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Top 10 après-ski scenes
6. Lake Tahoe
Take the Vegas vibe out of the desert and plop it by some dozen downhill mountain resorts and you’ll get a feel for the gaming-cum-alpine attitude that is Lake Tahoe. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada range, on the cusp of California and Nevada, this winter retreat offers abundant snow play, neon-lit casinos, and the largest alpine lake in North America. The south shore (on the Nevada side) is where you’ll want to set up camp if you’re looking for the liveliest après-ski scene, since it’s chockfull of casinos, hotels, and mini-malls. Sister casino of a Vegas bigwig, Harrah's is a one-stop nightlife destination with nightly live entertainment and a club, Altitude, that invites dancers to groove to pulsating beats till 4am (the casino itself never closes). Another big evening draw is the Pub Tahoe, across from the Heavenly gondola, which hosts a large post-skiing crowd that parties on until closing (live acts perform upstairs).
7. St. Anton
St. Anton (tack on “am Arlberg” for the town’s proper name) is prided on being one of the birthplaces of skiing, offering up superb alpine pistes, an attractive village of domed churches and cozy chalets, and an after-the-slopes party scene that has simmered to perfection through the generations. The compact pedestrian zone means you can give your legs a rest off the slopes, as just a short stroll finds dozens of bars, restaurants and gasthofs serving up schnapps, locally brewed beer, and lots of good fun. Some faves include Mooserwirt, with its elbow-to-elbow happy hour and live music, and The Underground, a British pub that's your best bet for a pint of Guinness and good tunes — don’t be surprised to see women dancing on the table with their ski boots on! Late night discos, karaoke bars, Austrian accordions and even places where you can foxtrot until dawn promise a little something for everyone. In fact, you needn’t look further than the top of the slopes for a little aperitif to kick things off — huts serving up glühwein (hot red wine spiked with a local schnapps) make a tempting proposition on the pistes.
8. Telluride
This Rocky Mountain resort is reminiscent of its rowdy mining-town roots (notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank here), but not without a splash of 21st-century sophistication. While sister Rockies towns like Vail and Aspen demand refinement both on and off the slopes, Telluride invites visitors to dig into the rugged slopes and to throw one back at a neighborhood pub. But that’s not to say it’s a town without class — in fact, the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Telluride has more good restaurants per person than any resort in the Rockies." And when it comes to nightlife, it’s an unparalleled experience when this National Historic District hosts the party. A central district of historic Victorian buildings, since converted into bars, shops, and eateries, and all shadowed by the majestic scenery of the San Juan Mountains, make for a picture-perfect night on the town. Not to miss après-ski spots include the landmark, century-old New Sheridan Bar, with its mahogany paneling and hand-carved bar that conjure images of the Wild Wild West over happy-hour specials; Fly Me to the Moon Saloon, with its regular roster of live music performances; and the laid-back Last Dollar Saloon (dubbed “the Buck” by locals), home to a jammin’ jukebox, a great selection of beer, and the best margaritas in town.
9. Whistler
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, situated just a couple of hours from Vancouver, are synonymous with great skiing. As one of the premier resorts in North America, the area has little difficulty attracting snow bunnies to its slopes — and, after the sun goes down, it easily convinces them to stick around with one of the continent’s hottest après-ski scenes. Mountain views, outdoorsy revelers and live music greet party-goers after the lifts close (and even earlier for some) at the numerous bars and lounges that dot this picturesque mountain town. The central village street of this perfectly planned community hosts the bulk of the action — there’s even a free shuttle at the base of each mountain to get you around until midnight. The Garibaldi Lift Company at the base of the Whistler Village gondola, or Merlin’s, at the base of Blackcomb are the stellar spots to sit back, relax, and start sippin’ straight off the slopes. Younger crowds flock for late-night dancing at Tommy Africa’s while Garfinkel’s keeps the beats pumping for a slightly older crowd. The dimly-lit Maxx Fish attracts a late-night 20-somethings crowd, while the funky Amsterdam Café in Village Square offers up pub fare and people-watching. You may even catch a talented music group passing through from Vancouver — the popular The Boot Pub is your best bet for live music.
10. Zermatt
World-class Zermatt has become the quintessential alpine resort, with over 195 miles of trails, luxurious hotels, fashionable boutiques, ritzy restaurants, and a smattering of bars and clubs on and off the mountain. Thanks to strict zoning laws, this fairytale-like Swiss town counts no building taller than a four-story chalet; more charming still are the horse-drawn sleighs and electric taxis that are the town’s sole modes of transport (only doctors are permitted to have a car). Even before the lifts close, skiers can stop off at slope-side pubs, like the Olympia Stübli (on the way down from the Sunnegga Paradise section) or Zum See (on the way down from Furi), to warm up with a mug of traditional glühwein (hot spiced wine) before making their way down to the base — of course, one too many of these and the downhill trek is all the more challenging! Once you shed your snow gear, dozens of bars and pubs in Zermatt proper will keep you out into the wee hours. A few to check out are: Panorama Bar, set at the top of the Nicoletta Hotel with views of the town; Hotel de la Poste for dancing; GramPi’s Pub for a rowdy good time; and Vernissage, which touts a multi-level complex of bars, art galleries, and an old Hollywood-style movie theater.
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