Après ski is a major part of many people’s winter holiday in the French Alps. There’s nothing like finishing your day on the mountain with a drink or two. The après ski scene varies throughout ski resorts; at one end of the scale, you get laid-back and family-friendly resorts, while others provide just the right level of debauchery. So, where does Morzine in the Portes du Soleil fit on this scale?
As someone who’s lived in and around Morzine for 10 years, I’m in an excellent position to tell you all about it, even if some of my memories are slightly fuzzy.
Is Morzine Good For Après Ski?
Its casual style and lack of pretentiousness make Morzine an excellent place for après ski drinks. There are many bars, each offering a different atmosphere and experience. You’ll find that you’ll gravitate to specific bars depending on where you’ve been skiing, your mood, and where your accommodation is. You can enjoy quiet-ish, more sophisticated drinks, live bands and DJs, rowdy pubs, and a couple of late-night venues.
Read more: What to wear for apres ski
Which Are The Best Après Ski Bars In Morzine?
Assuming you’ve had a great day skiing on the Pleney side of the valley, you will return to the village from Nyon, Les Gets, or the Pleney slopes themselves. This is where you can often hit the bars as you come off the mountain.
If you’re coming back from Avoriaz, which is on top of the plateau here, you’ll need to ride the Super Morzine lift back down to the village as there is no return to base slope – which might be a good thing after an afternoon in Folie Douce!
Le Tremplin
Located at the foot of the home run, Le Tremplin is in a convenient location and a great place to stop. Recently taken over by the Timpson family, Le Tremplin has a fantastic outdoor party space. Here, you’ll be entertained by bands and DJ sets so you can dance in your ski boots slope side. It gets pretty chilly once the sun has dipped behind the mountain, so you’ll have to stay warm by dancing and drinking vin chaud or hot chocolate. If you get to Le Tremplin early, you can watch people ski and enjoy sunset drinks.
La Folie Douce
Perhaps the most famous apres ski bar chain, the Folie Douce is actually in Avoriaz, but still falls under the blanket of Morzine apres ski. In fact, if you’ve been riding in Avoriaz it’s almost customary to grab a drink or two in Folie Douce, get your dance moves on the table before dropping back down the Proclou run to grab the last lift home.
Had too many to drink? Or missed the last lift? You can jump on the ski bus down to Morzine too, so stay safe…
The Cavern Bar Live
The Cavern Bar Live is one of the best live music bars in Morzine. They have at least two gigs per night, usually one at 5pm and another at 9pm. The early performance is generally taken care of by solo and duo acts entertaining tired skiers and snowboarders. They do a great job of building up the energy in the room, and soon everyone is singing along. The later shift sees bands taking to the stage, playing après ski classics before live DJs take over. Top Tip: The Cavern bar has tables with beer pumps; book one of these to avoid waiting at the bar.
Tibetan Café
The Tibetan Café is conveniently located next door to the Cavern bar and operates on a similar format of two live music gigs per day. The style is very different but no less entertaining. It has a cool interior and has recently been refurbished, which the owners are very excited about.
Le Crepu
Continuing your short walk into Morzine village, you’ll see Le Crepu on your left. This is an excellent place to have a few drinks, especially if you like cocktails. This bar has a massive list of cocktails and gins to choose from. There is also a good selection of beers you don’t get in any of the other bars in Morzine.
Haka
Haka is close to Le Crepu and is a favourite for many who want a few drinks on their ski holiday. There is a covered outdoor area where you’ll often be entertained by musicians and an indoor bar/restaurant. The bar menu features some excellent burgers, but the tapas are delicious and ideal to keep you going until dinner. They also have a happy hour that starts at 4pm to 6pm, which is ideal for getting cheaper drinks, including a daily cocktail special.
Le Coup de Coeur
Le Coup de Coeur is a nice wine bar accessible through the main square by the tourist office. It has a more laid-back and sophisticated style (for Morzine), so it’s a great place to have a more relaxed drink after a day’s skiing. It has an extensive wine list, and you can sample flights of whiskies and rums on display. The food is also great, as it is part of one of the best restaurants in Morzine.
Bar Robinson
Bar Robinson, known to locals as “Robbos,” is a Morzine institution. It only opens for après ski, so you better be quick if you want a drink there. Robbo’s is as basic as a bar can be, which adds to the charm. However, they have recently started playing music and offering bar snacks…which is progress. This popular bar has a great atmosphere, partly due to the Mutzig beer. This stuff is incredibly strong, so take it easy; you’ve been warned.
Dixie Bar
Heading down the Rue du Bourg and through the village will eventually bring you to Dixie Bar. This lively bar has many personalities, but it is primarily an Irish-themed pub. Open everyday with two live music gigs, Dixie bar is well worth a visit. If you’re lucky, you may be there when the “Dixie Micks” are in town. These lovable guys play covers and Irish folk music that get everyone on the dance floor. Dixie Bar is also a great place to watch major sporting events.
Happy Hours Bar
Happy Hours bar isn’t strictly in Morzine but is a big part of the Morzine après ski scene. Happy Hours is owned by Victor, and he knows how to throw a party. His bar is regarded as one of the best après ski bars in the area and is located at the bottom station of the Ardent cable car. You’ll get to Happy Hours via the blue piste from Linderets. But be careful when you get to the bottom, as you have to ski across a bridge; if you fall, everyone will see you.
The action unfolds under a huge tent with several tables to dance on and an outdoor bar. You may want to try the “scary cocktail,” a potent concoction that loosens the crowd up nicely. Happy Hours serves simple but good food. So you can head down there early for a bite to eat and experience the energy build as the bar fills up. I recommend getting on the bus back to Morzine before the bar closes to avoid the feral seasonnaires and holidaymakers.
Are There Any Good Nightclubs In Morzine?
Morzine has one nightclub, L’Opera, which opens at 10pm and closes at 5am. This is a good venue with a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it falls short of being an excellent end to your Morzine après ski session. The drinks are expensive for what you get, and it isn’t considered the safest place to go. There are many stories linked to this place, so you may want to give it a miss.
However, if you’re in the party mood and want to continue your experience of nightlife in Morzine, I recommend that you head to café Chaud. This is Morzine’s liveliest bar, frequented by young people working a winter season. Expect to dance to various styles of music, including drum n’ base, until the early hours. Café Chaud hosts themed parties throughout the winter season with international DJs flown in.
Final Thoughts On Morzine Après Ski
Morzine has a great atmosphere created by enthusiastic locals and visitors. Its après-ski scene may not be as chic as some resorts, but you’ll undoubtedly find a great bar that suits your mood and style. There’s always a good night to have in this excellent mountain village.
Read more on Tom’s Medium Blog: Why we chose Morzine to live.
