Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski Report: 17th February 2011

Speed dating at Smithy's Tavern started the week off as a host of the resorts singles had a last chance to grab a date before Valentines Day. Each girl was assigned a table and some carafes of wine as the single chaps from town made their way round for a 3-minute date as they all used their best chit-chat to find a suitor. The following day was Valentines Day as the resorts restaurants filled with couples making the most of the fantastic cuisine Alpe d'Huez has to offer. For me it was a trip to the best pizza restaurant in town Le Roy Lardre, no gorgeous girl on my arm however just my flat-mate Jack accompanying me, but the pizzas are all incredible and all names after pistes on the mountain so when you have conquered the Tunnel on your skis, you can try and conquer it with a knife and fork. The tourist office also held a traffic light party on the ice rink in aid of a children's charity, which unfortunately I couldn't attend, but I did hear that it was a great success. With Champions league football the bars have been filling up in the early evening, particularly Pacific Pub with it's big screen TV's and also O Bar with Tottenham triumphing, bar owner and avid spurs fan Vito has been in great spirits.

This week we look forward to the return of DJ Inevitable Spoon at the Show Love Tour that is hitting Smithy's tonight. And more live music in town with open Mic Night in Pacific on Sunday and Gareth entertaining the masses at The Underground.

As we approach the middle of the season, I think it's about time I fill you in on where is hot in Alpe d'Huez when the lifts close and the piste bashers are busy preparing the mountain. Alpe d'Huez has a wide and varied spectrum of late night activities and action to suit everybody's taste. I've mentioned many times the number of different activities you can do ranging from ice skating and bum boarding to taking in an organ concert at the church or rock climbing in the Palais des Sport. I'd like to focus this report on the bars in Alpe d'Huez and what they have to offer. Please consider this part one as if I go into detail about every bar in resort, by the time I finish, I would have forgotten how to snowboard.

Starting at the top of resort near the DMC, you have Seasonnaires favourite Rendez-Vous. Formally Irish bar Lilly's, Rendez-Vous has had a much needed facelift, and the guys have done a brilliant job of establishing themselves as a bit of an all round destination with a fantastic blend of cosy evening restaurant with fantastic food, to the gorgeous terrace where you can drink beer till the sun sets. Their full English breakfast every Thursday is well worth a mention and you will always find great chat and good times any time of day.

Moving down the high street we have Sphere Bar, quite a small but incredibly trendy little bar facing down the Avenue des Jeux, Sphere is another bar popular with après ski and afternoon drinking. One of the best value bars in town with their great happy hour deals, and also it is a superb place chat about your day on the hill.

A little further down and you have The Wine Floor, certainly one of the more elegant places to enjoy a drink and a favourite of my girlfriend's parents when they come for a visit. A fantastic selection of the drink France is famous for, and an ideal place to pick up a little something to take home at the end of your stay.

Just round the corner is Etalon, Alped d‘Huez' rum bar. A fantastic selection of flavoured rum and a good place to watch live sport. Quite often you will find live music and almost certainly you will find an entertaining evening.

On the same street we have Alternatif cocktail bar. Somewhere I haven't managed to find my way into too often, but a great location as it is right next to the piste and you should definitely try it out at least once to see the bar staff flair and juggle the bottles as they make your drink.

On the other side of the high street is O'Sharkey's the resorts Irish bar. Again, a great place to go and watch live sport on the TV and often you will find live music and bar owner Ant practicing his juggling as you can drink your way into the evening.

Fun Café and Le Sporting are a little further down, the fun café is a popular destination for the teenagers with a huge selection of video games and pool tables but adults do not fear there is a bar as you watch your children pump your euros into the maze of flashing lights and beeping noises. Le Sporting is one of 3 establishments with a late licence in Alpe d'Huez allowing them to stay open past the usual 2 am, but be warned their prices do go up at this point. Always a buzz with evening entertainment ranging from pianists and strings to a slightly more adult theme.

Finally in the Gallerie Du Ours Blanc are French bars Freeride and Snow Bar. Not too popular with the English crowd but both have their charms and again well worth checking out.

Make sure you come back next week where I'll have more news and tell you all about the bars in the Old Town, Les Bergers and on the Route du Coulet.

Remember, we're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time!

Pete

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.