The Ultimate Guide to the Best Apres Ski in Vail, Colorado

Are you looking for the BEST Apres Ski bars in Vail, Colorado? I’ve got them for you! 

Vail, Colorado is a world-class ski destination that is very popular for its expansive ski slopes, beautiful luxury hotels, excellent ski schools, and selection of top-rated dining. But, another accolade of Vail is having some of the BEST best apres ski bars in ski country! 

Where Did Apres Ski begin? 

The popular phrase “apres ski” started in Europe and is a French term for “after ski”.  The apres ski meaning is: social activity after a day’s skiing or snowboarding.

Apres ski starts at the end of the ski day, usually when the lifts are done running for the day. But, it’s been known to start earlier in the afternoon and there really aren’t any set rules to apres ski. When you’re on vacation, you get to define when your “happy hour” starts! 

In Vail, there is an abundance of fun apres ski bars with high energy and a lively crowd. You’ll find drink specials at most of the Vail apres ski bars to make the afternoon celebration even more enjoyable! 

This list of the best apres ski in Vail will help you celebrate every afternoon in the most joyous way possible. 

The Best Apres Ski in Vail, Colorado

The Red Lion (Vail Village) 

The Red Lion Vail is the place to be for apres ski in Vail Village! You’ll enjoy live music, a fun, vibrant crowd, and friendly staff. The Red Lion has been one of the best apres ski bars in Vail for years and is a staple in the village! The patio will fill up quickly if it’s a nice day but there’s plenty of space inside too.

The apres ski party at Red Lion Vail begins in the afternoon and extends into the evening, especially on Friday and Saturday nights in Vail Village. Get there early to get a great spot! 

On the beverage menu, there are classic cocktails such as manhattans, martinis, margaritas, and a great selection of Colorado local beers. A wine list, domestic and imported beers, and signature cocktails are also available for apres ski in Vail at the Red Lion. Stop into the Red Lion Vail for your best Vail apres ski! 

A delicious food menu is also available at the Red Lion. Order a few appetizers to share for apres ski and if you stay at The Red Lion Vail into dinner time, you’ll have excellent choices there too!  

Los Amigos (Vail Village)

If you started your ski day from Gondola One in Vail Village, you’ve seen Los AmigosVail. It’s ideally located facing the slopes thus making it the perfect apres ski bar in Vail. 

You can sip your house-made delicious margarita while watching the last skiers and snowboarders of the day make their way down the hill. 

The apres ski menu at Los Amigos Vail has an impressive list of tequilas which include a selection of blanco, anejo, reposado and mezcal. Beer and wine are also on offer at Los Amigos Vail. 

Enjoy a platter of nachos, tacos, or enchiladas to celebrate your apres ski in Vail! 

This post is all about the best apres ski Vail.

Garfinkel’s (Lionshead)

Apres ski at Garfinkel’s Vail is known as one of the best places to head after your day of skiing and snowboarding if you’re looking for an energetic, fun scene!

Garfinkel’s Vail has a huge deck with unobstructed views of Vail Mountain and abundant seating. Perfect for an afternoon celebration of apres ski with friends and family. Plus, you’re bound to make some new friends by the end of the day! Friendly and welcoming, Garfinkel’s Vail is one of the top-rated apres ski bars in Vail. 

From the bar menu at Garfinkel’s, you’ll find a full list of creative and classic cocktails, Colorado beers on draft and in cans, wine, and champagne. Everything you need for a super fun apres ski afternoon!

Garfinkel’s kitchen serves up the bar food you’re craving such as nachos, chicken wings, burgers and fries, fish & chips, and more. Salads are on offer too and if you stay for dinner you can enjoy a Ribeye entree, Atlantic Salmon, or a delicious pasta dish.

Vendetta’s Vail (Vail Village)

In the heart of Vail Village, Vendetta’s Vail is a top choice for apres ski in Vail to celebrate your great day of skiing or snowboarding! 

Vendetta’s bar has a fun energy and is a perfect place to share stories about where you skied and what runs your conquered.

You’ll find that Vendetta’s Vail has a great apres ski menu of draft beer, canned beer or bottled beer, and wines by the bottle. Vendetta’s Vail is at the top of the list of where to have your best apres ski in Vail. Tops the list for Vail nightlife also, as you can take your party straight into the evening! 

If you’re interested in staying for dinner or snacks try one of Vendetta’s signature pizzas like the Boneyard, Billy Bob’s Brain, or the Snow Pic, or create your own custom pie with your favorite toppings. 

Pepi’s Restaurant & Bar (Gasthof Gramshammer, Vail Village)

Pepi’s Bar is one of the most popular apres ski spots in Vail! During apres ski, Pepi’s has a vibrant atmosphere and fun European comfort. 

The apres ski bar menu at Pepi’s includes a selection of Austrian beers and delicious cocktails, perfect to toast with your friend in celebration of your snow day. 

Pepi’s bar was one of the first bars in Vail. The style and decor are the same as they were in the beginning, providing an authentic European experience to its guests. 

Bart & Yeti’s (Vail Village)

Bart & Yeti’s was named after two dogs of the Vail Valley back in 1975 when they opened. Today, they’re known for their apres ski vibe and a casual, fun atmosphere and patio. They’re just a short walk from the slopes, into the heart of Vail Village. 

Bart & Yeti’s has a great beer selection that includes local, domestic, and international beers. They also have a superb casual food menu for when you’re craving snacks or staying for dinner. You’ll find local seasonal beers on tap, imported craft beers, and a selection of domestic beers available. 

Bart & Yeti’s has a scrumptious selection of hearty burgers and sandwiches, soft pretzels, chicken fingers, and a towering plate of nachos. If you’re craving chili choose from either the red chili or green chili at Bart & Yeti’s; you won’t be disappointed! For something different give Mulrooney’s Irish Stew a try!

This post is all about the best apres ski Vail.

Elway’s (Vail Village)

Elway’s Vail is a popular apres ski spot located directly in Vail Village! A full menu of hand-crafted cocktails, wine, and beer is available at Elway’s in Vail.

Owned by Denver Football star John Elway, Elway’s Vail is known for its delightful full-service dinner restaurant. Yet, they are also known for a lively afternoon apres ski in Vail! A full menu of cocktails, wine, and beer is available at Elway’s in Vail.

Sip your drink as you sit on the patio and take in the views of Vail Village and the bustling energy.

Elway’s Vail has a sophisticated menu of starters that you could add to your apres ski experience if you start getting hungry! 

Tavern on the Square (Lionshead)

The Tavern on the Square has a great, large patio for a fun apres ski-facing Vail Mountain! The inside of The Tavern is equally fun, with lots of space and an energetic vibe. 

You’ll find the Tavern on the Square inside the European-styled Arrabelle at Vail Square. You’ll be welcomed by a casual, classic bar atmosphere and great service. 

The Tavern and Arrabelle are located centrally in Lionshead Village, so it’s a great place to tell your friends to meet! The Tavern is an awesome Happy Hour in Vail. 

The Revel Lounge (Lionshead)

Inside the newly transformed hotel The Hythe, The Revel Lounge is a fun, posh place for apres-ski! Designed with a mid-century vibe, you’ll love the cocktail and snacks menu after a day of skiing.

Try an El Magnate, made with 18 Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Vermouth Rough, Dry Vermouth, Maraschino, and Peychaud’s Bitters.

For small plates, give a try to the Venison in a Blanket with Colorado Honey or Whole Grain Mustard Pretzel Bites with spicy mustard, beer cheese sauce, and huckleberry jam. Check out The Revel Lounge’s entire menu here.

The Chophouse (Lionshead)

Vail Chophouse offers a slopeside, fun apres ski in Lionshead Village, at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. 

A wonderful, mountain-facing seating area is a perfect spot to watch skiers come down the slopes and feel the lively vibe of apres ski at the end of the day! Typically accompanied by live music, you won’t want to leave this scene. 

The bar menu at the Vail Chophouse offers a wide selection of creative versions of the classics. Try an I’m Your Huckleberry made with 44 North Huckleberry Vodka, mint, lemon, agave, and butterfly pea H2O. Or, a Mexican Mule with chophouse Herradura double barrel reposado, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit bitters, lime, and ginger beer. 

The Vail Chophouse also has a great selection of Manhattans which you can customize to your liking by choosing bourbon, rye, or rum, which bitters you’d like, and a few other selections! Also on offer is an attractive wine list, champagne, and beer are also available including many local beers.

El Segundo (Vail Village)

El Segundo’s location is in Vail Village overlooking Gore Creek. A perfect spot to apres ski with friends, order some tacos and celebrate the day! 

El Segundo boasts over 100 tequilas to choose from for your apres ski Vail experience! They also offer creative hand-crafted margaritas such as the Friend of the Devil made with maestro dobel diamante, cucumber, jalapeno, and fresh lime. Or, an Island Time, which is a mango margarita with Herradura silver, lime orange liqueur, and pureed mango.

You’ll also find Colorado craft beers, Hard Seltzers, hot drinks, and other fun creative cocktails on their extensive bar menu at El Segundo!

Order up some tacos, nachos or chipotle-dusted fries to satisfy the hunger you worked up on the slopes skiing in Vail. Once you taste the food you’ll be enticed to stay for dinner or make a plan to come back.

This post is all about the best apres ski Vail.

Remedy Bar (Vail Village)

The Remedy Bar Vail located inside the stunning Four Seasons Vail hotel is one of Vail’s most popular sophisticated apres ski bars. If you sit outside on their mountain-facing deck by the fire pit, you’ll enjoy stunning mountain views to remind you of where you skied today. 

Enjoy a glass of champagne, wine, or a local Colorado draft beer while you sit back and rest from the day. The menu at The Remedy Bar Vail includes shareable plates like Beet Root Hummus, Chicken Wings, or Margarita Flatbread when you start getting hungry. No need to leave, just relax and enjoy the five-star service of Four Seasons Vail.

Slope Room Vail (Vail Village)

Tucked inside the Gravity Haus Vail you’ll find a beautiful bar and restaurant called Slope Room. They offer a sophisticated, welcoming apres ski in Vail, in their plush setting.

Enjoy a nice glass of wine or creative cocktail while ordering one of their happy hour special menu snacks, such as Sweet Corn Soup or their hearty and savory Charcuterie Board. Gravity Haus and Slope Room Vail are river-side and just a short walk to the ski slopes.

Root & Flower (Vail Village) 

Root & Flower is an intimate wine bar in Vail Village with over 50 wines by the glass on offer. Root & Flower introduces and approachable elegance to Vail where guests can stop in for a visit and have a wonderful wine-tasting experience after skiing the back bowls of Vail Mountain.

Order a side of Lobster Deviled Eggs or Beef Fat Potatoes to satisfy your appetite after a long, fun ski day in Vail with friends!

Alpenrose (Vail Village)

Alpenrose Vail has great deck outside for a lively apres ski scene directly in the center of Vail Village. Alpenrose Vail will often have a full patio of friends enjoying their apres ski cocktail that will draw you in!

Their creative bar menu features a Mountain Cow Mule, Lavender Tonic, and a Jagermeister Mule. If you’re looking for a tasty warm drink, try the coffee with Baileys and whipped cream or German hot mulled wine!

Alpenrose Vail has an option of ordering a shotboard with four shots of Jagermeister or Peppermint Schnapps and a few other selections!

A wonderful wine list is also available, featuring sparkling wine, rose, white wine, and red wine. Mugs of Bavarian and Austrian Beer are also popular with the apres ski crowd at Alpenrose Vail!

If you stay for dinner, you’ll find authentic Bavarian dishes such as Bavarian pork schnitzel and Veal goulash. Start off with a fresh-baked German Pretzel or Rustic potato balls stuffed with swiss cheese, bacon, and sour cream. So, after a great happy hour in Vail, stay for an amazing dinner!

In Conclusion

Apres ski Vail is an experience you won’t forget! As you can see, there is an abundance of bars in Vail to celebrate the end of the ski day with your closest friends! From slopeside, to creekside, to sophisticated decks, Vail has you covered.

My hope is that this list has inspired you to try a different Vail bar each day for apres ski and decide which one is your favorite!

When deciding where to meet up the morning after your fun apres ski evening, check out this post on the Ultimate List of Coffee Shops in Vail.

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