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One of France’s (and arguably the world’s) showcase ski resorts, Val d’Isère has something for everyone - especially when it comes to the post-skiing drinking scene. Not only is the skiing outstanding, but the range of bars and establishments is vast.
Whether you’re after some hardcore slopeside table dancing, moving until the early hours in a club, or just a quiet pint in a serene setting, ‘Val D’ has got you covered.
It ranks well on Iglu’s list of the top après-ski resorts, and is such a popular holiday destination that every single one of our sales staff have been there.
We’ve been asking them for some of the best places to go after a hard day’s skiing - read on to find out the best places to tick off.
READ MORE: If you're keen on a lively resort, but you're open to other countries like Austria, then find out all about St Anton's après-ski scene.
Our must-visit après ski bars and nightlife hotspots in Val d’Isère are:
1. Folie Douce
2. Cocorico
3. Le Petit Danois
4. Le Coin Des Amis
5. Doudoune Club
6. Dick's Tea Bar
7. Bar Le XV
8. Pacific Bar
9. Underground Cafe
10. Blizzard Hotel Bar
11. Alex Bar
The best bars for mountain partying
- Folie Douce
- Cocorico
When you’ve spent the entire day working up a sweat as you explore every corner of the outstanding Espace Killy ski area, there’s few places you’d rather be than the hotspot of Folie Douce.
It’s the original version of the famous slopeside après chain, and has daily clubbing, with cabaret, live DJs, and dancing on tables almost compulsory. There’s plenty of flamboyantly French performances to indulge in. It closes at 5pm, so make sure you get there in plenty of time for a proper session.
Access to Folie Douce is easy - just ski down the Diebold Blue run or the Mont Blanc Green run. It’s also right by the Daille gondola, which is handy if you’d rather take that home - Daille is Val d’Isere’s satellite village, and there are quick, regular buses that run between them.
Meanwhile, Cocorico is a similar establishment - although located lower down at the foot of the Solaise and the Face de Bellevarde. Here, you can soak in the spectacular views while dancing to live DJs until 9pm - much later than Folie.
It’s got a huge outdoor terrace with a stage, and the music tends to be a bit more rock than dance-y. They also do food, meaning you can keep those energy levels topped up - and then burn it all off dancing.
The best bars for live music in Val d’Isère
- Le Petit Danois
- Le Coin Des Amis
Staying open conveniently after Folie Douce and Cocorico have closed, you can continue the party at the brilliant Le Petit Danois. It puts a lot of effort into its reputation as one of the best bars in town, with live music almost every day from 5:30pm, until DJs take over at 10pm.
Inside, you’ll find some brilliant burgers to ward off the hunger, with draught Guinness and IPAs, as well as cocktails and shots all on offer. You can also play on the multiple pool tables - although once the DJs get started we’re not sure that’s what you’ll want to be doing.
Meanwhile, Le Coin Des Amis is a smaller place just metres from the slopes, but part of town. It’s got a really friendly atmosphere, and most days they have live music in the open air outside. Also a decent place to watch live sport, it’s open daily from 11am until 2am.
The best nightclubs for partying ‘til the early hours
- Dick's Tea Bar
- Doudoune Club
These two heavyweight clubs are some of the most famous in European skiing circles. Dick’s Tea Bar is one with a predominantly British crowd. Established way back in 1979, every night sees a house music mix at about half 10, with bouts of live saxophone and electric violin mixed in.
From 1:30am to 5am, the club picks up a notch, grinding through with live musicians and plenty of drinks. It’s also known to have hosted a fair few celebrities throughout the years - the capacity is just over 500 people, so make sure you’re in the queue early!
Meanwhile, Doudoune Club has more of a French crowd - but don’t let that put you off. It’s welcomed huge names like David Guetta, Pete Tong and Roger Sanchez, and has an absolutely electric atmosphere that really needs to be seen to be believed. It opens between midnight and 5am and is just a few streets away from the centre of town.
Best bar for watching sports
- Bar Le XV
- Pacific Bar
Rugby lovers will feel at home in the Bar Le XV, which is kitted out with beer glasses shaped like rugby balls and plenty of large TV screens showing live rugby. It has a special cocktail menu, too, with Pina Coladas and Tequila Sunrises among its offerings.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Bar is a good bet if you’re after any type of mainstream sport. While it will also show rugby like the Six Nations, you can rely on this place to watch Premier League and Champions League football, international cricket and other sports live and in HD.
Best karaoke bar
- Underground Cafe
This cosy little bar is discreetly nestled in the centre of Val d’Isère on the high street. Its branding plays on the London Underground, meaning it attracts a fair few Brits - and you’ll likely get the chance to blast out Mr Brightside or Sweet Caroline in front of your mates.
This place opens at 5pm every day and closes at 4am on Fridays and Saturdays - with the rest of the week ending at 2am. It’s also got regular DJs, live music, some pool tables and TV screens showing live sport.
Best Val d'Isère bars for something a bit more relaxed
- Blizzard Hotel Bar
- M Bar
If you’re not the type to be stranded in noisy bars, we’ve got you covered as well. The Blizzard Hotel’s Bar provides a lovely quiet environment, with warm lighting, comfy sofas and a welcoming wooden decor. It’s an ideal setting for winding down, rather than up.
Another option is the M Bar at the Hotel Tsanteleina - it has a roaring open fire, cosy sofas and a great choice of wines, beers, cocktails and more.
Where to stay if you want to be near Val d’Isère’s après hotspots
Almost all of the resort’s après scene is located in the town centre, so you can’t really go wrong with hotels like Les Cretes Blanches, Hotel Ski Lodge and Hotel Ormelune.
It’s usually a bit more of a walk to the chalets, although they’re not too far from the party. Decent apartment choices might include La Daille Apartments, or Residence Les Balcons de Bellevarde.
Discover Val d’Isère’s après scene with Iglu Ski
If Val d’Isère après and nightlife is enticing enough to think about going there, then why not let us help you organise your perfect trip?
Iglu Ski has been running for more than 25 years and is now the UK’s biggest ski travel agency. We’ve got an army of staff who have all done seasons in the mountains, and we can offer expert advice on where to book, what to book, and how to book it.
Have a look at our variety of hotels, collection of chalets, or simple apartments. You can either book online or call our sales team on 020 3848 3700.
Find out what the après and nightlife scene is like in other resort:
- Best après bars and nightlife hotspots in Val Thorens.
- Best après bars and nightlife hotspots in La Plagne.
- Best après bars and nightlife hotspots in Méribel.