The Best Après-Ski Bars: Get Your Drank On After The Slopes
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The Granary at Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole
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The St. Regis Bar & Lounge at The St. Regis Deer Valley, Park City
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Dancing Bears at the High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid
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Fire Rock Lounge at The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler
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The Lobby Lounge at the Viceroy Snowmass, Aspen
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T-Bar at One Ski Hill Place, Breckenridge
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Palmyra Restaurant at The Peaks Resort and Spa, Telluride
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39 Degrees Lounge at the Sky Hotel, Aspen
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Six Peaks Grille at the Resort at Squaw Creek, Lake Tahoe
Akin to that elusive "nineteenth hole" in golf, après-ski scenes are more about socializing than sporting. Groups gather after the last run of the day to drink, dance, and relive any hairpin turns they might have experienced on the slopes. We've traveled to North America's premier ski locales and every time, after a blustery day on the mountains, nothing has warmed us up faster than a hot toddy by the fire in some of our favorite hotel bars. Featuring cozy ambiances, stunning views, and custom drinks, these hot spots are just the ticket for a solid après-ski social hour.
This après-ski gem in Jackson Hole offers delicious, locally-sourced cuisine. Cocktails are tasty and the views…well, the views pretty much speak for themselves. With The Granary set in a wildlife refuge more than 700 feet above the Jackson Valley, it's no wonder that the views are the most stunning of the Tetons in the area.
This luxury ski lodge offers a modern twist on the usual mountain decor in Park City. More chic than kitsch, this hip bar attracts a stylish clientele, ready to people-watch in a comfortable setting. Try the 7452 Mary -- a classic Bloody Mary cocktail made with Park City's High West Distillery Vodka 7000 and served with a salt rim and wasabi-celery foam. Not quite a hot toddy, but possibly just as good.
In addition to a cozy fireplace-centered setting indoors, the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid features the Dancing Bears Restaurant and Bar. This popular locale was a stop for many athletes celebrating after the 1980 Winter Olympic Games that was held in town. Today, it remains one of the area's most entertaining après-ski (or all day) stops. The Miracle on Ice cocktail is a nod to the victorious 1980 US Olympic hockey team -- and the drink's Long Island Iced Tea-inspired ingredients will have you in a victorious mindset all day long (no matter how that Black Diamond slalom went).
The views of Whistler are to die for from the outdoor terrace at the Fire Rock Lounge. Though the terrace is often closed during the winter months, the great indoors is just as nice, with a huge fireplace that gives the bar its name.
This fitting après-ski desintation in Aspen offers a double-sided fireplace, fine wine, small bites, and vintage cognac. It's an upscale take on a mountain lodge, with unique art and books to explore while you chat fireside.
One of the hottest apres-ski locales in Breckenridge, T-Bar is located slope-side at the base of Peak 8. The BreckConnect Gondola is just a few feet away from the entrance, making getting into town a breeze.
Offering an impressive (and varied) apres-ski menu featuring oysters, a lamb burger, and tuna tacos, Palmyra Restaurant in Telluride is a delicious choice for your post-slope party. There are also extensive beer and wine lists available.
Primarily used as a hip, modern lodge-style bar, 39 Degrees also serves breakfast, dinner, and a late-night menu full of local, Colorado-inspired food. If the cool mountain air is more your style, the outdoor pool deck has one of the best après-ski scenes in Aspen.
There are many options for doing apres-ski at this luxe Lake Tahoe resort. In addition to the sumptuous foods and stunning views to be had at the Six Peaks Grille, skiers can make a stop at the Chuckwagon, an outdoor barbecue spot, for some music and dancing after the slopes. There is also a pub with a pool table and several flat-screens for catching up on sports.
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