By Rachael Oakes-Ash
Après isn't for everyone, you have to be committed. A quiet beer at the end of a ski day isn't going to cut it, you can do that at home. Schnapps and gluhwein count, so do martinis served at altitude. Champagne always counts, especially if sprayed while dancing on a bar in your ski boots.
A tipple after a day on the slopes.
If you're willing to accept the challenge then trust us, you'll find the après you're looking for at any of these spots. Remember though, drinking at altitude is like having doubles at sea level.
There Bar, Telluride, US
This is not an easy bar to find. Where? There. See what we mean. Don't give up though, the walk through Telluride's version of suburbia (the town has only 2000 residents) will be worth it when you stumble upon this hole in the wall cocktail bar. Those in the know grab a seat at the bar and order a grapefruit martini straight up. The bar staff are Colorado's version of hipster, all man buns and tattoos with a friendly smile and complimentary bags of popcorn (yes, for real). Jake Gyllenhaal was hanging out when we were There. Just saying. See www.Therebars.com
See also: Three minute guide to Telluride, Colorado
No Name Saloon, Park City, US
Forget everything you've heard about drinking in Utah and head to No Name Saloon on Main Street. The motto of this two-storey American saloon-style bar with rooftop terrace is "helping people forget their names since 1903". OK then. This place is pumping throughout winter. If you're in town in December grab a prime people-watching pew at the annual Santa Pub Crawl when the town goes all out on ugly Christmas sweaters, tinsel and Santa costumes. Don't forget to look up and check out the paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling, including a motorbike. See www.nonamesaloon.net
See also: The secret charms of Park City no one talks about
Cloud 9, Aspen Highlands, US
Technically, this is lunch that turns into après. But it only counts if you get a table for the second daily sitting at 2pm. Take your credit card or ensure you're invited on someone else's tab as this could get costly. Order food as soon as you sit down, line your stomach, start sipping champagne and toe tapping to the beat of the DJ spinning tunes to build the crowd to a crescendo. Come 3pm you'll be on your chair singing along, dancing like a wild thing and, depending on your budget, either spraying champagne or drowning in the spray of someone else spraying more champagne. The place shuts at 4pm when the chairlifts do and you and your champagne-sodden crew will have to ski down to the base to continue the festivities. www.aspensnowmass.com
See also: Twenty reasons to visit Aspen
The Bunker Bar, Queenstown, NZ
Hard to pick just one in a town that has more than 150 licensed establishments in one square kilometre but The Bunker can be trusted come late night every time. DJs, roof terrace, killer martinis and a back lane location. When the après continues through dinner and beyond then this is where you head for rambling conversations with new found best friends forever (until tomorrow). See www.thebunker.co.nz
See also: Does skiing in New Zealand live up to the hype?
The Mangy Moose Saloon, Jackson Hole, US
It would be rude not to show your head at least once in the Mangy Moose while on ski tour in Jackson Hole. This bar has legendary ski bum status and yes, there are moose, on the ceiling. There is also live music. The crowd is a younger hard-core free-skier scene so it's not for everyone. You can always have "just the one" and head to the Four Seasons close by if you prefer canapes to bar nuts. Mangymoose.com
Ski Après Bar at The Farinet, Verbier, Switzerland
The Farinet Hotel is a den of après design with Après Ski, Farinet Lounge bar and Farinet South nightclub. If you plan to make it until closing at 4am then you will need to pace yourself as the Après Ski bar here can take you down early. The bar opens from 4pm to 9pm only and has a live band every night. The roof slides back to let in the air and night sky. Imagine letting loose a hundred children on red cordial and you have Après Ski. It is in one word, crazy. Best to peek your head in for a look-see from the Lounge Bar if you prefer cocktails to shots and free flowing beer. www.hotelfarinet.com
See also: Six of the best: Swiss historic hotels
MooserWirt, St Anton, Austria
Some say Austria invented après, but then they clearly don't realise the word is French. The Austrians, however, are the undisputed kings and queens of both alpine skiing and post alpine skiing culture. The MooserWirt (and its neighbour the Krazy Kanguruh) is typical ski in, stumble out, dance on tables from mid-afternoon in the sun. There's a DJ and jugs of beers and the usual alpine shots. Be warned, you will have to ski back down to the village once you are done. Mooserwirt.at
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See also: The world's 12 most amazing ski hotels
See also: Colorado's biggest secret: The last great ski town
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