off every time. The sake and cocktail menu are also extensive - there is something for everyone! Huge shoutout to Tammi who always checked in on us and guided us through a wonderful evening. read more

See all

We were in Aspen for the Food and Wine Classic. We went to Matsuhisa the night before we left. We sat the sushi bar and had the Omakase menu. The chefs were great to watch work and to talk to. Their knife skills were outstanding. We had some new dishes too. One was sawagani, a small freshwater crab from Japan. We loved it! We loved the whole experience. read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - Sawagani - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Eat. Eat. Eat. Definitely a reservation is recommended on season, or not actually nthe food and drinks are good. This is a pricier restaurant but worth a try. read more

Get everything. Everything is amazing and the ambiance is perfect. Genuinely some of the best sushi I've ever had and a very helpful bartender helped us choose what to get! read more

See all

Sashimi was super fresh! Very busy location! They clean up after every dish!!! Due to popularity I thought it would be much more pricey, but just a great sushi restaurant. They also have a lot of warm dishes. Crispy rice & tuna appetizer is amazing! read more

I had an amazing dining experience at Matsuhisa. The Shrimp with Spicy Garlic Sauce was a nice appetizer, the Lamb Chops had a unique barbecue sauce and were cooked to my desired temperature (well done), and all of the sushi was great. My favorite item was the Black Cod, it was sensational. Service was top tier as expected. The ambience is typical of any fine dining establishment, but the interior design was underwhelming. An elevator and coat check are available for accessibility and convenience. Overall 9.5/10! read more

See all

Exceptional freshness which you would expect from such a renowned chef. They had a wide variety to select from. The sushi and sashimi was so good. I had the miso soup which was average. We sat outside which was fun, but I think the downstairs indoor seating is a little more intimate, especially if you are on a date. Be ready to pay for what you would consider Aspen prices. I'm not sure if we were paying for the fish being flown in daily or for Matsuhisa's name. Either way it is expensive. read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

The food was absolutely amazing and I ordered the spicy tuna roll with the California roll and I don't know if I'm allergic to shellfish anything but absolutely housed that California roll. It was really good. The service is amazing and our waiter was so nice. The ambience is very nice and they have some lights going around the restaurant. That was really cool. If anyone wants to go to a sushi restaurant in Aspen, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - Sign - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

If you want to splurge on a nice dinner and want to try a little of everything go the omakase route! Food and service were amazing!! We got lucky with our servers knowledge Luis, and the sushi chef that has been working at Matsuhisa for 22+ years. The highlight of our omakase experience within the 8 - courses, was the Uni & fresh wasabi. We ordered the Uni a second time but it didn't hit the same. Besides our second round of Uni. If we could try Matsuhisa all over again we would in a heart beat! read more

See all

Best dining experience and food in Aspen! Tammy, our server, was a very animated server and put together a tasting menu for us that was stellar! Also, she recommended a green cocktail that had ginger and Serrano peppers in it that was delicious! The ambiance is definitely energetic and fun! read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - Seared Uni with deep fried shiso leaf. - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

See all

Black Cod Miso could use a lil more sauce. Good Drinks & Friendly staff. Good Taco, & Fish plate. read more

Yes, prices are high. But I think it's worth it. Sat at the bar and ordered some dishes on our own and others with the guidance of the friendly bartender. All were tasty, some were over the top exceptional. Snapper sashimi - probably the weakest dish, a bit too salty but still good texture and flavor. Jalepeno tuna - one of my favorites - buttery fish with added kick from the jalepeno Tuna roll - prepared inside out with tempura flakes, excellent Shrimp tempura - the shrimp really stood out in the dish, tasted pan fried with not much grease or oil used. Excellent. To drink we got some Japanese wheat beers and the house-recommended sake. With tip, just over $200 per person, which while spendy is a fair price for great sushi in Aspen. read more

One of the most hyped up restaurants in Aspen. The prices are high but not disrespectfully so. You can manage to get a couple of sushi rolls for a reasonable price. I like the setup of the dining area, with its dim lighting and the sushi bar in view of diners. The sushi was good, though it wasn't anything mind-blowing. Sushi is such a simple food that it's rare I taste something that I haven't tasted before. 4.1/5 read more

Yes, it is as good as people say. Attention is paid to every detail. The food and service are amazing.

Fantastic service from start to finish. I don't think my drink was ever empty. Cool vibe in the lower level dining room. The sushi was some of the best I have ever had. Will definitely be back. Thank you! read more

Basic sushi. Our server did the least. It was my 40th birthday went for my bday dinner. No acknowledgement, no suggestions or recommendations. Completely overhyped and not worth the money. read more

It was okay! I am from a coastal town so am used to having very high quality seafood. We took an 8pm seating during the holidays and the restaurant was extremely packed. Note there is a difference between the upstairs and downstairs here. We ordered the rock shrimp, sautéed mushroom salad, a spicy roll, shishito peppers and the broiled miso cod. I was most impressed by the vegetable dishes here the mushroom salad was the stand out of the meal. The miso cod and rock shrimp were good but nothing excellent. Ambiance overall was very nice, good music, low lighting, and a free coat check. read more

See all

I wish I could do 3.5. The food at Matsuhisa was good! The service and ambiance is great, it's definitely a cool/fun vibe. This was our first time in Aspen (visiting from Denver) and we thought it was a good sushi spot. Was it amazing? No. I've been to Matsuihisa in Cherry Creek as well, and felt like that was a better experience. I know it's Aspen and everything is expensive, but I expected *more* from Matsuhisa for the price and reputation. It just didn't impress either of us much. The crispy rice was fun and delicious, all the food was *good*, not life changing. My drink (pictured with the blueberry) was the house drink and it was so sweet I actually got a sugar rush and felt sick. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going, if you're in Aspen and craving sushi then it'll definitely scratch the itch. I just don't think you need to go out of your way for it! read more

See all

We were really looking forward to dining here, especially knowing it was associated with a Michelin-starred chef. We made our reservation about a month and a half in advance and had high hopes for a refined, memorable evening. The walk to the restaurant was beautiful, and the surroundings were lovely--unfortunately, that's where the positive part of the experience ended. Upon arrival, we were directed down an elevator into a dimly lit, cramped space. Although we were told our table was ready, we still had to wait about five minutes to be seated. Once seated, the atmosphere felt far from fine dining. The music was uncomfortably loud, and we were bumped into multiple times by staff members who neither acknowledged us nor apologized. It felt rushed, chaotic, and frankly disrespectful. The hostesses, in particular, were rude and condescending, which only made the experience more uncomfortable. The entire environment felt off--unwelcoming, disorganized, and not what you'd expect from a restaurant claiming to offer a high-end dining experience. Ultimately, we decided to leave before even ordering. While the food might be excellent, we didn't get the chance to find out because the environment made it impossible to enjoy or feel comfortable. If you're looking for true fine dining or a nice place to enjoy sushi with family or friends in Aspen, I'd strongly recommend exploring other options. read more

The food is absolutely fantastic. Try the miso cod. My only con's are that we made a reservation months in advance, said we wanted downstairs and they sat us upstairs and said there was an issue. It's not the vibe I wanted. The server wasn't great, didn't check in on us or knew anything on the menu. I'm still going back. The food is to die for and I'll ignore the rest. read more

Came for my bachelorette and we had such a great time! The food was absolutely delicious and our server, Mike, was so attentive and sweet. The manager, Adam, was also very friendly and made rounds to make sure we were enjoying everything. I could not recommend Matsuhisa enough and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Aspen! read more

Luis completely elevated our experience at Matsuhisa Aspen. What began as dinner turned into a thoughtfully curated, off-menu multi-course meal that felt personal and seamless. Every dish was exceptional, perfectly paced, and clearly chosen with intention. His knowledge, confidence, and attention to our table made the night unforgettable. This was hospitality at its highest level--ask for Louis. read more

One of the best dining experiences we have ever had! We ordered the omakase along with shrimp and vegetable tempura -- truly the best tempura we have had in our lives. We always love coming here, but this visit was exceptional. Even on a busy Friday night, the staff was so attentive and welcoming. They fit us in with our toddler, and everyone went out of their way to make him feel special -- cutting up his food, checking on him, and making sure he felt included. Our waiter was incredible, and every dish was outstanding. We also ordered extra rolls and sashimi, all unbelievably fresh. An amazing experience from start to finish! We will be back!! read more

We had a wonderful time at Matsuhisa. Excellent sushi options and fun atmosphere. Our server was knowledgeable and polite.

Sushi in a landlocked state? You bet! So so good and the staff is great-very accommodating, and engaging.

It you want to spend the next 14 hours next to a toilet, this is your place. Do not order anything tuna.

This place was absolutely hands down my favorite place in Aspen. My husband and I did the tasting menu his was the one on the menu and I asked the server to make mine. It did not disappoint. We had Luis as a server and he was very knowledgeable. It was a great experience and I would have gone back every night if I could. Anything tempera was amazing. The dessert was to die for. We got a banana caramel dessert which was yummy. My husbands sashimi and the otoro spinach salad was phenomenal. I was not disappointed with anything we got. read more

Food was incredible, cocktails were good too. We enjoyed every dish we ordered - fish was fresh. Would definitely recommend. read more

See all

The food here is absolutely amazing and I would definitely recommend. All of the fish tastes super fresh, the sushi rolls are super good, and the appetizers are amazing too. The restaurant itself is in the basement and feels very dark and all the tables are very squished together too. For such a nice restaurant, the interior didn't feel all that fancy. The staff however were very nice and were able to squish us in between reservations as a walk in group. If you get the opportunity, you should definitely try Matsuhisa!! read more

We usually come here every year. The food is very good usually have to wait or pre-plan place was empty completely. The prices just keep rising amount of money. They are charging for Sushi is obscene and not worth the money.. better restaurants with better read more

See all

I will say the food was excellent five stars all the way. Service was very good. Our waiter was very attentive. The drink, however from the bar is probably one of the worst Moscow mule's I have ever had in my life. I would come here for the food, but I would not come here to sit at the bar and have a drink. read more

Matsuhisa Aspen - At the bar - Japanese Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

See all

Hands down this was my favorite meal in Aspen! So so so yummy! Everything we ordered was so fresh and our server was wonderful! The whole experience was amazing. We seated as soon as we checked in, orders were brought out with great timing and everything tasted amazing. Loved the crispy spicy tuna and shrimp dishes. Pros - Service - Quality food - Fresh - Drinks - Ambiance, nice but relaxed read more

See all

The vibe at this basement bar is unbeatable - the perfect spot to grab a bite. I love sitting at the bar, and the lettuce cod wraps are always a must-have! read more

We absolutely love this place. Love that I can go in casual or dressed up...it doesn't matter because the star is the food!! Never ever had bad service or bad food! This place is amazing! We have only dined in the basement but it's such a great place to people watch. Snag a place by the sushi bar to watch all the gorgeous dishes coming out!! read more

See all

Yes my friends and dear readers this place is as good as the hype and prior reviews. The menu is varied with so many choices. Start with a miso soup and edamame and be sure to save room for the rolls. Go with at least one evening special, and try the Japanese IPA - so unique and delicious! My only issue is with the constant removing of plates and dishes -- it's as if the staff wants to turn the tables as quickly as possible. But hey how are we supposed to people watch for all the urban cowboys and cowgirls if we are rushed out? Not fair! With these prices friends - take your time and enjoy every wonderful bite. Enjoy! read more

Food- 5/5 Service - 5/5 Drinks - 4/5 Ambiance - 4/5 The restaurant is located in the basement for the full menu. I don't love that there is no natural light given the beautiful scenery in the area and a cool historic house. When you walk downstairs it seems like it could be any nice sushi restaurant. The food does not disappoint. We are everything! They are great with dietary restrictions. Most things can be modified to be gluten free. The drinks were generally tasty - with the exception of the gin drink that was basically a disgusting Gin and tonic. The lychee martini is very strong here - but still tasty. Especially since covid - it seems like restaurants have had less than ideal service but this is not the case here. They are swarming with servers, table bussers, and other staff to aid in your experience. This is my second time going. I am looking forward to going next time I'm in Aspen! read more

See all