If you thought that an Austrian ski holiday was in any way quieter or more serene than its French or Swiss counterparts, you were wrong. You see, when it comes to living it up on the après-ski scene, Austria’s alpine resorts pack a mighty punch.
The town of St Anton is no stranger to a party, boasting a legendary après scene with party-centric bars and inviting restaurants offering fabulous local and international cuisine. There’s plenty of family-friendly spots on the mountain too, along with much-needed sports bars showing the latest fixtures.
Here’s our pick of the best après and nightlife in St Anton:
Heustadl
One of the first St Anton après bars you come to when skiing down the Blue 1 piste towards town, Heustadl is a great spot for catching live music. Boasting a large terrace area and ample storage for your gear, Heustadl is the ideal haunt for those wanting to wind down after a hard day on the slopes with wine in hand.
For those travelling as a couple or group, Heustadl is the perfect spot to grab a few drinks before heading somewhere a little louder.
Fang House
Described by one happy google reviewer as ‘the best après in the Alps’, any trip to St Anton has to include a stop at Fang House.
Nestled at the bottom of the Nassereinbahn, Fang House is open from midday until midnight. It may not be the biggest of venues, but what it lacks in size it sure makes up for in atmosphere. Their St Patrick’s Day parties are legendary, serving up booze and laughs in abundance – that said, the fun isn’t exclusive to one day of the year, as Fang House delivers night after night.
Whatever your trip and whomever you’re with, schedule in a night at Fang House: you won’t regret it.
Mooserwirt
This famous St Anton après spot goes by the mantra ‘ski in, try and ski out!’
Here, the party gets started mid-afternoon and goes hard until 8pm when those brave enough to ski the short distance to the bottom of the slope can do so (there’s also a paved walking route around the back to town).
Prepare yourself for table-top dancing, waiters with huge trays of beer and Jägermeister, and loud music: plenty of it.
Neilson tip: make a mental note of where you left your skis as it’s easy to forget where they’re located after several glasses of your favourite tipple.
Tom Dooley’s
This cosy pub in the Nasserein area serves great local beer and shows live sports. Open until 2am every day, Tom Dooley’s is the perfect spot to keep the party going until the early hours.
Be advised that smoking is permitted inside – in other words, be prepared for your clothes to smell a little afterwards
Taps
This may be a slightly more serene après haunt, but Taps still knows how to party – it has no fixed closing time for starters. Why no fixed closing time? Because the motto here is ‘we’ll close when the last customer leaves’ – a bold statement but one they live by.
A favourite amongst locals, this is a great place to try Austrian Schnapps (often consumed in liberal quantities) and a slice of rejuvenating pizza. It’s a short trip back down to the bottom of Piste 1, so bear that in mind when considering downing that last shot!
Galzig Bistro Bar
Every big night has to start off with a feast of some kind. Here’s a small selection of our favourite restaurants in St Anton:
If meat and cocktails float your dining boat, then look no further than Galzig Bistro bar.
Galzig doesn’t take bookings, so early arrival is advised – that said, an early arrival is more than worth it once you’ve dived into their succulent steak or indulgent burgers. And when it comes to drinks, they’re masters of the shaker, offering concoctions new and old: think classic old fashions to rainbow-inspired fruit cocktails.
All in all, Galzig’s Bistro Bar is a must-visit place to kick-start your evening.
Verwallstube
Granted, this is more of a lunchtime spot than après (although it could technically be après if you’re an early bird), but we simply had to include this place.
Located at the top of the Galizigbahn cable car route at 2085m, the views out across the mountain are worth the trip alone. The food? Our best description is a ‘work of art’. Hearty Austrian specialities sit alongside dishes such as pulled pork stuffed calamari, fried Dover Sole and cream cheese dumplings.
If you’re travelling as a couple, Verwallstube offers a candlelit dinner sitting every Thursday – an incredible spot that will, without fail, become etched in your favourite dinner memory.Booking for this dinner sitting is strongly advised.
Visit our website to find your idealSt Anton ski holiday.