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Sure, there’s nothing like hitting the perfect bluebird day, carving down a bowl covered in fresh powder while the sun glints off the snow. But you what might be even better? Kicking off your boots at the end of a day of skiing, rolling up to the mountaintop bar and enjoying an Aperol Spritz in a cozy sweater and fondue with friends by the fireplace. Whether you just dominated a double black diamond, or barely survived the bunny hill, you deserve it — the perfect après-ski moment.

While this long-held tradition has usually been meant for snowbirds to reunite over drinks and bites to regale the day’s tales on the mountain (and hopefully for snowboarders to and discuss how to best avoid careening into skiers — please), to no one’s surprise, après-ski has gone mainstream. Aspen, Colorado has become a hot winter destination for celebs like Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber, who’ve been spotted sporting stylish après-ski sets, whether or not they’ve actually hit the mountain. Now we’re seeing chunky, knitted sweaters, snow boots, and alpine accessories like fuzzy earmuffs and fur-lined gloves on the ground everywhere — even far away from the slopes.

But if this trend has got you dreaming of wood-paneled lodges and hot toddies, allow us to help you plan your next après-ski getaway. Here’s a guide on the ins and outs of (arguably) the best part of the ski day, the hottest apres-ski locales to hit up worldwide, and what you should be sipping on slope-side.

What to Wear to Aprés-ski

Snow sports require no small amount of gear, whether that’s jackets to beat the wind chill, gloves so your fingers don’t freeze off, and yes, a solid helmet (it’s not Seventies anymore, you are not “too cool” to wear one). While there’s no official dress code (as long as you don’t bring skis inside or walk around in your smelly socks), most of the time you can head straight off the slopes to the bar and have your ski gear to double as aprés-ski attire. Even if you’re not a skier and just joining the crew drink, the trick to putting together the best après-ski outfit is finding winter wardrobe essentials that pull double duty — stylish and practical. Just by wapping out one element of your outfit, like a helmet for a beanie, or pulling on a chic sweater but keeping the ski pants, you’ll be ready for a cold one with the powder hounds.

Editor’s picks

Best Ski Sweaters

You should be sourcing knits that work as well with ski pants on the slopes as they do with denim and fireside drinks after the lifts close. They should look good and keep you warm, so quality materials like cashmere and wool are the way to go, even if you choose a sportier, performance-friendly top. Whether you’re taking a quick weekend trip to Tahoe or jet-setting to Niseko on holiday, consider packing these sweaters in your suitcase.

Best Salopettes and Ski Pants

Stylish ski pants and onesies are in abundance these days, and they come in the clutch when it comes to cooling down after a run, aprés-style. We love a suit that can be rolled halfway down when you’re at the lodge, or even leggings you can throw an oversized knit on top of. If you think you might sweat too much (even at the summit), go with the classic salopette-bib combo for easy layering, and pair it with a thinner turtleneck underneath.

Best Alpine Accessories

There’s nothing more classic than a beanie (or toque, if you’re skiing in Canada), but you should be packing other accessories that’ll help you look cool while, again, keeping you protected from the elements. We’re talking soft mittens, cashmere scarfs and aviator sunnies — all of which are easy to toss on to turn any performance-minded fit into an après-ski-ready look.

Best Snow Boots

While you can wear your ski boots at the après function, let’s be real here — it’s the end of the afternoon and your dogs are barking. Pack them up after your last run of the day and invest in some shearling-lined or down boots so you’re not clunking away to the post-mountain drinks.

Where to Find the World’s Best Après-ski (And What to Drink)

Toasting to your time on the slopes time-honored tradition, and depending on what mountain (or even country) you’re at, there variety in après-ski scenes is huge. Once the boots come off, you could be casually having a beer while soaking in the hot tub, or table-top dancing at some epic European resort gatherings. From Park City, Utah, to Chamonix, France here’s where to celebrate your next après-ski, and what you should be ordering at the bar.

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The European Alps

From luxe, old-world hotels, to fur headbands and and fondue, Europe’s Alpine ski towns like the ver-popular Chamonix resort are generally home to upscale vibes. Take the see-or-be-seen St. Moritz, Switzerland, where the best place to stay is Badrutt’s Palace Hotel — you’ll be sipping on mulled wine with a view of the mountainside lake (or a view of all the parked Ferraris). Need a less “scene-y” watering hole? The seasonal Bus Stop Bar is a Sixties bus-turned-bar that serves Gingerbombs (a zingy, house-made shot of ginger liqueur) at the bottom of the Grindel downhill piste. 

But within a portion of the alps, the après-ski scene also can get pretty wild — think underground clubs and late-night techno dance parties. La Folie Douce at Val d’Isère in the French Alps is what immediately jumps to mind for most, and most seasoned skiers know their shows and DJ sets are legendary. For those who want to keep the good times going past sundown, St. Anton am Arlberg in Austria is another village known for going hard on their “après”. The cult-favorite spot MooserWirt is absolutely worth trying to grab a table at, where you can expect 3 a.m. Jägermeister shots and oompah music galore. Currently owned by Olympic gold medalist Mario Matt, Krazy Kanguruh is another stellar spot where the DJ really turns up the volume (even though it’s the area’s oldest après bar).

The United States

Whether you’re dropping into the powder-packed West Coast, or cutting your teeth on “Ice Coast skiing” in the East, the U.S. après-ski scene is as varied as the states. You’ll see folks pounding back a lot of no-frills, hearty IPAs and porters at lodges from Colorado to Washington State (notable brews include 10 Barrel’s incredibly sessionable Pub Beer from Oregon, and The Alchemist’s Heady Topper Double IPA out of Vermont). But more and more we’re seeing specific après-ski bars and saloons pop up across the nation.

If you’re skiing in Colorado, Aspen is known for its abundant après scene of fancy bars filled with fur-lined vests and Veuve Clicquot. It’s the heart of skiing in the state, and with one lift ticket, you get access to four top mountains spread between the towns of Aspen and Snowmass. The Little Nell is great place to stay in luxury, not just for their end-of-day Aperol Spritzes on the sun-drenched patio of Ajax Tavern.

Utah is home to the one of the best ski resorts in the country in Deer Valley, and they just so happen to have a fantastic après scene. One of the best drinks to sip there post-ski day is Johnnie Walker’s new “Ice Chalet” blended scotch, which the popular whiskey maker unveiled at a star-studded event in Park City last month. Alesso was among the A-list celebrities in attendance, taking to the decks at The St. Regis Deer Valley for a two-hour set before an intimate crowd of local tastemakers and fashion elite.

Alesso told Rolling Stone that he’s “drawn to brands like Johnnie Walker that bring people into their community through original experiences” like the Perfect Moment collab. The DJ toasted to cherishing those you love while making new memories in 2025. “I try to draw my fans together during my shows in the same way with genuine, relatable and unforgettable moments.

Served chilled — preferably, like really cold — Ice Chalet is a premium release crafted by Master Blender, Emma Walker, who described it as the perfect après-ski treat, whether in a cocktail or sipped neat. Tasting notes are fruit-forward but balanced, with just a touch of smoke (reminiscent of a cabin or lodge fireplace) and outerwear brand Perfect Moment designed a parka-like sling bag to carry the bottle in. “There is something about drinking a great glass of scotch whisky that makes you slow down and savor the moment around you,” he says. “Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet gives that elevated feeling of a shared celebration, making every experience that much more unforgettable.”

The Southern Alps of New Zealand

After hitting the slopes at “ski fields” Remarkables or nearby Coronet Peak, there’s nothing like bar-hopping over Queenstown for a proper après-ski. Start your post-slope libations on the patio of The World Bar to enjoy the sunny view, then afterwards head over to Yonder, a coffee shop-by-day-party-by-night spot, or Rhino’s Ski Shack for some craft beers and “late-night shenanigans” (i.e. live music and comedy).

If you’d rather a night cap than afternoon après, Coronet Peak does night skiing from 4 to 9 p.m., and you can sip red wine by the firepits at the close-by 161-year-old Cardrona Hotel. While you’re in town, be sure to sample a glass (or two) of Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir from Lake Wanaka’s own Rippon Vineyard.

South America

Looking for an underrated après-ski? Portillo, Chile has South America’s first ski resort (and some seriously solid places to imbibe). Head Portillo Bar if you want to dance to live music with a Pisco sour in hand, or just kick back on the deck at Tío Bob’s and enjoy those incredible Lake of the Inca views.

If you really want to feel like you’re in a Hot Tub Time Machine, Nevados de Chillan Ski Resort in Valle Las Trancas has a quiet, old-school vibe where the fastest lifts are the T-bars. After the thrill of skiing on a volcano, though, you can relax slopeside at the Termas de Chillán thermal hot springs, then head to Snow Pub, the casual local après it-spot. There are trendier digs in the area, like the chic MILodge Hotel and Spa, but you’re off the beaten path here — why not embrace it?

Argentina is also as classic as it gets when it comes to summer skiing, and Cerro Catedral in Bariloche is as picturesque an après-ski scene as you’ll find. Once you’re out of the deep powder, though, there’s no heading straight to the bar — get a siesta in after you’re off the mountain, because the après-ski tends to start late here (we’re talking midnight to 1 a.m.).

Japan

A couple hours south of Sapporo in Hokkaido, skiers and snowboarders alike flock from all around the globe to Niseko United, four on-mountain properties that make up arguably the best ski resort in Japan. The après-ski scene here is also unmatched, in that most spots embody a unique mix of Western and Japanese elements.

Known as the “fridge bar” (thanks to its refrigerator door at the entrance), Bar Gyu+ in Hirafu is a more classy, traditional spot to end your day with flights of Japanese Whiskey and handcrafted cocktails. Or you could spend an evening at the raucously fun American-style clubhouse Freddies, where at 10 p.m. the bar transforms into a saloon from the wild west — table-top dancing and taking shots as a crowd ensues. But when you’re in the land of hot springs, there’s nothing like ending the night with an evening soak in an onsen at Hilton Niseko Village.

What Is Après-ski?

So, what is après-ski exactly? Well, it’s a French phrase that quite literally translates to “after ski” or “after skiing.” Instead of flopping down and resting your aching quads after taking full, leg-burning advantage of your eight-hour lift pass (or just giving up after a couple runs), après-ski is all about the social activities that mark one of the best parts of the ski (or snowboarding) day. The tradition is said to have started in Norway in the mid-1800s, but really took off in Europe’s Alpine countries during the Fifties.

Usually starting once the lifts stop turning (or basically any time after lunch), think of it as the mountain’s “happy hour”. Depending on where you’re at, this could mean anything from sipping champagne flutes with charcuterie on the Swiss alps, or slamming back PBRs at a pool hall without ever taking off your ski bib. Either way, you’ll be sun-kissed, exhausted, and having a blast.