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Arguably one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, it holds a bundle of world records including longest run (Vallee Blanche, 22km), The biggest lift accessed vertical drop (2807m) and it also played host to the first ever 1924 Winter Olympics. And of course, is home to the tallest mountain in Europe the formidable Mont Blanc. It attracts seriously hardcore extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the world, the atmosphere down in resort is very cool – a lot of the pros spend a good portion of their winter here.

Where to Party?
After the challenging slopes of Chamonix you’ll need more than a sniff a drink at the end of the day and Chamonix can certainly provide! There’s a good choice of bars and clubs to slake your thirst, things do tend to liven up very quickly around here, just weigh up how much of your skiing you are willing sacrifice the next day.

Chambre 9    Between 5pm and 7pm the local band ‘The Balboas’ rock this well known après ski bar. Very busy so get there as soon as you can.
The Vagabond    Warm up in front of a roaring logfire or the sun terrace looking up at Mont Blanc. Happy hour between 4.30 and 6.30pm.
La Terrasse    In a sunny spot with cocktails served upstairs and cheap drinks between 4 and 6 and live music throughout the week.
Hotel Bdn    A chilled out bar with friendly staff and live music. Generous drinks discounts between 5 and 7. Also offers free wi-fi.
South Bar    Very popular with the Scandinavian contingent – and their subsequent admirers. DJs spin the decks until 2am.

Le Privilege
This is one of Chamonix's chicest bars; the interior is a mixture of local wood and African furnishings with an ultra-modern looking glass bar and brightly lit drinks shelves. Behind the same bar are usually a few of Chamonix's model-esque barmaids, and a decent champagne fridge. Le Privilege tends to attract a slightly more mature crowd, especially those who are a happy to spend a bit more cash on a night out. However, your investment does go quite a long way here, as there are regular live sets playing, either acoustic duos or house DJs who manage to get one of the best atmospheres going in town. During the summer Le Privilege has a terrace out at the front, and its glass door/windows open out on to the street for al fresco drinking - until around 10pm.

Le Lapin Agile
Le Lapin Agile is a great little wine bar that offers a huge selection of wines from around the world, and also serves Italian-styled food and an assortment of salads. It is a great alternative to the boisterous bars, for those looking to have a quieter evening enjoying really excellent wine with friends. During the evening, between 6:00-9:00 pm, a buffet bar of tasty appetisers is available free of charge with your drinks.

Bar’d Up
Bar'd Up is a small and relaxed hang-out on the Rue de Moulins. This is a chilled out bar that features regular live music and DJ’s. They regularly screen English football matches, and when there’s no sport on the TV, you can while away the hours with a game of pool or table football.

The Pub
The Pub has a friendly British feel to it and a nicely heated terrace, making it a great people watching venue all year round. The bars big screen ensures that it has one of the best atmospheres in town during big sporting events, but get there early if you want a seat or it's standing room only!

MIX Bar
Mix is a new bar in the Rue de Moulins, run by a couple of brothers better known as The Hoax - a DJ act who also play here on a regular basis. Not surprisingly, this DJ bar has a cool vibe, with a modern and funky interior, and groovy tunes to sway to.

O'Byrne's
O'Byrne's is a small bar for a sit down by the river or a quiet-ish evening out in the company of some fine Irish malt whiskeys. Although the original owner was Irish, the bar is now run by the French owners of the Hotel Vallee Blanche next door. The bar is definitely relaxed compared to most others in town - it is unlikely to get rowdy - with the theme of the music being jazz and blues classics. Typically the place is enjoyed by a slightly older clientele wanting a centre of town location to spend a while with friends. During the warmer months there is an outside terrace just by the riverside - one of the few locations in town which does.

CHAMONIX SUD

Munster Bar
If you’re after something a little quieter, then head to Munster Bar in Chamonix Sud - an Irish themed pub that is all dark wood and Guinness. A perfect choice if you’re after a quiet drink, or simply a bit of a breather from the frantic goings on elsewhere. It’s not all sleepy Irish hospitality in here though and sports fans should get themselves down here early if they want a good seat for any big televised sporting events. A dedicated sports bar, Munster has three widescreen televisions.

The Jekyll
Another good place to watch sporting events is The Jekyll, just past the Chamonix Sud bus station. However, the highlight of the Jekyll’s entertainment is their regular comedy nights on a Thursday, boasting some of the big names on today’s comedy circuit (Ed Byrne, Barry Castagnola etc). Places are limited for these evenings so you’re advised to buy your tickets in advance from the bar staff (plus they’re cheaper!) - €10 in advance or €15 on the door. They also offer a great "Dinner and Show" combo for €35 p/p, which includes a 3 course set meal (veggie option available) and entrance to the comedy show.

Monkey Bar
As well as being a great place to apres, the Monkey Bar attracts a fun crowd in the evening with its drink promos and live bands and DJ sets from 10pm throughout the week. One of the other big draws to Monkey Bar (especially for locals) is that they do a full roast dinner every Sunday for €10 and then Curry Night on Tuesdays when you can get curry and a pint for €10! Can’t say fairer than that!

South Bar
If you like Chambre 9, then the chances are that you'll like South Bar too. With live music early in the evening and DJ sounds pumping until 2pm, it's a great place to hang out with a load of Scandinavian lovelies. The upstairs bar is usually pretty rammed so if you find yourself 3 people deep, head to the back and down the stairs where you'll find a more chilled (and less busy) bar and lounge area. Offering those oh so hard to resist 2:1 cocktails from 8-10pm every night, South Bar is certain to make catching first lift a bit of a challenge!

WORTH THE WALK

Cha Cha Cha
Cha Cha Cha is a stylish wine and spirit merchant on Ave Ravanel Le Rouge (just past Zero G), that offers a varied schedule of wine, beer and spirit tastings every night of the week. With tasting sessions that includes wine of the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Bordeaux, local Savoie wine, champagnes and whiskies (amongst others), locals and visitors alike come to taste and learn about wine in a friendly and relaxed environment. You can also buy a glass or bottle of wine to enjoy at the bar throughout the day and evening.

The Vagabond
The Vagabond is a perennial favorite for locals, seasonnaires and the guests who stay in the adjoining hostel. The bar caters for a lively, upbeat & friendly crowd in a vibrant yet relaxed, cosy and atmospheric watering place. Chilled and funky tunes play from behind the bar, unless there is an international sports event being televised, in which case, the commentary is turned up full to complement the big screen action. If you’re looking for Scotch whisky, then the Vaga boasts ‘one of the most extensive and continually expanding ranges of superlative Scotch single malt whisky this side of Scotland. Probably Maybe!’

Le Vert
Le Vert, although on the outskirts of town (Les Gaillands) is well worth making the effort to visit. They have some edgy and big name DJ’s offering a mix of music styles and often have original concept nights bringing a bit of fun and alot of cheap drinks to Chamonix. During the day, you’ll find the latest mountain sports videos and live sporting events playing on a projector and huge plasma screen. You can also choose from a range of tasty bar snacks and meals such as ribs, burgers and a good old Sunday roast.

The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is a candle-lit art deco bar and dining area with a roaring fire place, serving classic cocktails, cold beer, good quality wines, great Scotch and rare Armagnac. Although it is a members only bar, it is usually possible for non-members to make one-off visits, particularly if you call ahead. This classy bar is a world away from the usual après-ski offerings of a pitcher of frothy Amstel, a glass of below-par plonk or a shot of no-name, hang-over vodka – just remember to bring your credit card!

Micro Brasserie de Chamonix (mbc)
Run by four Canadians with a passion for beer who wanted to do something completely different, mbc produces highly regarded and naturally produced real ales and lagers. Those on offer range from the Blonde de Chamonix light pilsner (light, smooth, refreshing),) through to the hardcore Stout des Drus (rich, strong coffee/chocolate taste). The lively buzz inside is no doubt merrily fuelled by the contents of those barrels or the range of other 'normal' drinks. Live bands often play during apres-ski and in the evenings.

Late Night Bars & Clubs in Chamonix

La Cantina
La Cantina Club has a reputation for organising some of Chamonix's best dance nights, its success frequently attributed to the energy of the bar staff. As 'the' home of Chamonix's underground music scene (and quite literally underground!), it's situated in a narrow side street just past Super U. La Cantina regularly brings in DJ's from around the world, as well as several local bands, throwing into the mix a loud selection of hip-hop, drum n bass, groove, and dub, making the small but highly-charged club go off until the early ours. La Cantina is quoted as a ‘don't miss’ location for those into their nightlife with good reason. Don't expect to leave without serious tinitus!

Le Garage
Le Garage is Chamonix's largest nightclub and melting pot for all the late night (sometimes all-night) party-goers. Situated on the outskirts of Chamonix Sud, the club is very popular with the French, Scandinavians and British from all over town. Throughout the week Le Garage plays host to a number of theme nights with internationally recognised DJ's, and some scantily-clad and highly-talented 'dancers', usually on Thursday nights.

No Escape
Step into the cosmopolitan lounge bar at No Escape, and you could easily be entering a hip London night spot. Cool lighting, contemporary styling and attention to detail are in abundance here. Whether you choose to make yourself at home at the luminescent bar or sink into one of the comfy sofas with their abundant faux fur cushions, the glamorous staff will bring your drinks to you along with a complimentary “amuse bouche”. The resident DJ heats things up on the dance floor later in the evening with the latest club beats and tunes. With a 5am licence this winter, at No Escape you are guaranteed to be the last man dancing (or maybe lounging by that time!) and the only thing to pull away will be the lure of the first lift. A Gentleman's Club, 7th Heaven, is situated within No Escape itself. 250€ will buy and a table and a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne, where you are welcome to chat with the girls and then there's a private room for dances.

Le Choucas
Don’t let the outside chalet-style building fool you into thinking this is some sweet traditional Savoyarde coffee house. With a happy hour from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and a party that lasts until 4:00 am, Le Choucas is one of Chamonix’s late night institutions. The fabled pink neon lights draw you into this popular but pricey bar, where guest DJ’s will have you spinning on the dance floor to classic cheesy tunes until closing time. Le Choucas also hosts many of the big event after parties such as the Rip Curl Girls Tour & the Nissan Outdoor Games, when the crowd and the vibe gets infinitely cooler.