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Our cousins across the pond aren’t known to do things by halves, and you can bet your bottom dollar that après ski’s no exception. Centred on great American grub and lots of feel-good atmosphere, the après scene in the States is the perfect wind-down after a day on the hill.
You’ll find the offerings vary from ski town to ski town, which lets you pick a resort that suits your style of relaxing. Whether you’re partying with Paris Hilton in Aspen or swigging Prairie Dew with the cowboys of Jackson Hole, there’s never a dull moment off the slopes here.
USA: Top Ski Resorts for Apres Ski
Long held as the bee’s-knees of U.S. ski towns, luxury’s woven in to the fabric in Aspen, so it’s no surprise that it’s a premiere location for those who love a bit of the good life in their après. The undisputed place to be is the Ajax Tavern – indulge in the decadent house-special truffle fries and a glass or two of sparkling wine on their sunbathed slope-side terrace while watching skiers descend the mountain. This is a town known for it’s A-list attendance, and the 39 Degrees Lounge is where most of the socialites head. Chair 9 is the place to watch big sports events and almost always has a DJ on the decks. Hops Culture serves all the beers you could want for, and Red Onion is another local institution worth checking out at least once.
While the Teton ski village has some super places to eat & drink (most notably the Mangy Moose Saloon), the real fun to be had’s down the valley in Jackson. Wyoming is the heart of cowboy country, so specialises in live Bluegrass music – the Silver Dollar Bar and legendary Million Dollar Cowboy Bar here both regularly have local bands harmoniously strumming banjos and squeaking fiddles... On Sunday nights there’s only one place to be – The Stagecoach Bar. Their house band have played here every Sunday for over forty years and the frontman is ski and snowboard hall of fame member Bill Briggs.
Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Tahoe’s a ski area with two identities. But when it’s apres-o-clock, the 9 resorts under the Tahoe umbrella are far more Sin City than Hollywood - the daily Unbuckle Après party in Heavenly takes place at 9,150 feet and comes with all the trimmings: Drinks deals, dancers and thumping music. Then it’s on to the casinos and bars (the Hard Rock Hotel at South Lake Tahoe has both) to take advantage of Nevada’s 24-hour-drinking laws – the party here quite literally never stops. Keep an eye out for DJ Cat - a roaming snow cat-turned-transformer that opens out at the back to reveal a DJ booth and beast of a sound system…
Beaver Creek tends to go for classy over crazy when the lifts stop churning, and you’ll spend most of your hours off deciding which of the local drinks menus has your new favourite tipple. High-end margaritas at The Dusty Boot are the place to start, followed by small-batch bourbons and fine whiskies at (it’s all in the name) The Whiskey Elk. That’s not to say pluckier après doesn’t exist; Coyote Café’s a Beaver fave for lively beers and no-frills Mexican grub after the ski boots come off. The pinnacle of the refined atmosphere nurtured in this neck of the woods is the Grouse Mountain Grill - a gourmet American bistro-style restaurant in the heart of Beaver Creek, known for its exceptional vintages.
Aspen’s younger sibling in the family of Ritzy Colorado ski resorts, Vail is fast catching up with its big sister. While this Austrian-styled mountain resort’s bars and clubs are every bit as glam as A-town, the real joy here’s in the food, and a long lunch at the highly esteemed on-mountain Game Creek Restaurant has to be among one of the best meals we’ve had all year. Think Five-star American bistro cuisine, award-winning wine lists and access only by snow cat. If you feel the need to get your head out of the clouds a while, The Red Lion is the place: Pub grub, drinks and an upbeat atmosphere that lasts way in to the night, when some of Vail’s more stylish partygoers will start sipping cocktails to the best beats in town at the Samana Lounge.
With over 150 years of history and its more recent boom as a ski town, the home of the winter Dew Tour has racked up more than 70 bars and restaurants. After the lifts have closed, we like to head to T-Bar at the base of Peak 8 – you’ll find it filled to the rafters with Breckenites enjoying beers and snacks and swapping stories from their day on the mountain. The simply named Apres is definitely one to check out, serving the finest from all things craft. Beers, small-batch bourbons and whiskies and their own menu of hand-crafted cocktails, the menu’s in constant flux with fresh new flavours, and they even let you bring along or order in your favourite food to go with your chosen tipple. When night falls, Cecilia’s Martini Bar pumps out music from DJ’s and live bands until the early hours.
While glitz, glam and Rolls Royce resorts are a feast for the eyes, from time to time the heart wants something simpler. Despite its world-class ski area, Winter Park has managed to keep humble, and that’s far from a bad thing! Start off by tucking into the finger-licking-good menu at Club Car or Pepperoni's. Then it's onto Ullr’s Tavern, a hub for young locals, for live music, drinks and pool ‘til 2(am). But if a party’s what you really want from Winter Park, head here for Springtopia: Through the entire month of April the resort celebrates the end of season in style, with free events like on-piste DJ parties and live music.
Known more for champagne powder than champagne showers, time after hitting the hill above this old cowboy town is best spent sipping a cold one with the locals at Carl’s Tavern. Forget about all-night dancing, and trade your headband for a Stetson to relish what Steamboat Spring’s après does best – authentic wild-west bars and unpretentious American nosh. The atmosphere’s just as laid back by the piste, and on a clear day there’s no better place to be than the ‘beach’ in the Slopeside Grill, where locals and visitors get their fill of beer, wings and more beer in the Colorado sunshine.
Park City doesn’t jump off the page as a hotbed of après antics, but where there’s a will there’s a way and this old mining town-turned-ski resort still has some top-notch locations for those looking for a drink (or five). No Name Saloon is one of them (try their famous Buffalo Burger), as is Legends Bar just off the slopes. We could easily spend hours in O'Shucks on Main Street, where their signature Scooby Snacks are marvellously moreish. If you like to don your dancing shoes, Cisero's Bar often has DJ's and themed nights and always has a cracking atmosphere.
American Après-ski FAQ:
Craft beer and cocktails are the most popular post-ski drink choices in America, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with all kinds of international favourites when it comes to food. Bars throw plenty of live music gigs and DJ sets if you like a lively night, or quieter options would be loosening up in the spa or watching a film.
Around mid-late afternoon (3-5ish), once happy hours kick in and people start to finish on the slopes.
- Live bands & DJ’s
- Shopping
- Cinema
- Leisure centres & spas
- Snow tubing
American bistro style grills and burgers, Italian pizza and pasta, sizzling Mexican fajitas and most things in-between. You’ll find an almighty array of craft beers to quench your thirst, as well as high-end cocktails and fine whiskeys to warm the tum.
Usually ski resort etiquette deems it perfectly acceptable to stay in the gear you’ve spent the day in. Swap ski boots for snow boots and your goggles for sunglasses then remove a layer or two to transform your outfit.
- Mangy Moose, Jackson Hole
- Garfinkel’s, Vail
- No Name Saloon, Park City
- Unbuckle après party, Heavenly
- Cloud 9, Aspen
Mangy Moose in Jackson Hole is a cracking tavern with live music, serving great steak and seafood dishes too.
- Belly Up in Aspen
- Club Red in Telluride
- Sheridan Opera House in Telluride
- The Historic Brown in Breckenridge
- Silver Dollar Bar & Grill in Jackson Hole
Vail Cascade Resort and Spa in Vail is home to the elegant Fireside Lounge bar, an exquisite spa, and a fine-dining restaurant. The Little Nell (Aspen), is home to Element 47 restaurant and Chair 9 - Aspen’s place-to-be bar. The Zermatt Utah Adventure Resort & Spa in Park City has it all - the Pub bar is a great place for après drinking, or check out the steakhouse, European bakery and indoor-outdoor pool.
Our favourites include Manzanita in Lake Tahoe for gourmet, Robbie’s Tavern in Breckenridge for families and The 10th in Vail for scenery.
Most resorts have snow tubing slopes which are great fun. In Park City, the family can practise problem-solving in an escape room challenge. Telluride features Kids Night Out twice a week where youngsters play games and make crafts. In Aspen, Fort Frog is a fort-style adventure playground with rope bridges and wooden towers.
Generally, kids are allowed in American bars, although not usually at the counter. It’s best to check with the bar or restaurant beforehand if you’re unsure, and there might be a curfew time after which children are not allowed.
Age 21 for buying alcohol, and the consumption age will vary from state to state, sometimes it’s 18, sometimes it can be lower if drinking with adults.
(this information was accurate when written)
You’ll probably spend $5-10 on a beer which equates to roughly £4-8. Did you SNO: a US pint is about 100ml smaller than a UK pint.
(this information was accurate when written)
This is a time during the day when you’ll find some smashing drinks deals, like half-price beers, wines or appetisers. Often lasting more than an hour, most places won’t be shy of advertising their happy hour to make sure you don’t miss it.
Lots of places are great spots for stags and hens - or bachelors and bachelorettes as they’re called across the pond - to party. If you’re a big group it’s usually best to book ahead for a table.
Nearly all USA ski resorts sell half-day lift passes which sometimes work out better value if you don’t plan to shred from dawn ‘til dusk. Some also sell evening only passes for night skiing.
Cards will be accepted in most places but it’s always worth carrying a few dollars in case of an emergency. Most resorts have ATMs for cash withdrawals. If spending on your card, it’s worth checking with your bank about foreign transaction and currency exchange fees before you set off.
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