Andermatt may not be the first resort to pop into your head when thinking about good apres ski. However, it does have one of our favourite apres offerings we’ve come across. A real novelty and something that has us wanting to get to the resort as soon as possible.
Looking for the best apres ski in the Alps? Take a look at our favourite apres resorts in Europe.
The Apres Ski Train in Andermatt
Whilst St Anton may hold the crown for table dancing and perhaps Cortina is the wine sampling, people-watching hot spot, Andermatt is the first place we’ve come across for apres ski in transit. As part of the huge investment thrust into the ski area in recent years, they completely redesigned a train into an apres ski train to give you the most panoramic apres offering we know of.
The new links to Disentis mean you can spend your day cruising to the furthest reaches of the 180km ski area before hopping on the train (which is included in your lift pass) for the hour-long journey back to Andermatt over the mountain Oberalp Pass. The carriages have been redesigned with full glass walls and roof for uninterrupted panoramic views as you chug through the mountains. There are two bars onboard and a lounge with bar stools you can perch on despite the gradient the train is climbing. It’s an hour full of beer, wine, champagne and nibbles. In our eyes the perfect way to end a days skiing.
Victor serves up the drinks (you can read his story here) and on Saturdays, the party really kicks up a few notches with an onboard DJ. Local graffiti artists put a custom paint job on the exterior as well.
But if you don’t want to catch the apres ski train everyday there are other options in Andermatt itself:
Vinothek 1620
This is a gorgeous wine bar with a simple but delicious list of food and a roaring fire at the back. A welcome respite from rosti and fondue, the service is delightfully friendly and full of knowledge, an easy place to while away a few hours after skiing. Whilst it might not be the most raucous apres ski in Andermatt it up there as one of our favourites.
Himalaya Bar
The Himalaya Bar is up on the mountain and the perfect place for some sunset drinks before hanging your skis up for the day. With deck chairs outside, great coffee and even better hot homemade gluh-wine, that’s before you see the views.
Bar Die Alt Apothek
An eco renovated old pharmacy, the Bar Di Alt Apothek doesn’t open until 3pm and gives a boutiquey twist to Andermatts apres ski. You might be lucky and catch some live music but there’s always a nice glass of wine, cocktail or whiskey readily available. The food’s pretty tasty too.
That’s our round-up of the apres ski in Andermatt. If you want to know the best restaurant in Andermatt then take a look here. Or take a look at our hotels in Andermatt if you want to head there this winter.