The Best Après-Ski Spots in Vail Village

There is a moment, right around 3:30 in the afternoon, when the light goes golden on the Gore Range and the trails start to empty out. Your legs are burning in the best possible way, your cheeks are wind-kissed, and there is only one question left: where are we going for après?

Après-ski is not just a drink after skiing. In Vail, it is a ritual, a celebration of the day, the snow, and the sheer joy of being in the mountains. The village comes alive as ski boots clomp across cobblestone streets and the sound of clinking glasses drifts out of every doorway. Whether you want a rowdy beer hall, a quiet glass of wine by the fire, or a family-friendly spot where the kids can eat pizza while you decompress, Vail has a place for you.

Here are our favorite spots, tested over years of living and working in the valley.

Vail Village Classics

The Red Lion

If there is one place that defines après-ski in Vail, it is The Red Lion. This legendary bar at the base of Bridge Street has been the heart of Vail's après scene for decades. On a powder day, the outdoor deck is pure chaos in the best way, live music, dancing in ski boots, pitchers of beer being passed overhead, and an energy that is absolutely electric.

Sometimes après-ski means a cold beer and a slice of pizza, and nobody does that better than Vendetta's. This Bridge Street institution has been a Vail Village staple since the 1983-84 season, though it almost wasn't called Vendetta's at all. Founder John "Popeye" Brennan opened the downstairs restaurant as Valentino's, only to receive a cease and desist from a Midwest pizza chain. With no money to fight it in court, Popeye changed the name at the end of that first season. He wanted to keep the V, and registered Vendetta's in nearly every state. Popeye has been joined by Dave "Bone" Chapin almost since the beginning, along with longtime partner Shawn Meineke and Popeye's daughter Jennifer Riddle, who runs the place today. As Bone puts it: "If somebody asked me how would you sum up 40 years of Vendetta's, I would say it's community and family." The ski patrol connection goes back to John Donovan, who ran the legendary Copper Bar upstairs. During tense union negotiations with Vail Associates, Donovan defused the situation the only way a true Vail local would, by offering the patrol a free beer, known as a "raise," at the end of every shift. That tradition has never stopped. After a long day keeping Vail Mountain and its visitors safe, you will find the fine men and women of the Vail Ski Patrol unwinding at the upper bar, just like they always have. Buy the boys and girls of Vail Ski Patrol a round and say thank you for a job well done.
• Vibe: Loud, joyful, legendary. Think Oktoberfest meets spring break meets ski town.
• What to order: A pitcher of whatever is on draft and the nachos. Keep it simple.
• Best time: 3:00-5:00 PM when the live band kicks in and the deck is packed.

The George

Named after the legendary George Caulkins (one of Vail's founding figures), The George is where you go when you want something more refined. This is craft cocktails done right, think barrel-aged old fashioneds and seasonal creations made with Colorado spirits. The atmosphere is warm and sophisticated without being stuffy.

• Vibe: Upscale but relaxed. Dark wood, warm lighting, and a bartender who knows what they are doing.
• What to order: Ask the bartender for a seasonal recommendation. They take pride in their craft.
• Best time: 4:00-6:00 PM for a more mellow, grown-up après experience.

Vendetta's

Sometimes après-ski means a cold beer and a slice of pizza, and nobody does that better than Vendetta's. This Bridge Street institution has been a Vail Village staple since the 1983-84 season, though it almost wasn't called Vendetta's at all. Founder John "Popeye" Brennan opened the downstairs restaurant as Valentino's, only to receive a cease and desist from a Midwest pizza chain. With no money to fight it in court, Popeye changed the name at the end of that first season. He wanted to keep the V, and registered Vendetta's in nearly every state. Popeye has been joined by Dave "Bone" Chapin almost since the beginning, along with longtime partner Shawn Meineke and Popeye's daughter Jennifer Riddle, who runs the place today. As Bone puts it: "If somebody asked me how would you sum up 40 years of Vendetta's, I would say it's community and family." The ski patrol connection goes back to John Donovan, who ran the legendary Copper Bar upstairs. During tense union negotiations with Vail Associates, Donovan defused the situation the only way a true Vail local would, by offering the patrol a free beer, known as a "raise," at the end of every shift. That tradition has never stopped. After a long day keeping Vail Mountain and its visitors safe, you will find the fine men and women of the Vail Ski Patrol unwinding at the upper bar, just like they always have. Buy the boys and girls of Vail Ski Patrol a round and say thank you for a job well done.

• Vibe: Casual, friendly, and delicious. Great for groups.
• What to order: A Vendetta's pie and a local Colorado craft beer.
• Best time: 3:30-5:30 PM, works as both a late lunch and après.

Mountain Standard

For those who want their après with a side of style, Mountain Standard delivers. This gastro-bar on Wall Street in Vail Village serves creative cocktails and elevated bar food in a sleek, modern space. The pretzel bites with beer cheese are practically famous, and the cocktail menu changes seasonally.

• Vibe: Trendy and polished. The place to be seen after a big ski day.
• What to order: The pretzel bites (non-negotiable) and a signature cocktail.
• Best time: 4:00-7:00 PM. It transitions beautifully from après into early dinner.

Rimini Rum Club

Tucked away on East Meadow Drive, Rimini Rum Club is Vail's not-so-secret speakeasy. The rum-focused cocktail menu is inventive and strong, the space is intimate and moody, and it feels like a genuine discovery even though plenty of people know about it. If you are tired of the usual beer-and-shots après scene, this is your antidote.

• Vibe: Speakeasy cool. Dark, intimate, and a little bit fancy.
• What to order: Let the bartender surprise you. Tell them what flavors you like and trust the process.
• Best time: 5:00 PM onward, when the après crowd thins and the cocktail crowd arrives.

Lionshead Options

Lionshead Village, at the western base of Vail Mountain near the Eagle Bahn Gondola, has its own distinct après-ski personality, slightly more relaxed and family-friendly than the Bridge Street scene.

Bart and Yeti's

If Vendetta's is the soul of Vail Village, Bart and Yeti's is the soul of Lionshead, and it got its name the best way any bar ever has. The place had just been sold and needed a new name. As the story goes, Packy Walker would sit at the bar with his dog Bart. A few barstools down, Pepper and Jan Etters sat with their dog Yeti. One night, patrons were deep into a tequila-fueled debate about what the new owners should call the place. One guy, recalling that the previous owner didn't like dogs in the bar, stood up and shouted: "Name it after those two dogs and he'll never come back!" So they did. The name stuck, and so did the dogs.

Bart, for his part, had a signature drink: white Russians, served from a wooden bowl. Years later, at Bart's wake, several wooden bowls lined the floor, each filled with white Russians. His buddies were lapping them up in homage when the door swung open and a couple walked in, surveyed the scene, and quietly turned around. Some bars aren't for everyone, and that's exactly what makes them great.

Today Bart and Yeti's is run by brothers Denis and Kevin Foley, who have been owners for nearly 37 years. But the Foleys are more than bar owners, they are woven into the fabric of this community. For 28 years they ran the youth basketball program at Red Sandstone Elementary School, and in 2019 the school named its gym Foley Fieldhouse in their honor. Every March, when the season wraps up, the top two teams make a victory march over Vail's I-70 pedestrian bridge and into Lionshead to celebrate at Bart and Yeti's. Kevin has served on the Vail Town Council roughly eight times.

• Vibe: A true locals' bar with one of the best origin stories in Vail. Hang out on the sunny deck while the kids play at the Town of Vail's Onion Park, one of the coolest playgrounds around, just a few steps away.
• What to order: The Normy wings, the best in Vail. And a cold beer, or a white Russian in honor of Bart.
• Best time: Right after the lifts close. Pull up a barstool and stay a while.

Garfinkel's

Right at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, Garfinkel's is Lionshead's answer to The Red Lion. It is a sprawling space with a massive outdoor deck, live music on weekends, and an energy that ramps up fast once the gondola stops running. The burger is one of the best in the valley.

• Vibe: High energy, family-friendly during early après, rowdier as it gets later.
• What to order: The Garfinkel's burger and a Colorado craft beer.
• Best time: 3:00-5:00 PM. Grab a deck table right as the lifts close.

Montauk Seafood Grill

For something different, Montauk in Lionshead offers a more refined après with excellent seafood and a solid wine list. The raw bar is a surprising treat at 8,000 feet, and the happy hour specials make it accessible.

• Vibe: Upscale casual. A welcome change of pace from pub fare.
• What to order: Oysters and a glass of champagne. You earned it.
• Best time: 4:00-6:00 PM during happy hour.

Family-Friendly Après

Skiing with kids does not mean you have to skip après-ski. Several spots welcome families and keep everyone happy.

• Vendetta's, The pizza keeps kids content while parents enjoy a beer. Win-win.
• Garfinkel's (early hours), The outdoor deck is fun for kids, and the menu has plenty of options for younger palates.
• Hot chocolate at any village cafe, Sometimes the best après for little ones is a warm mug and a cookie. The Village Bagel and several coffee shops in both Vail Village and Lionshead do it right.

After a perfect afternoon of après, the last thing you want to think about is driving anywhere. That is one of the best things about Vail, the entire village is pedestrian, and everything is within walking distance. And when it is time to head to the airport for your flight home, we will pick you up right at your door whether you are heading to Eagle County Airport or making the drive to Denver International.

Cheers to good snow, good company, and the perfect post-ski pour. See you on the mountain.

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