Head-to-Head · Aspen

Matsuhisa Aspen vs Element 47

Nobu's Japanese-Peruvian original on Main Street against The Little Nell's contemporary American room. Book Matsuhisa for sushi, Element 47 for the cellar.

Matsuhisa Aspen

Aspen · Japanese-Peruvian · Downtown · Food 9 / Room 8 / Value 7

Matsuhisa Aspen full review →

Element 47

Aspen · Contemporary American · The Little Nell · Food 9 / Room 9 / Value 7

Element 47 full review →

The Verdict

Matsuhisa Aspen is Nobu's Colorado original. In a 120-year-old Victorian on East Main Street since 1998, Nobu Matsuhisa serves the signature Japanese-Peruvian menu, an 8-course omakase, a sushi bar and the black cod miso, in a warm timbered room. It scores 9 for food and 8 for the room, with dinner running roughly 120 to 200 dollars a head.

Element 47 is the wine-country room. Inside The Little Nell at the base of Aspen Mountain, the kitchen cooks contemporary American dishes on local wagyu and house pasta against one of the country's deepest cellars, a Wine Spectator Grand Award list. It scores 9 for food and 9 for the room, with dinner near 150 to 250 dollars a head before wine.

Scores, Side by Side

Score	Matsuhisa	Element 47
Food	9 / 10	9 / 10
Atmosphere	8 / 10	9 / 10
Value	7 / 10	7 / 10

Which One for Which Occasion

Occasion	Editorial Pick
Sushi and omakase	MatsuhisaThe Japanese-Peruvian menu and sushi bar are the draw.
Wine dinner	Element 47A Grand Award cellar with hundreds of references.
Slope-side luxury	Element 47The Little Nell setting at the base of the gondola.
Lively group	MatsuhisaThe buzzy Main Street room suits a crowd.
Special occasion	Element 47The room and cellar carry a milestone.

Price Comparison

Both are top Aspen prices. Matsuhisa runs roughly 120 to 200 dollars a head across sushi and the omakase; Element 47 lands near 150 to 250 before wine, with a cellar that can take the bill far higher. Matsuhisa is the louder à la carte option; Element 47 the formal hotel room. Weigh them against the best Japanese restaurants worldwide and the best fine-dining restaurants worldwide.

How to Book

Both book online and tighten fast in ski season. Matsuhisa reserves on OpenTable and keeps a walk-in sushi bar for solo diners and last-minute seats. Element 47 books through The Little Nell and OpenTable, with winter weekends the hardest window, so reserve well ahead for high season.

Start the wider map from the Aspen dining guide, and for occasion fit see the best restaurants for a birthday and for solo dining. Browse more head-to-heads on the compare index.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Matsuhisa Aspen or Element 47?

They answer different cravings. Matsuhisa is Nobu's Japanese-Peruvian original in a historic Main Street Victorian, strong on sushi and the 8-course omakase. Element 47, inside The Little Nell, cooks contemporary American food against a Wine Spectator Grand Award cellar. Choose Matsuhisa for the sushi and a lively room, Element 47 for a wine-led dinner and slope-side polish.

Is Matsuhisa Aspen or Element 47 more expensive?

They land close, both at the top of Aspen pricing. Matsuhisa runs roughly 120 to 200 dollars a head across sushi and the omakase. Element 47 lands near 150 to 250 before wine, and its deep cellar can push the bill much higher. For a controlled spend, Matsuhisa; for a wine dinner with room to climb, Element 47.

Which is harder to book in Aspen?

Both tighten sharply in ski season, but Element 47 is the harder winter table, since The Little Nell fills with hotel guests on peak weekends. Matsuhisa keeps a walk-in sushi bar that gives solo diners and last-minute guests a chance. Reserve either well ahead for X Games and holiday weeks, when downtown Aspen books out.

Which should I book for a special occasion?

Element 47. The Little Nell room at the base of Aspen Mountain, the Grand Award cellar and the formal service suit a milestone dinner. Matsuhisa is the more relaxed, sushi-led choice, better for a lively night than a quiet celebration. For more picks see the Aspen dining guide.