Pretty Mayrhofen has a lively atmosphere once the sun goes down
One of Austrian skiing’s liveliest resorts for après, Mayrhofen has a strong offering of post-skiing establishments to let your hair down in - whether you’re after some hardcore dancing or simply a quiet spot in which to lean back and relax.
Not only does it have a solid nightlife scene, it’s also got some outstanding snow-sure skiing, and is a good base for exploring the rest of the Zillertal Ski Area, too.
And if your holiday is really going to revolve around evenings and nights out, then you’re in for a treat. Mayrhofen made Iglu Ski’s list of the best après resorts in Europe, rubbing shoulders with household names like Val d’Isère, Val Thorens and St Anton.
Plenty of our sales team have frequented this brilliant resort, so we’re really in the know on all things Mayrhofen. Keep reading for the best bars, pubs, nightclubs and party venues in the area.
READ MORE: If you're keen on Austria, then why not also have a look at St Anton's après ski and nightlife.
Our must-visit après ski bars and nightlife hotspots in Mayrhofen are:
1. Pilzbar
2. Elchbar
3. Brück’n Stadl
4. Ice Bar
5. Arena Club
6. Scotland Yard Pub
7. Piccadilly Sports Bar
8. Nachtcafe Apropos
Elchbar is located right by the Penkenbahn gondola station and is a great stop off before going back to town
The best bars for mountain partying
When you’re ready for a high-energy venue to let some steam off in the mid-afternoon, then these 2 are your best pick.
Pilzbar is located at the top of the Penkenbahn gondola (the main one from town up into the largest ski area) and has an umbrella bar and big sun terrace. You can usually find Europop blasting out by 2pm, with a vibrant atmosphere gradually building up until the last lift back into town at 5pm.
Meanwhile, Elchbar is also right next door to the Penkenbahn top station. This one’s huge, and consists of multiple floors, with indoor and outdoor tables, plenty of food and drink, and fantastic views.
The best bars for live music and DJs
Located on Ahornstrasse, halfway between the Penkenbahn and Ahornbahn gondola stations (just beyond the river going uphill!), the Brück'n Stadl kicks into gear from the mid-afternoon. It's notable for its live accordion music which everyone sings along to, while it also gets regular DJs in to bring the energy - it closes at 1am most days.
Meanwhile, the Ice Bar is another incredibly popular stop off - this time pretty much next door to the Penkenbahn gondola station on the main street. It’s actually attached to the Sport & Spa Hotel Strass, and provides a cheap and cheerful atmosphere, with lots of Europop, DJs and other music going on. It closes at 10pm each night, so is a great place to start the night off - and don’t miss its iconic dancing polar bear.
The best nightclub for partying ‘til the early hours
Also based in the Sport & Spa Hotel Strass, the Arena nightclub brings in plenty of local and international talent. It has all sorts of music - house, techno, drum and bass and more - and also sometimes does live comedy and other shows.
Best bar for live sport (and a generally fun night!)
- Scotland Yard Pub
- Piccadilly Sports Bar
Formerly Mayrhofen’s police headquarters, Scotland Yard Pub now calls itself an “Austrian-English” pub. It’s a great place to watch all sorts of sports, with Sky Sports live on its various big screens, and plenty of big-name beers on tap.
Once the match is over though, there’ll probably be some live music and plenty of party vibes. The place shuts at 2:30am every day, except Mondays, which is its day off.
The Piccadilly Sports Bar is another option - this one’s slightly out of the main town centre (uphill), and is a bit quieter than Scotland Yard, but is certainly worth a visit if you’re based on that side of town.
Best bar for something a bit more relaxed
This cosy cellar bar is nestled on the Hauptstrasse (main street) and offers a quiet alternative to the livelier venues we’ve touched on so far. It has pool tables and other games, and does nice cocktails and whiskies.
Aside from this, you shouldn’t struggle to find cheaper choices for a gentle sit down. While many of the venues mentioned above in this blog specialise in certain things, all of them (bar maybe the nightclubs!) will have areas where you can kick back and relax.
Where to stay if you want to be near Mayrhofen's après hotspots
If you’re keen to be close to the bars and pubs, then you’ll essentially want to be as close to the town centre as possible.
A good place to start if you’re going to be having a very social holiday would be the Sport & Spa Hotel Strass. Home to both the Ice Bar and the Arena Club downstairs, it brands itself as a more lively hotel than most. Other nearby hotels include Hotel Waldheim and the Sporthotel Manni.
Meanwhile, if you’re after some more basic self-catering apartments, you could try the Dejakom Apartments. The Haus Christophorus Apartments are a bit further away - although still just an 11-minute walk to the main gondola station (and therefore the centre of town, with all its bars).
Remember, our online search tool lets you refine what you’re looking for down to very small details, such as whether it has a sauna/swimming pool, or if it’s ski in/ski out.
Discover the Mayrhofen après scene with Iglu Ski
If this has got Mayrhofen firmly on your list for a ski holiday, then let us help you make your mind up! Our sales team has an endless knowledge of which ski resorts are a good fit for various groups.
You can send them an email, or just phone them up (020 3848 3700) - or if you know exactly what you’re after, just go ahead and book online!
We’re the UK’s biggest ski travel agency, having spent the last 25 years finding our customers the perfect ski holidays.
Have a look at Mayrhofen’s best ski holiday deals - and if you’ve been put in charge of organising the trip for a big group, have a look at our group booking guide to help make the process slightly less daunting!
Find out what the après and nightlife scene is like in other resorts: