Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Petit Trois is opening in the Rockies.
Unveiled Thursday in a 1,088-square-foot space inside the Mollie hotel in Aspen, the debut marks the Parisian-style bistro’s first outpost beyond Los Angeles and its third location, following its 2014 launch in an unassuming Hollywood strip mall and a second in Sherman Oaks.
“Expanding Petit Trois beyond Los Angeles is something I’ve considered for years, but it had to be the right place and the right partners,” said the French-born chef. “Aspen has always felt like a second home to me. My family has spent time skiing there and enjoyed summers there as well, and the spirit of the town reminds me of the ski culture I grew up with in France.”
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It’s a “natural, almost inevitable” progression, he went on.
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Mollie, opened in 2023 by HayMax Capital, features a design-forward, Scandinavian-meets-Japanese aesthetic and a community-driven ethos that aligns with Lefebvre’s vision for Petit Trois.
“We’re able to build something that honors the charm and intimacy of the original Petit Trois while embracing the character and beauty of Aspen,” he said. The venture is a partnership between Mollie and Lefebvre’s restaurant group, L’Esperance Hospitality.
The menu will preserve the signatures the restaurant is known for, including the Big Mec, filet au poivre and French onion soup. But the new city widens his lens.
“Aspen gives me the freedom to create a few special dishes inspired by local ingredients and the surrounding landscape,” Lefebvre said. “We’ll feature Colorado lamb, and I’m working on a foie gras pot-au-feu with truffle broth, something we can’t serve in California. Aspen also opens the door for a fun après-ski culture, and I’m excited to create dishes that feel indulgent, comforting and a little alpine.”
The beverage program comes from master sommeliers Dustin Wilson and Sabato Sagaria, who have assembled a wine list that leans into producers from France and California. The bar will also feature cocktails built around French spirits and aperitifs, including takes on a martini (vodka or gin, Lillet Blanc, quince), spritz (vodka, Vermouth de Chambéry, elderflower, grapefruit) and Negroni (cognac, Campari, Carpano Antica, Bonal Gentiane), along with a mix of beer and nonalcoholic choices.
The opening is also a testing ground for Petit Trois’ future in leisure-driven destinations, as Lefebvre prepares to open in Mexico in 2027.
“I want Petit Trois to remain intimate, charming and rooted in French tradition, but I love the challenge of translating that feeling to new places. Aspen is the perfect start,” he said.