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Top 10 après-ski scenes
The exhilaration needn't end when the pistes close
 | You may be tired from skiing, but the day is far from over. Read on for the top 10 après-ski scenes. |
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Peak ski season is in full swing, with a winter wonderland welcoming enthusiastic snow-lovers to carve out many of the world’s best slopes. But the exhilaration needn’t end when the pistes close: let your hair down under that ski hat and discover our favorite après-ski scenes around the globe, including two Colorado Rockies resorts that cater to both the refined and the rowdy, a glamorous casino-dotted ski town straddling the Nevada and California borders, and a Canadian gem that pulsates with live music and good times. Or check out the eastern seaboard at Killington, where you’re guaranteed to have a "killer" time.
Of course, no list would be complete without a sprinkling of alpine villages — we're keen on four evergreen hotspots that have provided tried-and-true night-time fun to generations of skiers. And, for those of you who refuse to let summer signal your last descent, we’ve even thrown in one South American ski town where you can get your fix between June and September.
1. Aspen
Aspen is a magnet for Hollywood stars, B-listers, scenesters, want-to-be-seensters, and the just plain curious. Of course, the unifying factor that pulls them all together is the spectacular mountain scenery, providing serious skiers limitless opportunities to schuss their days away. What keeps them lingering well into the night, though, is the glitzy and glamorous après-ski scene that unfolds here each evening, animating the charmingly antiquated buildings of this former silver-mining town (a quirky authenticity that sets it apart from the Rockies’ other chi-chi ski mecca of Vail). Take in a concert under the crystal chandeliers of the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889; delight your palate at one of the fabulous restaurants; or swap ski war stories over a cocktail. This fabled ski resort hosts plenty of hot bars and lounges — hit up Syzgy or Little Nell for cool jazz, while the historic Hotel Jerome houses the lively J-bar — a fave Aspen watering hole since 1889. There are tons of other choices, and happily, getting home after having a few is no issue — have the bartender call a free taxi through the “Tipsy Taxi” program, hop on the free late-night shuttle, or, for a real hoot, hire the “Ultimate Taxi,” a 1978 checkerboard taxi replete with disco balls, black lights, and 3-D effects.
2. Bariloche
If you’re hankering to ski some powder-packed slopes in the height of summer, head south to Argentina's premier ski destination of Bariloche — by mid-June, temperatures here have dropped to around 30° F, perfect for maintaining a cover of snow on Cerro Catedral Mountain. Besides the fact that conditions include over 42 miles of trails and lift tickets are cheap — we’re talking less than $20 for adults — snow bunnies who make the trek down south can revel in the vast of array of nightlife, dining, outdoor activities and casino action that have made Bariloche the second-most-visited destination in Argentina. Indeed, its happening, Buenos Aires-like after-dark scene will keep you up late — things really get hopping around midnight — but you can start the night off by playing the slots at the Hotel Panamericano, which also hosts live shows in the evening. One of the best times to visit is during the weeklong National Snow Party (held every July and/or August), a celebrated snow-filled fiesta with torchlight parades, a chocolate party, and other quirky events.
3. Chamonix Mont-Blanc
Don’t expend all of your energy schussing the slopes surrounding massive Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in Western Europe) — you’ll need to conserve if you’re going to take part in the almost equally exhilarating nightlife that unfolds in this charming mountain town each evening. Chamonix’s reputation as one of the most happening après-ski resorts in the Alps is well-deserved, with a location on the crossroads of France, Italy and Switzerland that makes it a natural multicultural mecca for serious skiers and even more serious partiers. Numerous bars and lounges lure ski bunnies away from the pistes with live bands and tempting drink specials from about 4 p.m. — and don’t plan on the party losing steam earlier than 4 a.m.! Hotspots include the sexy scene at Dicks Tea Bar, where dancing to international DJs carries on through the night; beer connoisseurs, meanwhile, make the trek to the Canadian-run microbrewery, MBC, for the best ales and pilsners in town. Of course, with some of the world's finest skiing and luxury chalets, there's plenty of high-brow excitement too, from the fine casino attracting high-rollers to the center of town, to luxe lounges and classical music recitals.
4. Cortina
Nestled beneath the magnificent Dolomite Peaks, the picturesque alpine village of Cortina is one of Europe's most glamorous winter wonderlands, attracting international jet-setters since hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics. Although fairly calm (compared to the après-ski scenes at some of the other top peaks on this list), this sophisticated mountain resort’s nighttime scene is no less noteworthy. After schussing down the mountain’s 90 miles of trails, well-heeled Italians, dressed to the nines, parade through the village after dinner, hitting up the swankiest spots for digestifs and cocktails. Favorites include Enoteca, an old wine bar where patrons can pair wines with cold cuts and cheese; Terrazza Viennese, an elegant café/bar serving pastries like crêpes flambé; Birreria Hacker Pschorrz, a Bavarian pub doling out pints of tasty beer; and the VIP Club which attracts a loyal crowd with an unwaveringly vivacious scene from midnight on.
5. Killington
A nod also must go to this East Coast winter favorite, where legions of skiers and snowboarders enjoy snow-filled action at the base of the mountain. Indeed, while Vermont's largest ski resort lacks any sort of quaint alpine charm, the slew of restaurants, bars, lodges, and shops along the eponymous Killington Road more than compensates. Two après-ski staples that everyone must sample — the Wobbly Barn and the Pickle Barrel — are both found here; the former, set in an old barn, is a popular haunt for happy hour and keeps the night going with live bands and a crowded dance floor, while the latter, a larger nightspot that doubles as a music venue, has hosted a variety of lesser-known and up-and-coming acts, like G Love & Special Sauce, Howie Day and Eddie Money. For those craving a high-class evening, fabulous Hemingway’s, an elegant New American restaurant ranked among the best in New England, beckons.
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