What Are The World's Best Ski Town Bars?

Park City Utah High West Distillery & Saloon

If you're heading to Vail this winter plan on trading the crowded après-ski scene on Bridge Street for the small town of Minturn, which is located just a few minutes past West Vail on I-70.  

Minturn's Main Street has a host of great "local bars," including the famous Minturn Saloon a historical bar known for their strong margs and funky decor. If you are up for the challenge you can access the saloon from Vail mountain via the Minturn Mile, a sidecountry trail off the backside of Game Creek Bowl-- just make sure you are comfortable with out-of-bounds skiing and know backcountry rules. 

Another great bar on Main Street is Kirby Cosmo's BBQ Bar. Not only do they have the best BBQ in the Colorado high country, but they also a great selection of draft beers and live music on the weekends.

Venture a little further west down I-70 into Edwards and you'll find Crazy Mountain Brewing Co, Vail's only production brewery. They have an amazing selection of microbrews, including my favorite Mountain Livin' Pale Ale. Enjoy! 

All of the answers to date refer to US bars, none of which compare to the apres-ski bars of Europe such as the Krazy Kanguruh Bier Bar and MooserWirt in St Anton, La Folie Douce in Val D'Isere or Le Rond Point in Meribel. 

The US could learn a lot from Europe when it comes to post-ski partying! 

Mangy Moose in Jackson Hole, WY is widely recognized as one of the premiere Apres Ski scenes in North America. Rowdy, live music every day, tall drinks, cheap prices and a large space. A Raucous good time!

Breckenridge! First AMAZING skiing! But what makes it the best is its a real town (365) so there is not only amazing skiing, mountain biking, fishing and hiking but you get great shopping -boutique and grocery. Plus great restaurants that have to be good enough to stay open all year, not just for tourists. Plus if you have a family some of the local kids programs - ski lessons on peak 9 or 10, the rec center or the science museum there are great options! If you need a great place to stay check this place out: www.vrbo.com/672465 it's 0.3 miles from the main gondola and huge at 1900 sqft, plus it's set up perfectly for groups or families!

My vote is for Vail or Park City. Both because the slopes and crowds there are awesome. Especially in Park City, after a long day out on the mountain, the energy is still top notch at night. Tons of saloons and an old town feel. And they have heli- skiing. 

Hi, Trevor! In Breckenridge, I love Angel's Hollow for under-the-radar, Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon for the historic back bar (it's a cool locals' scene at happy hour and you can get the full menu served here), and the Gold Pan Bar and Restaurant is a classic (plus it's said to have the oldest continually-operated liquor license west of the Mississippi River).  

The J Bar in the lobby of Hotel Jerome, Aspen CO.

Uludağ in Bursa is the best ski resort in Turkey. Bars in this resort are very good.

In Banff :

- Elk & Oarsman Restaurant & Pub (great food, rooftop patio)
- St James's Gate Irish Pub (good food, usually has good small music acts)
- Wild Bill's Legendary Saloon (live music)

Loon Mountain NH. Both downhill and cross country skiers will find tons of trails for their ski levels. The condos around the slope are rentable for families or friend-amilies with activities at the complexes social areas and nightlife all around the slope and town. Great restaurants ( though I moan the demise of the Roadkill). But the Best is it's proximity to the scenic Kangamangus Highway and all the super retail shopping in North Conway.

Levi's after-ski in Finland is legendary - but you need to fly to Northern FInland. Yes, it is long and expensive trip, but well worthwhile - especially if you are travelling single and are looking to have all out crazy fun. Do it in February or March - that is the best time.
http://www.levi.fi/en/enjoy-levi/food-fun/apres-ski-pubs-night-clubs.html

Best bar is Hullu Poro Areena - Crazy Reindeer Arena.
http://www.hulluporo.fi/en/restaurants/restaurants/hullu-poro-areena/

If you're serious about going - drop me an email - sam at verk.com - I can give you few tips. 

You're in luck – PubClub has this article on the Top 10 party sky resorts! Ski Apres is a great way to start the drinking and, as you mentioned, perfect for having drinks after a day on the slopes.

Enjoy and cheers!

https://www.pubclub.com/destinations/ski-resorts/top-10-worldwide-ski-resorts-for-singles/

In Park City, agree on High West;  also the No Name;  plus it's fun to take the funicular up to the St Regis Hotel bar in lower Deer Valley; sit inside or out by the fire pits.

Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Lake Placid, N.Y. After skiing Whiteface all day.

Scott Rednor's Shakedown Bar at Vail

For the Alps here is my experience so far: 

Zell am See, Austria- Villa Crazy Daisy (great apres ski bar in the middle of town)

Kitzbuhel, Austria- Krazy Kanguruh

Meribel/Les Tres Valles, France- La Folie Douce (crazy apres ski bar on the top of the mountain. There is one in Meribel and one in Coursheval)

Zermatt, Switzerland- Papperla Pub or Restaurant Grampis. Both have live music, good atmosphere, and are in town. 

There is a nice one in Galena (Illinois), IL. The restaurant/bar I like is called The Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel` which features live entertainment.  

Slopeside Grill at the base of the mountain in Steamboat Springs. Unbeatable for beer, sunshine and pizza!

Zoo Bar @ Boyne Highalnds Resort, Michigan.

Park City(Utah) has the best snow on Earth and Main Street is my favorite, for the variety and amount of good apes ski bars. I lived there for seven years and worked in the industry. Check out live music at Bistro 412. Downstairs it's a charming but unfussy French bistro, at night, upstairs, the bar is a loud but cozy local hotspot with fair prices. 

The Cabinat the bottom of Main Street and the Park City Mountain Resort town lift- is fairly new and true to P.C's vibe- ping pong, pool, lots of space indoor and outdoor, music, locals of all ages and a great fire pit.

I agree that High West Distillery & Saloon is fun but and has unique high quality spirits but if you want to really get some ski town flavor and make the most of the Utah drinking curfew (1 a.m. last call) I'd suggest stopping in and moving on.

Head to Japan! It has some of the best powder in the world, and the people are unforgetable!

I worked in a bar in Echoland Apartments HAKUBA and some of the good bars include The Pub 

The Art & Ski-In Hotel Hinterhag (Hinterhagg-Alm saalbach) in Saalbach, Austria is the best.  Other notables include The Papperla Pub in Zermat and the Krazy Kanguruh in St. Anton.