Why you should experience Citrea in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Citrea is like a breath of the Mediterranean carried on the Colorado mountain wind, warm, luminous, and alive with flavor.
Set within Beaver Creek Village overlooking the skating rink and alpenglow peaks, Citrea captures a rare kind of duality: alpine energy fused with coastal ease. Step inside, and the contrast delights immediately, sleek modern interiors wrapped in soft wood tones, sunlight spilling through tall windows, and a hum of conversation that feels effortless yet refined. The scent of lemon, rosemary, and grilled seafood drifts from the open kitchen, inviting you to settle in and stay awhile. It's the kind of restaurant that reminds you why travel matters, not for escape, but for rediscovery. Here, you find the brightness of the Amalfi coast mirrored in the heart of the Rockies. The air buzzes with life, the plates shimmer with color, and every meal feels like a celebration of taste and time. Citrea doesn't just serve Mediterranean cuisine; it channels the spirit of it, generous, joyful, and undeniably chic.
What you didn't know about Citrea.
Citrea was born from Beaver Creek's evolution, a resort ready to embrace global flavors.
Part of the Vail Resorts culinary family, Citrea opened as a fresh, modern answer to the resort's classic fine dining scene. Its name, inspired by citrus groves along the Mediterranean coast, signals a menu built around brightness and balance. The kitchen, led by a talented team of chefs who draw inspiration from Southern Europe's coastal traditions, thrives on contrasts: salt and sun, fire and freshness, mountain heart and sea-born grace. The menu reads like a passport stamped with intention. Small plates of burrata with grilled peaches and balsamic glaze share space with housemade pastas, saffron tagliatelle with shrimp and clams, pappardelle with slow-braised short rib, and lemony risotto topped with pan-seared scallops. Seafood is a centerpiece, flown in daily and handled with restraint, branzino roasted whole with herbs, octopus charred until smoky-tender, and oysters served on crushed ice with pink peppercorn mignonette. But Citrea's genius lies in its subtlety: it's Mediterranean cuisine reimagined for altitude. Local produce from Colorado's Western Slope replaces Italian farmstead staples; olive oil mingles with mountain honey; herbs are grown nearby. Even the pizza, thin, blistered, kissed by wood fire, speaks to craftsmanship rooted in both tradition and innovation. The beverage program mirrors that same finesse. A carefully curated wine list leans toward the Mediterranean basin, crisp Vermentinos, bold Spanish Tempranillos, elegant Provençal rosés, yet balances them with New World standouts that complement the mountain palate. Cocktails shimmer with botanical notes: basil, blood orange, thyme. Each sip feels like sunlight distilled into glass. And beyond the food, Citrea's staff embodies the restaurant's ethos, polished yet personal, knowledgeable without pretense. Every detail, from the pacing of courses to the precision of presentation, reflects a philosophy of quiet excellence.
How to fold Citrea into your trip.
Folding Citrea into your Beaver Creek itinerary means choosing vibrancy, a moment where the mountain slows and the Mediterranean takes over.
If you're visiting in winter, Citrea is your reward after a day on the slopes, a refuge of warmth and wine where the air hums with energy and the fire flickers against snow-dusted windows. Begin with a shared antipasto board, prosciutto, marinated artichokes, and creamy burrata, paired with a glass of chilled white from Sardinia or a citrus-forward gin cocktail. Then, ease into the evening with handmade pasta or roasted sea bass, its skin crisp and glistening under a drizzle of lemon oil. Between bites, look around: couples leaning close, families laughing softly, the buzz of conversation blending with soft music. It's the perfect blend of European intimacy and Rocky Mountain ease. In summer, Citrea becomes something else entirely, the patio doors open, the scent of pine and basil mingling in the air, and golden hour light painting every glass in amber hues. Order a rosé, fresh oysters, and the signature wood-fired pizza topped with figs and prosciutto, and linger as the village lights begin to glow. Whether you come for lunch, dinner, or a glass of wine between adventures, Citrea offers something beyond sustenance, connection. It's a place where conversation stretches, where time bends around taste, and where the Mediterranean ideal of slow, beautiful living finds its echo in the mountains. The experience is equal parts cosmopolitan and comforting, the kind of meal that reminds you life's finest pleasures are often its simplest: good company, good food, and the feeling that you're exactly where you should be.
Where your story begins.
Start your planning journey with Foresyte Travel.
Experience immersive stories crafted for luxury travelers.
