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Val Thorens Apres Ski Report: 1st February 2012

Joie de Vivre in Val Thorens

featured in Nightlife reviews Author Andy Wilson, Updated

With the plethora of holidaymakers and students that are in resort at the moment, it’s not merely the pistes that are thriving as interest in après events are at a season high. With the cold air, clouds and snowfall working against us, you might think that the week would have been dry in terms of après and nightlife. But of course, we shouldn't underestimate the joie de vivre of the entertainment outlets in Val Thorens.

Despite the weather, the pistes have seen their fair share of partying, and not just confined to the obvious venues. On the fairest days of the week (not one has seen the unbroken sunshine that we became used to) it has been common to see groups of students, families or friends picnicking at the sides of the slopes, perhaps enjoying a cup of wine or champagne with a baguette. Accessible from many of the South Western slopes of the resort, Chalet du Thorens remains a popular spot for an afternoon hot chocolate, vin chaud or a nice simple beer in the fleeting sunshine. And of course, the adjoining Bar 360 is thrumming with skiers and boarders keeping their dancing muscles limber every afternoon.

With temperatures plummeting to -27°C on Thursday night, you may want to shake off some of the cold in the sunshine predicted for Friday. What better way to do so than with an après drink and a table-top dance in the sunshine at La Folie Douce. The famous bar, located at the top of the Plein Sud chairlift, is blessed with a west facing location meaning that it is doused in afternoon sunshine. “The Dance Floor on Top of the World” has a great vibe thanks to the entertainers on the balcony who ply you with house music, champagne showers and live saxophone to get you dancing on the tables. Make sure you are a competent skier because the descent is a little choppy and can be hazardous after a few pints.

Later on in the evening, the most exciting bars can be found in a cluster at the top of town (also accessible via Plein Sud). Popular with seasonnaires and the English guests in resort is “the highest pub in Europe” The Frog and Roastbeef. With frequent après ski bands, karaoke nights, drinks promotions and flat-screen televisions screening sports events, there is always something going on at The Frog to keep you entertained. A short way down the street is Saloon Bar and Down Under, a good place to progress on a night out. Whilst it can get very busy and very hot, the big dance floor and cheap cocktail jugs make Saloon a good place to go for a few drinks and meet people.

Gaining in popularity throughout the season is Pandora, the chic bar located on the bend in the road opposite Saloon. The staff in this lively bar are keen to wow punters by setting their drinks on fire and serving up bar-long lines of Jäger–bomb trains. Also, if you are beginning to find music in the other venues a bit samey, Pandora’s resident DJ has a penchant for electro, drum n’ bass, dub-step and hip-hop, and often mixes together unexpected tracks to good effect, making this a great alternative.

The bars and clubs in Val Thorens can occasionally get very busy but there are a few places where you can avoid the crowds. Just around the corner from Pandora is a little bar called Rhum Box. This quirky, colourful little joint has a vast array of flavoured rum in jars behind the bar, all of which is made in house. Also, just a little way up the road past the Frog is a new hotel called Tango which has a large bar on the ground floor. Having only recently opened, the bar is fairly inconspicuous compared to its brighter, louder siblings, but is certainly worth seeking out. Scandinavian owned and teeming with style, Tango prides itself on a good selection of cocktails, offered at two for one prices during happy hour.

Location

Map of the surrounding area