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Alpe d’Huez is one of France’s biggest ski resorts in terms of town size and ski area - and its après scene is fit to match.
With over 250km of piste to explore and plenty of slopes suiting all abilities, it’s hugely popular with British skiers and is labelled by many as a “party town”, although there’s still plenty of room for those who want a quieter experience.
Alpe d’Huez is known as “The Island in the Sunshine” thanks to the unusually high amount of sun it gets for a ski resort - making après even more enjoyable as the rays beat down on your face.
You can enjoy all types of après here… think live music and performances up in the mountain huts, DJs and bands down in town, nightclubs, and even festivals.
And of course, there are plenty of spots to enjoy a more relaxed drink - whether up on the slopes or back in resort.
READ MORE: If you're keen on a lively French resort, then why not have a look at Tignes's après ski and nightlife.
Our must-visit après-ski bars and nightlife hotspots in Alpe d'Huez are:
1. Folie Douce
2. La Grotte du Yeti Bar
3. Smithy's Tavern
4. Underground Bar
5. FreeRide Pub
6. Le Zoo Music Bar
7. Sporting Alpe d'Huez
8. L'Igloo
9. Les Caves de l'Alpe
10. Tiger Bar
11. L'Atelier
The best bars for live music
- Smithy's Tavern
- Underground Bar
Once you’re back from Folie, the classic name in town is Smithy’s Tavern. A favourite since it started way back in 1996, it’s been so successful that they opened another in the neighbouring resort of Les Deux Alpes.
There are live bands every Tuesday and Thursday from about 10pm onwards, coinciding nicely with a happy hour where cocktail jugs cost just €15 - you’ll see plenty of these on the very lively dance floor. There’s also another happy hour from 4pm to 6pm, where pints are just €5.
They also do brilliant food, with burgers a classic option, and you can likely watch the football on non-music days.
Meanwhile, London Tube-themed Underground Bar is a very popular spot with seasonaires, with live music every Wednesday for a couple of hours, and a lively atmosphere from 4pm most days.
More bars for keeping the night going
- FreeRide Bar
- Le Zoo Music Bar
A very fun addition to Alpe d’Huez, FreeRide Bar’s USP is that, after 9pm, a stock exchange system begins where prices change every 100 seconds according to stock prices shown on a big screen overhead.
It makes for great fun as people gamble on when to get their round in - all the while DJs are blasting fun house tunes to keep things lively elsewhere. It’s also fun to go to the toilet here, as you’ll be fed a shot before jumping down a big slide to the WCs - there are also stairs, of course.
Le Zoo is another strong option, right in the heart of town. It’s open from 6pm until 2am and has a happy hour at a convenient time of 9pm to 10pm. You’ll find plenty of live music here, although it’s one of the less busy venues - perhaps perfect for you?
Best place for a fancy night
- Sporting Restaurant
The Sporting Restaurant, which is found right next to the outdoor ice rink, puts on some lovely food during the day, before hosting après-ski on its huge sun terrace from 5pm-7pm. During this session you’ll find live music and even a barbecue to help fuel your dance moves.
After this, the restaurant puts on a dinner, with gentle piano played in the background, before later on a DJ takes to the stage and raises the energy levels once more.
Best nightclubs for partying 'til the early hours
- L'Igloo
- Les Caves de l'Alpe
The household name for clubbing in Alpe d’Huez is L’Igloo. It often welcomes some of Europe’s biggest DJ names, and has various themed nights. It generally steers more towards an electro sound, although this isn’t every night. It really is a nightclub - it doesn’t open until midnight, and closes at 5:30am.
Meanwhile, Les Caves de l’Alpe is an exciting club which also opens at midnight and closes at 5am. It’s free entry (except on big nights like New Year’s Eve) and plays more well-known anthems.
Best bars for watching sport
- Tiger Bar
- Smithy's Tavern
Tiger Bar is found in the Les Bergers side of town and is a good bet for live sport on TV.
As we've already mentioned, Smithy's Tavern will also put the game on if there's no live music or events going on.
Best place for a relaxed drink in town
- L'Atelier
L’Atelier is a wine and cocktail bar which serves hot tapas and seafood platters. It’s got a nice ambience and relaxed atmosphere, and is quite a different scene to many of the hardcore après venues.
You shouldn’t struggle to find a quiet place for a drink or some food in Alpe d'Huez - L'Atelier is just one example.
Discover the Alpe d'Huez après scene with Iglu Ski
If Alpe d'Huez sounds like the resort for you, then let us help you out with your booking journey.
We're the UK's largest ski travel agency, and for the last 26 years we've been helping out skiers choose their ideal resort, accommodation and plenty more.
Have a look at our best Alpe d'Huez deals – we have accommodation to suit all needs, including hotels, apartments and chalets.
or give us a call on 020 3848 3700. Alternatively, leave an enquiry and we'll get back to you with anything you need to know.
If you've been put in charge of booking for a large group, you might want to read out group booking guide to give you some peace of mind!
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