Vail Ski Holidays

Après-Ski in Vail

There’s three fantastic ski outs in Vail – Golden Peak, Vail Village and Lionshead. We suggest you slide down and finish your ski day in Vail Village or Lionshead for exceptional après. Best locations for an après beer or two are as follows:

Garfinkel's (Lionshead)

Popular with the locals, Garfs is a great place to sit outside, especially in the spring on their south-facing terrace overlooking the Gondola. Enjoy the late afternoon sun and watch skiers and boarders making their descents to Lionshead. Inside you’ll find a bar with walls stacked with ski memorabilia and a classic mountain town atmosphere. Serves beer by the pitcher, great margaritas and great après snacks.

C-Bar (Lionshead)

The slopeside C-Bar in the Vail Chophouse right in front of the Gondola, is more of an upmarket place to go, and has a great happy hour. Expect great après snacks like Crispy Pork Belly Sliders, a Seafood Bar and a range of hand-crafted cocktails as well as the usual array of local beers and regional wines.

Root & Flower (Vail Village)

One of Vail’s most versatile watering holes, this is a wine & cocktail bar with a difference. Enjoy a tasting experience, or sample one of over 50 wines by the glass. Expect classic cocktails and an ever-evolving menu to complement the journey.

Los Amigos (Vail Village)

Hand-crafted margaritas, tequila, beer, street tacos – enough said. This is a fantastic American Mexican fusion of food & beverage classics that adds a bit of salsa to Vail’s après scene.

Vail Brewing Co. Tap Room (Vail Village)

This is an award-winning, locally owned and run craft brewery in Vail Village serving exceptional beer and comfort food. You’ll find a proper selection of beers on tap, or try a flight of tasters.

Vendetta’s (Vail Village)

A hang out popular with the locals, including the Ski Patrol, you can enjoy a cold beer and a slice of pizza and feel like one of the guys in no time at all. This is fine dining without the stuffiness. Visit the legendary double-sided bar for drinks with your amigos or enjoy a classic Italian meal in the main dining room.

The Red Lion (Vail Village)

A Vail original, the Red Lion welcomes guests from near and far to enjoy its warm hospitality, great American cuisine, and the best in local entertainment. This is the perfect après spot in Vail Village – bar for après, restaurant for dinner and then nightclub to finish. Stagger home in ski boots…

Dining in Vail

Vail has a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its food and wine. During the ski day, the mountain has plenty of choice, including fine-dining options like the new 10th at mid-Vail. With a vast array of restaurants to choose from in the evening, there’s no problem finding a venue to please everybody in Vail. For a special treat, try the Game Creek Restaurant (accessed by gondola and snowcat!) which offers five-star American cuisine.

Bully Ranch

A genuine taste of Colorado awaits you in the casual and lively environs of The Bully Ranch. A local favourite since 1986, The Bully features the finest cuts of prime aged beef, and barbeque ribs, washed down with a choice of beers, wines, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try one of their signature mudslides. Just bear in mind, there’s a reason why they limit you to three! 

Pepi's Bar & Grill

Pepi’s claim to fame is that it was established way back in 1963 by Austrian couple, Pepi and Sheika Gramshammer, ensuring that guests have enjoyed a genuine Austrian welcome ever since! The restaurant’s highly original, Austrian ambiance is carried over into menu choices, where you’ll have such delicious options as Jaegerschnitzel, Paprika Goulash, and Sauerbraten. As well as European, there are American dishes. Popular with locals and visitors alike, reservations are recommended.

The Game Creek Club

Accessible only to members during the day, in the evenings the Game Creek Club is open to non-members to experience its special environment. The club is located on the north side of Game Creek Bowl and to reach it in the evening you take the Eagle Bahn Gondola, and then have a short ride in a snowcat. This all adds to the evening’s fun and makes you feel like you’re having a night out with a difference! Once there, you’re in for a real treat, with a menu that covers all tastes, offering both European and American cuisine. The dining room is beautiful, with upscale décor and furnishings, the food highly memorable, and the service attentive. 

La Tour

Close to the village centre, and just minutes from the west end of the Vail Village parking structure, Chef Paul Ferzacca’s contemporary French-American cuisine is famous on the Vail dining scene, and La Tour is reassuringly known as the restaurant ‘where the chefs eat’! The menu uses the finest organic, natural and sustainable ingredients available. Sporting one of the best wine lists in Vail, La Tour is a recipient of the Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ accolade. The dining room’s ambiance is enhanced by the creative displaying of numerous sculptures, paintings, photographs, and pieces of glass art.

Flame

Located within the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail this is one of the resort’s most sought-after culinary destinations. Expect signature dishes that include a Chilled Shellfish Tower, Crispy Skinned Colorado Trout and Rocky Mountain Elk steaks.

Russell’s Steakhouse and Bar

A cosy little steakhouse, conveniently located in the centre of Vail, Russell’s serves ribs, chicken and seafood as well as steaks. It’s great food and a welcoming atmosphere have made it a long time Vail favourite, amongst locals and a real find for visitors. 

Swiss Chalet

Serving delicious European cuisine in an authentic-feeling Alpine environment, the Swiss Chalet’s menu is sure to delight, with its inclusion of traditional specialities like Kase Spatzle, and a variety of delicious fondues. A dining destination the whole family will enjoy, Swiss Chalet also offers mouth-watering desserts, and a children’s menu. Reservations are recommended.

Sweet Basil

Open for business in Vail for over 40 years, the Sweet Basil has long been a Vail mainstay. Sweet Basil is a creative, modern, American restaurant located in the heart of Vail Village. It is constantly being showered with accolades. The menu features imaginative cuisine from across a wide spectrum of diverse influences. A popular destination for wine lovers, the wine list has over 500 selections from around the world, and the bar is a great place for pre-dinner drinks. Lunch and dinner are served daily, and the bar is open throughout the day.

Up The Creek

Located on Gore Creek, and enjoying stunning scenery, Up The Creek boasts Vail’s only creek side patio, and is open daily for lunch and dinner. Their welcome is warm, the food is wholesome and plentiful, and the menu features reasonably priced appetizers, salads, pastas, and fresh fish. There’s also a children’s menu.

Tavern on the Square

Nestled within The Arrabelle at Vail Square and only steps away from the Eagle Bahn gondola, The Tavern on the Square is Vail’s most happening spot for delicious food and drink, before and after you hit the mountain. Casual by day and refined at night, The Tavern is a mountain American grill inspired by the freshest farm to table ingredients. Enjoy signature dishes, such as the Tomahawk Steak, Grilled Elk Lettuce Wraps, Baja Fish Tacos and Lobster Mac & Cheese. The Tavern boasts an eclectic wine list, a wide assortment of microbrews and fresh cocktails meant to complement any dish on the menu. The Tavern is also kid friendly and offers a great menu designed specifically for them.

Vail Chophouse

The Vail Chophouse sits right in front of the Gondola in Lionshead and offers a fantastic view up the slopes. This is a lovely restaurant offering great steaks and fresh seafood, hand-crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list. The menu has some absolute beauties to savour – double Colorado lamb chops with whipped Yukon tatties and bacon-wrapped asparagus gets our vote.

Activities in Vail

Hot Air Ballooning

Enjoy the unbeatable spectacle of the sun rising above the beautiful Vail Valley as you float soundlessly upwards. At the culmination of each Hot Air Balloon ride, enjoy a welcome glass of champagne.

Ice Skating

There are three ice rinks in Vail: at the Arrabelle, in front of Solaris and also at Adventure Ridge.

Sleigh Ride Dinner

A fun adventure for the whole family, take an open-air sleigh ride from Beaver Creek Village to Beano’s Cabin, or from Bachelor Gulch to Zach’s Cabin. Enjoy a memorable gourmet dinner high up on the mountain. Both restaurants offer spectacular Colorado cuisine with friendly service in spectacular setting. Lasting memories will be created as you relax before the glow of an inviting fire and enjoy a fabulous 5-course dinner to the accompaniment of live musical entertainment. Children have the option of their own menu at Beano’s Cabin, and there’s a children’s buffet on offer at Zach’s Cabin. Beano’s Cabin is open nightly, and Zach’s Cabin is open from Tuesdays through Saturdays. Guests in Vail will need to take a taxi to and from Beaver Creek.

Snowcoach Tours

For visitors who prefer to admire the majestic Colorado scenery from the comfort of a fully enclosed, heated snowcoach, these tours are for you! Each 4-track vehicle seats 13 passengers and travels with ease over the snow, following trails through the White River National Forest at historic Camp Hale. Admire the unrivalled beauty of the backcountry with its spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies and the Continental Divide.

Winter Horseback Riding

A great activity for young and old alike, everyone will enjoy taking a trail ride through a snowy landscape, admiring the stunning scenery that surrounds you. From your vantage point, you’ll meander through meadows, along Muddy Creek and across a mountain bench meadow, experiencing the Colorado winter landscape with every step. Whether you are a complete beginner, or have often ridden, this wonderful experience will be a highlight of your winter holiday in Vail.