Bad Harriet

As part of a multi-program expansion of Hotel Jerome, an Auberge Collection and Aspen landmark for more than 125 years, the Rowland+Broughton design team restored the adjoining 1904 Aspen Times building and introduced Bad Harriet, an intimate underground speakeasy that serves as the project’s hidden centerpiece.

Named for Harriet Wheeler, wife of early Aspen developer Jerome B. Wheeler, the 55-seat cocktail lounge draws from the layered history of the site while offering a distinctly contemporary hospitality experience. The work began with the careful restoration of a structure that had been altered over time, returning clarity and integrity to its historic form.

In collaboration with TAL Studio, the interiors extend the building’s Victorian-era origins into a moody, refined atmosphere. Mirrored wall panels, polished accents, painted wood trim, and richly layered furnishings create a sultry intimacy, while a Bruna Terra leathered-stone bar brings weight and contemporary contrast. The result is a hidden destination that honors Aspen’s past while adding a memorable new layer to its hospitality culture.