Val d'Isère: bars and nightlife
It’s strange that the country that invented the word “après” is generally so bad at it. Val d’Isère, of course, does have Dick’s Tea Bar, the iconic venue founded by Dick Yates-Smith in 1979. The bar is still running and even has its rivals, but Val, though livelier than many French resorts, still doesn't quite match the likes of Austria's St Anton and Ischgl.
On the slopes
La Folie Douce offers the only on-mountain action. It’s located at the top of the La Daille gondola and is reached by as many people in mufty from the resort as skiers and riders from the pistes. It has DJs and live bands on an open terrace and rocks from mid-afternoon until the lifts close.
Bananas is a restaurant and bar near the bottom of La Face, and is one of the first watering holes you reach as you head back towards resort at the end of the day. It burned down in 2011 but has now been rebuilt and is one of Val’s liveliest après bars.
Cocorico is an increasingly popular après bar with live music at the Rond Point (almost at the foot of Solaise) which has gone a long way towards rectifying Val’s shortage of après entertainment.
A post shared by Cocorico Valdisere (@cocoricovaldi) on May 3, 2017 at 7:09am PDT
In your boots
Dicks Tea Bar is no longer open for après. This season the opening hours are 10pm until 5am with DJs, live sax and electric violin every night.
The Pacific Bar is much loved by the locals and has giant TV screens for sports and is a regular scene for live music and open mic nights.
A post shared by Dick's Tea Bar - Val d'Isere (@dicksteabar) on Feb 3, 2017 at 7:23am PST
Pre-dinner drinks
Café Face, named after the black run, is a relaxed place for an early evening drink. It opens from 4pm to 2am, with DJs and cabaret taking over until the early hours.
Blizzard Hotel Bar is a great place for a quiet drink while you consider your options for the night ahead, while Victors Bar has plenty of atmosphere and great cocktails.
The Fall Line tries to be all things – and does them well. It’s open during the day for coffee and cakes and has the most comfortable sofas in town. It's also a lively après and late-night spot with DJs, live music and themed party nights.
Live music
Le Petit Danois is stuffed with Scandinavians as the name suggests, with live music from 5pm and late night heavy drinking.
A post shared by Le Petit Danois (@lepetitdanois) on Apr 2, 2015 at 1:33pm PDT
Le Graal is Dick’s only serious rival as a late-night club. It opens at 10.30pm. The main event is the Electrograal clubnight each Wednesday, which features live music.
La Doudoune on the edge of the piste at the Rond Point is a late-night club favoured by the French and open to 5am.
Val d'isere
Intersport
