It’s all very well selecting a ski resort with the very best trails and mountain views, but you won’t be able to enjoy them as much when the sun goes down – which is why choosing somewhere with excellent après-ski offerings is a must.
Luckily, many of the top resorts are continuing to up their game in this regard by opening more bars, clubs and restaurants that cater for a variety of tastes and provide a quality experience. Here are some of the best…
St Anton (Austria)
Best for: the ultimate party
Must-try drink: Jagerbombs
Austria has long had the lion’s share of the world’s most fun-loving ski resorts, with St Anton being the cream of the crop. Two of the most popular bars here are the Krazy Kangaruh (you may hear it referred to as the KK) and the Mooserwirt (which sells a mind boggling volume of beer), both of which start the party early by flinging open their doors in the afternoon.
If live music is your thing, check out the Piccadilly, a pub with a very British atmosphere (or at least the Austrians’ idea of a British atmosphere!). Anton Bar, meanwhile, is the place to go for a more laidback après-ski experience before returning to your group chalet to ramp it up a bit with homemade cocktails!
Zermatt (Switzerland)
Best for: gourmet treats to soak up the booze
Must-try drink: whichever wine goes best with your bar snack
If there’s one thing that Zermatt is famous for – other than its excellent skiing, of course – it’s the fact that the resort is a veritable paradise for foodies. There are more high-end restaurants than you could possibly visit in the course of a short ski trip, so it’s probably best to save time and sample the region’s fare during a drinking session or two.
Don’t worry if your budget doesn’t quite extend to cocktails and bubbly – Zermatt is home to its fair share of mid-range bars and clubs that serve up a reassuring amount of beer. The Hotel Post conveniently brings together a few of these on one site, including the Brown Cow and the Broken Bar. If you do feel like a change, head to Vernissage to take in an arty film or browse the gallery before relaxing in the sophisticated bar and lounge.
Jackson Hole (USA)
Best for: a Wild West experience
Must-try drink: beer – asking for anything else will see you get run out of town (not really)
For a change from the usual euro-pop and schnapps après-ski scene you get in Austria and the like, book a ski trip to the USA instead – specifically Jackson Hole in Wyoming. The nightlife here is pretty much geared around a Wild West theme, complete with saloons and country music.
Top drinking spots include the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill at the Wort Hotel, which is named for the more than 2,000 Morgan silver dollars embedded in its various surfaces. The weirdly named Mangy Moose is also popular for live music and family dining. Beer aficionados will want to head to the Snake River Brewpub for its astonishing array of ales.
Which resort do you think has the best après-ski offerings? Leave a comment below to let your fellow travellers know!
