Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski Report: 28th November 2010
Hello from my first Après ski report of the season, and there is an awful lot to report!
As I'm sure you know, “après ski” means “after ski” so here is where you can find everything you need to know about what happens when the lifts shut, the sun disappears behind Pic Blanc, and Alpe d'Huez gives the biggest resorts in the world a run for their money for evening entertainment.
I'll be reporting on the highlights of the previous week, imparting my hard earned knowledge on the best bars, restaurants, activities and events that Alpe d'Huez has to offer.
There are quite a few bars in resort now open, however restaurants are harder to find. Smithy's Tavern and O'bar are running slightly reduced menus, but the quality of the food seems to get better each season.
With the lifts open this weekend, and resort staff gradually trickling in, expect the resort to get busier by the day. Freeride, O'bar, Smithy's Tavern, Zoo Bar and new venue Le Pub have seen the majority of the action. O'Sharkys burst onto the scene on Thursday evening with their opening party, one of the larger tour operators' staff arrived that day with some of them experiencing the highs and lows of drinking at altitude.
More opening parties was the order of the evening for Friday. New restaurant/bar Rendez-vous at the top of town started the evening off with some interesting shot creations, “the Wagner” being the one to get people talking.
The highlight of the week does have to go to the Underground bar for their opening party on Friday. It seems once again they are determined to not let a single soul leave resort without saying the famous words “slammer-dammer-ding-dong”. After setting fire to the dance floor, most made their way up to the Igloo nightclub for their opening night, to dance into the early hours.
It seems Alpe d'Huez has lost none of it's late night charm, we're all waiting for the season to really kick off, but there is no chance of easing myself back in. But as they say, if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.
For a full list of this week's events, check out our What's On Calendar. You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.
