If après-ski in Austria means having a beer directly on the slopes in Chamonix, the immediate après-ski usually consists of having drinks in one of the bars in the center of town. The Chamouny, the Irish Coffee and the Brasserie du Rond point are the hot spots and, in spring, the outdoor tables fill up with skiers quite quickly. If a basic bar is all you are looking for, head to the Bumble bee and Mill Street.



The main après-ski scenes are in Chamonix, of course, and in Argentière, a neighbouring village. To have a language break in Argentière, the Office Bar is filled with English speakers. It has a different special for every day of the week such as the Two-for-one Mondays and the half-price-chicken-wings Tuesdays. Three times a week, live music is presented. On Saturday nights, DJs and special guests are invited to join the party. A dinner menu is served every day, from 6pm to 10pm. If, on the contrary, you want the full French experience, head to Rusticana, also known as Le Rusty, for drinks. There, you can party until exhaustion any day of the week, since it closes at 2am. It presents important sports events on a large roll-down TV screen, and has Internet access. The Buschwacker, the only proper nightclub with regular DJ nights in Argentière, opens until 4am.

Dedicated partygoers have plenty of choices in Chamonix. There is the today very popular Arbat with its live music. For live jazz or country music, The Blue is the place to go. Le Pele disco is loud and gathers a very young crowd. Le Choucas Video Bar, a popular English-speakers meeting joints, is normally dark and crowded.

A more "mature" crowd is found at the très chic Le Privilège, on rue des Moulins. Live acoustic bands play in its very interesting décor that mixes local and African furniture. There are also regular DJ nights for people who want to dance.

Without doubts one of the most popular places to hang out in Chamonix is the Jeckyll Bar and Restaurant. It is located between Hotel Des Aiglons and Restaurant Impossible. Party animals keep coming back because, even with its widescreen plasma TV and its new menu, it has preserved a touch of its Irish influence.

The late nights and the underground music scene bring in DJs from around the world to Le Cantina Club. Those two factors certainly make it a favourite meeting point for younger rounders. Above the club is the Le Cantina restaurant which serves authentic Mexican food. The BPM Night Club is the place to be if you like your nightlife a little naughtier. The club frequently presents acts like the Coyote Girls and Chippendales.

And last but not least, the new star of Chamonix's nightlife: the Wild Wallabies Bar. The crowd is mostly British and Scandinavian, and the owner encourages everyone in a drinking, singing, burping and dancing frenzy. Santé!