Any après is good, but not all après is great. What makes great après? Like all subjective questions, the boring but correct answer is, “it depends.” The common thread amongst our favorite spots is that we can't stop coming back! No one offs. No gimmicks. Some fancy. Some casual. Some quiet. Some loud. Big and small. Historical and new. Some with a view. All beloved.
Summary of our Top 12 Après Spots (by location from West to East): * Click the venue name to jump to that section
Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill – WhistlerBlackcomb, BC
Le Chamois – Palisades Tahoe, CA
Clockteller Cellar – Mammoth Mountain, CA
Grumpy's – Sun Valley, ID
Tip's Up – Big Sky, MT
No Name Saloon — Park City, UT
St. Regis Bar & Mountain Terrace – Deer Valley, UT
Mangy Moose — Jackson Hole, WY
Handle Bar — Jackson Hole, WY
J-Bar — Aspen, CO
The Red Lion — Vail, CO
The Beach — Arapahoe Basin, CO
*These are just a few of our favorite spots. Did you know that all of our resort guides have an après guide with our top spots broken down by category and value? Resort names below in blue link to the related Avant Ski Resort Guide when available.
Skiing or riding in the East? View 10 of the Best Après Ski Bars on the East Coast from our friends at All About Après.
Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill — Whistler, BC
Venue: Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill
Resort: WhistlerBlackcomb
Best for: People Watching
Value: $$
Sometimes you want to stumble off the mountain after a killer day and grab a beer, but the cool spot to grab a beverage is far away. Not the problem at Garibaldi Lift Co, (GLC), which is conveniently located above the Gondola Building with great views, fabulous outdoor space with plentiful fire pits, and a festive atmosphere that can go for hours. In an area rich with après options, GLC stands out as one of our favorites.
Le Chamois — Palisades Tahoe, CA
Venue: Le Chamois & The Loft Bar
Resort: Palisades Tahoe
Best for: Pitchers of Beer, Dog Watching
Value: $$
Le Chamois & The Loft Bar, aka The Shammy, is a party at the base of Olympic Valley. Ski right up to a crowded, outdoor bar where pitchers of beer are passed around while everyone is dancing and forgetting that their boots are killing them. Be ready for an occasional snowball fight, people watching and even better dog watching. This is a place to see and be seen. Head inside for classic bar food and scope out the walls adorned with local ski stars of the past.
Clocktower Cellar — Mammoth, CA
Venue: Clocktower Cellar
Resort: Mammoth Mountain
Best for: Beer, Whiskey, Late Nights
Value: $
Clocktower Cellar, in the basement of the Alpenhof Lodge, is the whiskey bar in Mammoth Lakes with over 160 options. The bartenders will help you find something you will like no matter your taste or your budget. Beer selection spans Coors Banquet to the local June Lake Brewing Co., which are all perfect for the crowded pool table. We love the totchos (nachos made with tater tots) and the fish tacos.
Grumpy's — Sun Valley, ID
Venue: Grumpy's
Resort: Sun Valley
Best for: Draft Beers & Burgers
Value: $
It's hard to be grumpy at Grumpy’s in Ketchum, Idaho. They serve draft beers in 32 ounce schooners, a glass goblet that will have you feeling like a monarch from Medieval Europe. If you are looking for a beefy delight and don't have the time or the budget for the steaks at Pioneer Saloon, don't skip the Grumpy's burger. The word is out, so get there early for a spot inside, although the deck outside is a pretty nice place to hang, too.
Tips Up — Big Sky, MT
Venue: Tips Up
Resort: Big Sky
Best for: Live Music, Dancing, Fried Chicken
Value: $
Bottoms up at Tips Up at Big Sky. This place can get pretty wild late night with great live music. They have a drop shot menu, shot skis, and are self-proclaimed devotees to “the art of the fried chicken sandwich.” We recommend the Crispy Spicy version, though it's more about the music and the drinks than the food.
No Name Saloon — Park City, UT
Venue: No Name Saloon
Resort: Park City
Best for: Raucous Dinner
Value: $$
No Name Saloon is smack in the middle of Main Street in Park City. The number one rule here is, “Don’t be a wimp, try the buffalo. You may never eat beef again.” A lengthy beer list is complemented by signature cocktails, including the No Name Bloody. Beware though, they don’t take reservations. Come early or expect to wait.
St. Regis – Deer Valley, UT
Venue: St. Regis Bar & Mountain Terrace
Resort: Deer Valley
Best for: Luxury & Fire Pits
Value: $$$$
If Deer Valley hasn't pampered you enough, take the funicular up to the St. Regis Bar and grab a drink and enjoy the view at Mountain Terrace outside, or head inside for a white tablecloth French lunch. Champagne sabering starts at 5:30pm and then the fun commences. The cocktail menu is robust and includes a signature 7452 Mary with a black lava salt rim. The menu isn't huge, but the food is tasty. Make sure to find a seat outside by the fire pit.
Mangy Moose – Teton Village, WY
Venue: Mangy Moose
Resort: Jackson Hole
Best for: Live Music
Value: $$
The Mangy Moose is a Jackson Hole institution – it’s big and it’s been there since 1967. The Moose is rowdy, fun, and a near perfect example of an après ski bar. Ski or ride up to a deck with people spilling out onto the snow. If you don’t want to wait for a table downstairs, go upstairs where tables are first come first serve. Pair your Sloshie (slushy with booze) or pitcher with a giant plate of satisfying nachos or the local bison meatloaf.
The Handle Bar – Teton Village, WY
Venue: Handle Bar
Resort: Jackson Hole
Best for: Steins and Pretzels
Value: $$$
The Handle Bar at the Four Seasons—a stone’s throw from Teewinot lift—has a patio with heaters to relax after ripping through Corbet's (or not). If it's cold, head inside for a cozy bar with great food and drinks. They make their own Fireball, or order the boozy hot chocolate. The food and drinks compliment this perfect setting.
J-Bar – Aspen, CO
Venue: J-Bar
Resort: Aspen, CO
Best for: Cocktails, Wine
Value: $$$
In historic downtown Aspen on the first floor of the historic Hotel Jerome is the historic J-Bar. Make sure you come early or are ready to wait. J-Bar doesn't take reservations, but is well worth the wait for one of the the best burgers in a town of great food. It's Aspen, so you won't be the only one in a designer cowboy hat.
The Red Lion – Vail, CO
Venue: The Red Lion
Resort: Vail, CO
Best for: Classic Beer & Nachos
Value: $$
Just a few steps from the base of Gondola 1, The Red Lion is an oldie but goodie. A long standing favorite spot of ours to grab a beer after a day on the mountain. A seemingly endless selection of beers and a large menu of après ski classics awaits. The nachos, pretty much what you dream of for après ski nachos, are a staple. Portions are generous so come hungry, bring friends or plan for a later dinner. The live music is captivating, the crowd is friendly, and you will soon be wondering where the evening went.
The Beach - Arapahoe Basin, CO
Venue: The Beach
Resort: Arapahoe Basin, CO
Best for: Tailgating
Value: $
The Beach is the only parking lot on the list. Nothing against other parking lots, but none of them are named The Beach, where the party starts early and doesn’t end when the lifts stop . It’s an all-day tailgate with BBQers smoking meats in the beds of pickup trucks, college kids partying, and families picnicking. The Beach is best in the spring, but nothing beats a post-ski beer in the parking lot any time of the year. Make a reservation for a parking spot, otherwise you’re going to have to make friends, which won’t be hard at The Beach.
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