Après-Ski In Vail: Where First-Timers Should Go
Type “what is ski après” into a search and you’ll get a tidy definition. Walk up Bridge Street in Vail, Colorado, after the lifts close, and you’ll see the real answer: live music drifting from doorways and skiers still clomping around in their boots, drinks in hand. Après-ski is easy to join on your first trip, even if you just learned the word.
If you want to experience après-ski for yourself and you’ve landed in Vail, book directly with Vail’s Mountain Haus. Our lodge sits along Gore Creek at the Covered Bridge, close to Gondola One, putting Bridge Street’s après bars just a short walk from your door.
What Is Après-Ski?
Après-ski is the social hour that starts when your ski day ends. The word comes from French, where après means “after,” so après-ski translates to “after ski.” Say it “ah-PRAY ski.”
In practice, it means food, drinks and live music, usually in the same clothes you skied in. Most people huddle up with their mug of hot chocolate or a cold beer and trade stories from their day on the slopes.
Après-Ski Spots A Short Walk From The Covered Bridge
Start with these four spots in Vail Village.
- The Red Lion: This Bridge Street fixture that still books local musicians in the late afternoon and again at night. Burgers and barbecue ribs make it an easy first stop for families, too.
- Shakedown Bar: Head below street level to this spacious music room. The bar keeps its capacity limited, so arrive early on big nights.
- Root & Flower: Look for the doorway set back from the Bridge Street sidewalk. This wine bar pours a deep by-the-glass list alongside small plates that double as an early dinner. It opens in the evening, so make it your second stop.
- BOL at Solaris: About a 5-minute walk west of Bridge Street on East Meadow Drive, you’ll find one of Vail’s most unique spots. BOL pairs 10 bowling lanes with DECA’s full menu, the restaurant up front. Tip: Reserve a lane before you go.
Worth The Free Bus Ride
Vail’s free in-town shuttle connects Golden Peak, Vail Village, and Lionshead and runs every 5 to 10 minutes in winter.
- Avanti F&B Vail: At the base of the Riva Bahn Express at Golden Peak, this food hall has five stalls and two bars, plus a patio with fire pits, and it bills itself as the largest in town. It’s an easy pick for a group because everyone can order from a different stall.
- Garfinkel’s in Lionshead: Locally owned since 1992, Garfs sits across from the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Grab a deck seat and watch the last skiers of the day come down.
There’s No Place Like The Mountain Haus
When you compare the best resorts in Vail, Colorado, check how far you’ll walk home after après-ski. From the top of Bridge Street, Vail’s Mountain Haus is a short stroll to the Covered Bridge. Once you’re back, the outdoor heated pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, steam showers and saunas take care of round two.
If you’re weighing the best places to stay in Vail, Colorado, for a group, our accommodations range from lodge rooms to five-bedroom condos, so everyone stays under one roof.
Book directly with Vail’s Mountain Haus by calling 800-237-0922, emailing info@mountainhaus.com or visiting our accommodations page. Your first round of après starts at the Mountain Haus.
