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Which resorts offer the greatest entertainment after a day’s skiing?
It’s when the lifts shut and the sun dips below the mountains that Val d’Isère really starts to come to life. This French resort is home to the original La Folie Douce après-ski bar.
On winter afternoons, it’s not rare to see a thousand or more skiers drinking, singing and dancing here – even on the tables if there’s space. There are DJs, professional dancers, musicians, light shows and acrobats. Of course, there are great après-ski spots all over the Alps, but if there’s a mecca for happy hour on the mountain, this is surely it.
First launched in the early 2000s by Luc Reversade, La Folie Douce started as a tiny self-service restaurant and has since grown meteorically into a behemoth of a hospitality franchise, with 25 restaurants, 22 bars, 10 shops and a hotel across eight different resorts.
Head of the company now is Luc’s son, Artur Reversade, along with his brother César. He stresses how La Folie Douce now offers far more than mere apres-ski.
“Beyond gastronomy and hospitality, La Folie Douce stands as a true cultural force in the mountains,” he says, explaining how he hopes his brand will survive as a winter attraction, even as global warming melts the snow at lower levels.
“La Folie Douce is not just a mountain restaurant anymore,” he adds. “It’s a village on the slopes.”
La Folie Douce aside, where are the other great resorts for apres-ski action? This winter, airport transfer company hoppa carried out a European survey on this very subject.
Top of the list was French resort Chamonix, with its legendary late-night bars and nightclubs. Far more surprising was Bansko, in Bulgaria, which took second place in the survey, thanks to its mix of traditional restaurants (known as mehanas), modern bars and late-night clubs.
In third place was the Jungfrau region, in Austria, followed by Kitzbühel, Sölden, Courchevel and Val d’Isère.
Chris Harrington, is managing director at hoppa. He explains how his researchers used Tripadvisor to find out exactly how many nightlife spots each resort offers, including bars, clubs, pubs, après-ski venues, live music spots and cocktail lounges.
He stresses how the best resorts for party atmosphere need a mixture of on-mountain spots for afternoon entertainment as well as village bars and nightclubs for later in the evening.
“On-mountain bars allow the fun to begin before you’ve even taken your boots off, letting you and your fellow skiers enjoy the camaraderie, atmosphere and picturesque sunsets over the Alps,” he tells OnTheSnow. “But village nightlife allows the party to continue into the night.”
He says there’s no great mystery to creating an exciting après-ski environment. “Ultimately, it boils down to good music, friendly hospitality and plenty of spaces for people to mingle,” he adds. “Above all else, it’s about that shared celebration after a day on the mountain.”
Harrington, who lives in Surrey, says British skiers deserve acclaim for their après-ski zeal and ability to party hard. But they’re not the overall champions.
“We Brits really know how to have a great time, but I’d have to give the prize to the Austrians overall,” he explains. “As a nation they practically invented the modern après-ski experience, giving us everything from brass bands to epic steins, and their love of schnapps and shots.
“There’s also a cultural element at play here. Après-ski is an essential part of the day for Austrians and not an optional extra, as some other nations view it. Often, their mountain huts are designed for it and resort schedules heavily accommodate opportunities to socialise.”
But of all the hard-partying après-ski spots across Europe, which does Harrington rate number one?
“I’d have to go with La Folie Douce in Val d’Isère,” he says. “It offers the quintessential après-ski experience. It’s an open-air venue, so you can enjoy the good weather and take in the scenic views. And it has great live music and performances to keep the energy going until the evening. For me, it truly sets the benchmark.”
Here are some of most renowned après-ski resorts around the world.
Val d’Isère
While La Folie Douce may be the focal point for on-mountain parties, don’t overlook the other drinking spot on the slopes – L’Ouillette.
At the foot of the slopes you’ll find DJ sets at L’Etincelle (with its impressive wine cellar) and Le Cocorico (open until 9pm every day) while in Daille there’s the ever-lively La Rosée Blanche and the Bar des Tontons (open until 7pm with live music every Friday). Nightclubs include IMA and Doudoune Club.
“Never stop dancing,” says the latter. “Doudone is full of life. It’s plump, colourful and well lit up. It can be hairy, spotted and speckled. But one thing is certain: it’s enchanting. Doudoune is full of magic in the middle of the night.” (‘Doudoune’ means ‘down jacket’ in French, but quite what all this means is anyone’s guess.)
Chamonix
With a whole host of bars (including Le Brev’Bar, La Folie Douce, Bighorn Bistro and Big Mountain Basecamp), there’s plenty of action here once the lifts shut.
For later in the evening there is L’Amnesia nightclub, often open until 6am. And if you stay that long, amnesia is pretty much guaranteed.
Bansko
Considered one of the liveliest ski resorts in Eastern Europe, this Bulgarian town really knows how to party – and it’s a lot cheaper than its Western European counterparts.
Start off at Happy End Bar or S’Cheers, where you can dance to loud music – on the tables if that’s your thing. Then head for Amigos Bar (where you’ll likely catch a live band), Contrabar (DJs playing electronic music) or Lion’s Pub (karaoke in a British-style pub).
For nightclubs, try Flash Club, Oxygen disco-bar or Jack’s House.
St Anton am Arlberg
Austria is where the concept of après-ski first originated, and St Anton may well be the hardest-partying resort in all of Austria. Expect beer halls reminiscent of Oktoberfest, with table dancing, lederhosen and live bands.
Krazy Kanguruh is one of the most famous spots, while MooserWirt, Basecamp and Bobos try their best to keep the beer flowing just as fast.
Hemsedal
Do you believe in trolls? In Nordic folklore, these huge monsters live in the mountains and are considered highly dangerous, with an appetite for human flesh.
Which is why the 2025 Netflix movie Troll 2 set one of its standout scenes in the Norwegian resort of Hemsedal – much of the action in a real-life, three-storey nightclub called Stavkroa, legendary for its party atmosphere. Less well-known venues include Skistua and Hollvin.
Aspen-Snowmass
While the United States après-ski scene is a rather poor cousin of what we enjoy in Europe, Aspen-Snowmass is one resort that bucks the trend. Recognised by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as having the best après-ski in North America, it offers a mix of sophisticated (and rather pricey) restaurants and bars – such as Elk Camp in Snowmass, Ajax Tavern on Aspen Mountain, The Wine Bar at Little Nell’s, and the Limelight lounges at both Aspen and Snowmass.
For more upbeat party vibes, try Eleven212 and Sundeck on Aspen Mountain, or Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro and Merry-Go-Round in Aspen Highlands.
Whistler-Blackcomb
With resort staff and instructors from all over the world, this is a truly international resort where people of all nationalities love to party together.
At the base of the Creekside gondola is Dusty’s Bar & BBQ (named after a stuffed horse who used to overlook the bar). Merlins Bar & Grill is a quintessential Canadian slope-side cabin at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, home of local rockers The Hairfarmers.
Other great venues include Longhorn Saloon, Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub and Tapley’s Pub.
Livigno
This resort’s special tax-free status means you can buy alcohol at reduced prices in the shops, while avoiding VAT on drinks in bars and restaurants.
The biggest and most renowned spot is Stalet, with its huge terrace. Other dynamic venues include Bivio Club, Milky’s Disco Club and David’s Apres-Ski.
December 15, 2025
