Food and Drink Bars + Clubs World's Best Après-Ski Bars By Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Instagram Twitter Website Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on February 3, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jason Kelly Photography Après-ski, the time-tested tradition of grabbing a beer with your buds following a mountain session, is nearly as old as the sport of skiing itself. Back in the mid-1800s, a few snow bunnies in Telemark, Norway, discovered that a drink simply tasted better after taking a few turns down the slopes. Back then, it was grog or aquavit shared among friends at skiers' homes. Today, no longer a humble house gathering, wintertime mountain merrymaking is a much more elevated affair. "I often say that up until about 15 years ago, all you needed for a successful ski vacation was a hotel, a chairlift, and a bar," Dan Sherman, chief marketing officer of Ski.com and all-around après-ski expert, told Travel + Leisure. "Après-ski is as much a part of skiing culture as the actual skiing itself. In fact, some people go skiing just so they can après-ski." Toasting post-shred — no matter the language, location, or libation — is universal. And it doesn't matter if you've aced a black-diamond run, skidded down the bunny hill, or spent the afternoon curled up by the fire. Any and all such daytime activities warrant an invite to lift a glass and kick up your heels as the sun begins to kiss the mountaintops. But perhaps the best part is that après-ski activities can vary greatly by destination and region, meaning you can learn a new tradition with every hill you hit. However, Sherman notes that there are a few universal post-slope truths. "For me, an ideal après-ski scene includes wings, nachos, beer, and a live band," he said. "However, there are plenty of options in destination ski towns that offer more of a gastronomy and mixology focus." Want to see it for yourself? From refined to rowdy, we've rounded up 21 bars where you can celebrate from last call to first chair. 01 of 21 High West Distillery, Park City, UT Courtesy of High West Distillery Within a historic Victorian-era house in downtown Park City, High West is the world’s only ski-in, ski-out distillery. Swish in on Park City Mountain Resort’s Quittin’ Time run and take a guided tour that includes a whiskey tasting. Or just head straight to the bar for a potent libation like Dead Man’s Boots of rye, tequila, and ginger beer. High West’s gastro-saloon specialties include local Utah trout, bourbon chili, bison cottage pie, and fresh-baked pretzels with a side of beer-infused cheese. 02 of 21 Trofana Alm, Ischgl, Austria Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images With more than 40 bars, Ischgl is to après-ski what Ibiza is to spring break. For the heart of the action, head to Trofana Alm, an old barn turned bi-level bar. Revelers sing at the top of their lungs to oompah and Europop songs, down shots of apple schnapps, and dance like no one’s watching. Don’t be surprised if you’re offered a round of drinks—and a bear hug. 03 of 21 Tio Bob's, Chile Diego Munita This rustic slopeside lodge overlooks the Inca Lake and Andes Mountains, a gorgeous panorama accessible to skiers and those who prefer to catch a ride on the chairlift. Grab a table on the snow-covered deck for a two-pisco-sour lunch among the ski pros who come to Portillo for training during North America’s off-season. Uncle Bob’s restaurant is open only in the early afternoon, but the indoor bar stays up ’til midnight. 04 of 21 Oasis Champagne Bar, Aspen, CO Public Works Taking cues from the roving food truck trend, Oasis pops up in different locations on Aspen Mountain via Snowcat (in 2015, it opens President’s Day weekend). “Because the Oasis may be gone as quickly as it appears, it compels you to experience it, or risk missing the opportunity,” says Ted Mahon, a longtime Aspen ski instructor. Serving Veuve Clicquot champagne and caviar, this posh watering hole broadcasts clues about its new location each weekend on Little Nell’s Twitter/Facebook. 05 of 21 The Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, CO Trent Bona Just as tropical resorts have swim-up bars, Crested Butte Mountain has its very own “ski-in” bar. In front of Uley’s Cabin (the on-mountain fine-dining restaurant accessible by sleigh ride in the evenings), The Ice Bar serves up Colorado brews and cocktails like The Breath of God made with locally distilled Montanya rum, beer, cassis, and bitters. Just keep your gloves on; this place really is made of ice with a snow-covered bar top. 06 of 21 Bar Gyu+, Niseko, Japan Glen Claydon Photography Mount Niseko-Annupuri is Japan’s most popular ski destination, and the town of Niseko supports more than 50 bars and restaurants. We’re partial to hard-to-find Gyu Bar, also known as the Fridge Door bar—look for a tiny, red freezer door amid a snowbank, and make sure to duck your head when you enter. Groovy jazz tunes playing from a vintage turntable fill the air. Artfully made concoctions with Japanese whiskey are flowing, and a mix of trendy Europeans and local skiers populate the candlelit tables. 07 of 21 Tea del Vidal, Livigno, Italy Courtesy of Lungolivigno Located at the base of the Mottolino Mountain gondola lift, this hot spot is hopping until 2 a.m., with a different theme each night. Join the disco party Monday nights or the Latin party with dance instruction Friday nights. Need some liquid courage before shaking your groove thing? Order the bombardino—Italian eggnog served warm—a house specialty allegedly invented at Tea Del Vidal more than 40 years ago. 08 of 21 Mangy Moose Saloon, Jackson Hole, WY Mangy Moose Opened in 1967, two years after Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the Mangy Moose is a landmark watering hole with a collection of wacky moose memorabilia. Starting at 4 p.m. during ski season, groove to live music from local artists and headliner bands like 2 Live Crew and Glenn Miller Orchestra. Signature drinks include Moose Drool Ale on tap, the Spicy (a margarita with tequila infused with jalapeño, strawberries, and pineapples), and shotskis. Multiple shot glasses are glued to a ski, and, at the count of three, tip the ski—cheers! 09 of 21 Minus 5º ICE BAR, Queenstown, New Zealand Jason Kelly Photography Known as the “coolest” bar in Queenstown, Steamer Wharf’s Ice Bar is a must-see for the whole family after a day of skiing or snowboarding at Coronet Peak or The Remarkables. Outfitted in fur hats and warm coats provided by the bar, you’ll wander past 18 tons of clear ice architecture, including furniture, artistic sculptures, and glassware. Tickets start at $12 for kids (includes one mocktail) and $24 for adults (includes one cocktail). 10 of 21 Garibaldi Lift Company, Whistler, BC Matt Walker At GLC, as the locals call it, the theme is “All hail Caesar”—Caesar the drink, that is. Head to the patio with Canada’s unofficial cocktail of choice (vodka, tomato juice, clam broth, and Worcestershire sauce) for views of skiers zooming down Whistler Mountain. It’s kid friendly until 8 p.m., when GLC transitions from pub to nightclub with DJs, live bands, comedy acts, and silent discos. 11 of 21 The Bavarian Restaurant, Taos Ski Valley, NM Courtesy of Ski Taos No, you haven’t taken the wrong chairlift and turned up in Germany. Still, The Bavarian does its best to convince you, with dirndl- and lederhosen-clad servers plying giant steins of hefeweizen and heaping platters of Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut. Spirited Tyrolean oompah music fills the air, and the fire blazes from within a Kachelofen stove. It’s a spirited slice of Ammergau Alps culture at the base of Kachina Peak—gemütlich, southwestern style. 12 of 21 Le Rond Point, Meribel, France Courtesy of Rond Point It’s only fitting that the world’s largest ski area, Les Trois Vallées, should also feature the largest après-ski bar in France. Le Rond Point (a.k.a. Ronnie’s), located off the Marmotte ski trail, hosts bands or DJs every afternoon, seven days a week. Kick back as the sun sinks below the French Alps with a helping of toffee vodka—Ronnie’s signature hooch—in hand. 13 of 21 Trikoni Tavern, Krasnaya Polyana, Russia Pawel Maryanov / Flickr With retro ski gear and photos of past expeditions on the walls, Trikoni is a boisterous, Cheers-style pub where everybody knows your name—or they will by the end of the night. After racing down Rosa Khutor’s nearly 50 miles of trails, recoup with hot borscht topped with sour cream, kholodets (jellied meat), potato pancakes, and no doubt, lots of vodka or Russian ales. Most nights, folk music groups perform until late for a crowd that includes ski pros and instructors. 14 of 21 Papperla Pub, Zermatt, Switzerland Papperla Pub, Tradition Julen Zermatt From Rothorn mountain via a cable car, head into the posh, car-free village of Zermatt for a wild time at Papperla Pub. Make a Jäger bomb with a tap of the nose or ask the wig-clad bartender to spin the wheel to win shots or a bottle of the secret house brew. Prefer sans-shots celebrating? Make like a local with Jägertee (like a supercharged sangria of overproof rum, black tea, red wine, plum brandy, orange juice, and spices). To snag one of the coveted red director chairs on the terrace overlooking the Matterhorn, get there before the lifts close. It fills up faster than you can gulp down glühwein. 15 of 21 Cerveceria Blest, Bariloche, Argentina Cervecería Blest Opened in 1997 as Argentina’s first brewpub, Cerveceria Blest offers five Blest beers on tap, plus a myriad of international brews. Can’t decide what to drink or simply stoked about summertime skiing? Order the après-ski beer sampler; the staff will help you select which to choose based on your tastes. And if so inspired, autograph a coaster to be added to the hundreds of other personalized coasters (contributed by guests throughout the years) that decorate the walls. 16 of 21 Unbuckle, South Lake Tahoe, CA Corey Rich, Heavenly Mountain Resort Imagine Vegas-style clubbing, but with puffy clothing and snowcapped Sierras in the distance. That pretty much sums up the Unbuckle experience, which takes over the on-mountain Tamarack Lodge Thursdays through Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. If you’ve never boogied in ski boots before, here’s your chance. At precisely 3:45 p.m., a Cupid Shuffle flash mob breaks out on the dance floor. Option B: follow the Heavenly Angels—pro skiers by day, go-go dancers by après-ski—out on the patio for half-price drinks, eats, and lots more shaking in your boots to DJ’ed tunes. 17 of 21 The Matterhorn, Stowe, VT Getty Images As far as iconic après-ski destinations go, few bars match the power of The Matterhorn in Stowe, Vermont. Located off the mountain and down Mountain Road, the unassuming bar has beckoned skiers for decades. Inside, visitors will find a lively scene along with a rather eclectic menu that includes some of the best pizza and sushi on the East Coast. Stay late and you’ll likely even catch a musical act or two. Just don’t ask to use one of the mugs lining the bar — those are for ski patrollers and locals only. 18 of 21 Lefty’s Bar & Grill, Sun Valley, ID Courtesy of Lefty's Bar & Grill Lefty’s Bar & Grill has been happily serving skiers and snowboarders since 1993. At the bar, guests will find more than a dozen draft beers and 30 different bottled options. As for food, you can’t go wrong with one of the burgers and a side of fries. It’s also an ideal venue for game days, as it houses several HD TVs and satellites, ensuring everyone can watch their favorite team. 19 of 21 Schuss Bar, Thredbo, Australia Courtesy of Schuss Bar When it comes to ski destinations, Australia might not come to mind immediately. However, the land down under has plenty to offer skiers and riders. Visitors to Thredbo, a village and resort in southeastern Australia, will find lots of snow on the slopes and après-ski entertainment in Schuss Bar. With live music and refreshing drinks, this is also a great spot for guests to kick off their boots and put on their dancing shoes. 20 of 21 Double Diamonds Bar, Steamboat Springs, CO Courtesy of Double Diamonds Bar Skiers and riders are known to hit up a bar or two immediately after leaving the slopes. However, at Double Diamonds Bar in Steamboat Springs, folks should pace themselves, as the party scene here stretches until the wee hours. Tip: There are plenty of beers and cocktails to choose from, but don’t leave without trying the bacon or truffle tots. In fact, order an extra one for after midnight. 21 of 21 La Folie Douce, Courchevel, France Courtesy of Le Folie Douce Nobody — and we mean nobody — does après-ski like La Folie Douce. Located at the mid-station of the Saulire Express, this bar is home to one of the world’s wildest post-slopes parties. Each day, the terrace turns into an outdoor club with thumping music, flowing drinks, and plenty of dancing. Guests can ski right into the bar, order a drink, and join in the fun for as long as they wish. Just be prepared for your legs to burn from all those dance moves the following day. Updated by Lanee Lee Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit