Best Après Ski in Zermatt, Switzerland (For Post-Powder Fun)

best apres ski zermatt

The quality of apres-ski events is just as important as the quality of slopes for many skiers, and that’s just one of many reasons why Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in Switzerland. It boasts countless kilometers of slopes that range from easy to extremely challenging, and an apres-ski scene that puts other resorts to shame.

Zermatt has the most nightclubs out of all the ski resorts in the Valais, so it’s absolutely a great destination if you want to spend your vacation at a place with great apres-ski events. On the other hand, the town also boasts apres-ski options for families and skiers who aren’t into cocktails and dances. Whatever your idea of apres-ski might entail, you’ll find at least a couple of suitable options in this guide to the best apres-ski in Zermatt!

Après Ski on the Mountain

Hennu Stall

Hennu Stall in Zermatt
Hennu Stall in Zermatt

Hennu Stall is an apres-ski bar on the slopes, so a place where you can start partying while you’re still wearing your ski gear. You’ll easily find the place because there are always skis and snowboards stuck into the snow at the entrance, plus you’ll be able to hear the music from a mile away.

Hennu Stall usually has a DJ to entertain the guests in the evening, so it’s a great destination for dancing in Zermatt! However, I have to remind you that the bar is on the slopes; you’ll have to ski back into Zermatt, so don’t overdo it with beers and cocktails. The apres-ski bar doesn’t stay open for too long; it usually serves guests until 8 PM, and then you’ll have to head back into Zermatt if you want to continue dancing.

Champagner Bar Teehäuschen Flora

Champagne Bar in Zermatt
Champagne Bar in Zermatt

The Teehäuschen Flora Champagne Bar is another excellent place to stop by when you’re heading back into Zermatt from the pistes. It’s a stop along the Gourmet Trail in Zermatt, which leads past the best and most famous restaurants and bars in the village.

The champagne bar is a charming place with good music, excellent (and ice-cold) champagne, and pretty views of the village. It’s also got some of the friendliest services in all of Zermatt, and that alone should be reason enough to check out the place. The owner is very friendly with guests and makes everyone feel welcome at her mountainside bar.

Iglu-Dorf

Iglu-Dorf in Zermatt
Iglu-Dorf in Zermatt

If you’re skiing at the Riffelberg ski area, you’ll have to stop by Iglu Dorf at least once. It’s exactly what it sounds like – a tiny igloo village, with tables and stools in each of the igloos. It is possible to sit on the slopes outside the igloos, but enjoying hot fondue inside an actual igloo is an apres-ski experience you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life.

This is also the best place for families because it isn’t really a party destination. It’s more of a place to relax near Zermatt, and apres-ski before you head back into town. There’s sometimes even a live singer at Iglu-Dorf, but this isn’t a regular occurrence as with other apres-ski bars in the town.

Overall, Iglu-Dorf is certainly the best après-ski bar in the Riffelberg area, as well as the most unique locale of its kind in Valais. It’s worth visiting even if you didn’t necessarily have plans to ski at Riffelberg if it’s just for the experience of drinking champagne inside an actual igloo.

Chämi-Hitta

Chämi-Hitta
© Mountain Restaurant Chämi-Hitta

Chämi-Hitta is the second best apres-ski destination in the Riffelberg ski area, right after the Iglu-Dorf. It’s also a little closer to Zermatt, and it’s more of a nice mountaintop restaurant than a proper party place. I’d recommend heading here after you’ve had drinks at Iglu-Dorf, especially if the fondue didn’t leave you feeling entirely full.

The food at Chämi-Hitta is really good. Honestly, go here to eat when you’re done skiing at Riffelberg and you’ll be good until breakfast the next day. Everything looks insanely good and super filling, plus it’s all traditional dishes that are staples to this region.

This restaurant also offers apres-ski drinks for everyone. There’s everything from hot coffee to ice-cold champagne, and there’s even alcohol-free punch for kids (and non-drinkers), so they too can feel like they’re participating in apres-ski fun.

Après Ski in the Zermatt Village

Brown Cow Pub

Brown Cow Pub in Zermatt
Brown Cow Pub in Zermatt, image courtesy of Unique Hotel Post

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The Brown Cow Pub is hands-down one of the best pubs in Zermatt and it’s part of the Unique Hotel Post complex. It’s situated in the heart of Zermatt, so it’s the perfect place to visit in the evening if you’re staying in the central area of the village. The pub is known for a wide selection of beers, cocktails, and other drinks, as well as really delicious pub food. Think burgers, fries, nachos, chicken wings, etc.

The pub is inside one of those wooden chalets in Zermatt, and its interior is all wood and rock. It will really give you that cozy, mountain vibe, which is probably why so many people are attracted to it in the first place. The quality of food and drinks is what makes them want to come back here every other day of their stay in Zermatt.

It’s worth noting that the Brown Cow Pub features a very relaxed vibe. It’s for people who want to sit down and converse after a long day of skiing, or just watch sports on the TV. There’s no live music or DJ here, so it’s not really a party place.

CERVO

CERVO in Zermatt
CERVO in Zermatt

The CERVO is one of Zermatt’s best hotels, and the Cervo Bar/Lounge hosts some of the best apres-ski in the area. The hotel is near the slopes and you can ski practically to your chalet. The après ski drinks and music are on the hotel terraces, and the events are perfect for relaxing after a long day on the slopes, and before you head into town for some proper fun.

It’s worth noting that the CERVO in Zermatt has two outstanding restaurants with some of the best food in this ski resort. They’re also a good destination for after-ski fun, especially if your idea of it includes fine dining, exquisite cocktails, and no DJs.

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Papperla Pub

The Papperla Pub is an excellent apres-ski pub in Zermatt if you’re into pub food, live music, and draught beer. The atmosphere at the pub is great; it’s relaxed but super fun, making this a really good destination for skiers who want to enjoy some live music and a lively pub atmosphere, but don’t necessarily want to to spend the night on their feet after a long day of skiing.

The food is great, they’ve got Guinness on tap, and the vibe is very chill. Honestly, this is a great place for people who want to relax and unwind after skiing, especially if you’re staying in downtown Zermatt. The Papperla Pub is close to Hotel Astoria and Hotel Bristol in central Zermatt, and it’s in one of those charming wooden houses that this town is known for so well.

Pink

Pink live music bar in Zermatt
Pink live music bar in Zermatt, image courtesy of Unique Hotel Post

Pink is a popular live music bar in the heart of Zermatt. It’s one of the bars and clubs in Unique Hotel Post, so perfect if you’re staying at that hotel. The bar is open seasonally, usually from early November until the end of the ski season. There are events at Pink on Fridays and Saturdays, and this is one of the few places in town where the party can last until the early hours of the morning.

What’s special about Pink is that it’s adorned with various memorabilia from the music industry. It’s a really great place for music lovers and anyone whose idea of apres-ski includes cocktails and dancing. The ambiance at the bar is awesome with dim lighting and friendly service. The place is somewhat pricier than the other bars and clubs in Zermatt, but worth it for the amazing apres-ski atmosphere.

Harry’s Bar

Harry's Ski Bar in Zermatt
Harry’s Ski Bar in Zermatt

Harry’s Ski Bar is in the heart of Zermatt, and it’s hands down one of the best Zermatt bars. If you want to feel precisely like you’re hanging out in a bar in the Alps, this is the place to be. The bar is inside a wooden chalet, and wood absolutely dominates the interior. They’ve even got photographs of the Matterhorn inside, so you don’t for a second forget where you are!

What’s even better is that you can sit on the patio and admire the mountain views without freezing to death thanks to the heaters. Harry’s Bar is relaxed and cozy; it’s not a party place at all, but instead a place to hang out with friends over beers and classic pub food. The place is usually open until 10 PM on weekdays but stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The prices here are fair, and it’s probably one of the more affordable bars in Zermatt.

Zermama Bar

If your idea of apres-ski is filling up on delicious food to make up for all the energy you’ve lost on the slopes, the Zermama Bar and Bistro is for you. I’m getting ravenous just looking at the photos of their food, which includes everything from delicious breakfast pancakes to burritos and schnitzels.

This is also a great place for hot drinks in the mornings and cocktails in the evening. They’ve even got delicious mulled wine, which would certainly be my top choice in the chilly Zermatt evenings. The bar even has live music in the afternoons, for an all-encompassing apres-ski experience that can appeal to anyone!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the après ski in Zermatt good?

Yes, the Zermatt après ski scene is very good, if not among the top three in Switzerland. It’s a varied scene with everything from cozy pubs to lively nightclubs. 

When usually does après-ski begin in Zermatt?

Apres-ski in Zermatt usually begins after the final runs on the slopes, so around 3-4 PM. The apres-ski bars on the slopes will usually open even earlier, but close shop much earlier than the bars in town. 

Are there any other après-ski activities in Zermatt besides drinking and eating?

Of course, there are other après-ski activities in Zermatt besides drinking and eating! Dancing is the most popular apres-ski activity in Zermatt and the Broken Bar Disco is possibly the most famous club in the Alps. 

Written by Ashley Faulkes
As a twenty-year resident of Switzerland, I am passionate about exploring every nook and cranny of this beautiful country, I spend my days deep in the great Swiss outdoors, and love to share these experiences and insights with fellow travel enthusiasts.

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