Discover Alberta’s Best Spots for Après-Ski

After a day carving through Alberta’s snow-dusted peaks, the real adventure begins. The province’s après-ski scene captures the spirit of the Rockies, where rugged charm meets creative cuisine and local hospitality. If you’re looking for something to do after a day of skiing, warm up beside a crackling fire with a glass of small-batch whisky, trade slope stories over Alberta bison sliders, or unwind to live music in a lively craft brewery. From refined mountain lodges to rustic hideaways, the best après-ski in Alberta blends our local culture with pure alpine camaraderie.

Alberta’s version of après-ski

Après-ski is a French phrase that translates to “after skiing.” At its heart, it’s about celebrating the day's adventures over food and drink in good company. But atmosphere matters just as much as what's on the menu. The right après spot blends attentive service, thoughtful design and genuine hospitality into an experience that feels effortless and genuine.

In Alberta, après extends beyond the ski hill. It's what happens after any outdoor activity that fills your soul. "It's carrying on the adventure from the slopes or elsewhere, where you're recounting memories and celebrating accomplishments in an authentic environment you’re comfortable in," says James Fraser, director of media and marketing at Banff Hospitality Collective. 

Darren Fabian, director of bars and beverage at Pursuit, agrees. “Après-ski in Alberta is more relaxed and come as you are, even if your ski boots are still on. Just mind the stairs.”

From hidden gem après-ski in Alberta's mountain towns to celebrated hotspots, these are the places where the adventure continues long after the lifts close.

Après-ski starts on the ski hill

At Mt. Norquay, it’s worth lingering a little longer at Lone Pine Pub, where local craft beers and spiked hot chocolates pair perfectly with stories of the day’s best runs. Over at Sunshine Village, the historic Mad Trapper's cabin channels a Wild West vibe inside its log-beamed walls. Built in 1928, it’s a local legend for its mile-high nachos and signature mulled wine. If you can’t tear yourself away, book a stay at Sunshine Mountain Lodge and soak in the enormous outdoor hot tub, complete with bar service, naturally.

Banff National Park's ski resorts often have DJs and live music that keep the energy going when lifts start winding down, and that momentum extends into town.

Where are the best après-ski spots in Banff?

Wondering where the best après-ski spots are in Banff? Start in the walkable townsite, where every corner hums with mountain town charm. Locals are proud of the variety. “Banff does après very well,” notes Fabian. “We create experiences for who our customers actually are.”

Elevated Alberta classics at Brazen

Conveniently, one of the ski shuttle bus stops is the Mount Royal Hotel. Inside you’ll find Brazen, a modern eatery paying tribute to Banff's founding rebels.

Try their elevated take on the Shaft, an Alberta-made coffee cocktail. Here, it’s a dessert-ish martini with layers of espresso, Amaretto and Frangelico dolloped with maple whipped cream. Think tiramisu in a glass. Snack on ginger beef, another Alberta invention, comprised of certified Angus beef in an Asian-inspired sauce amped up with shishito peppers. For a zero-proof buzz, throw back the Temperance Old Fashioned, where the whisky flavour comes courtesy of dandelion black tea and walnut bitters.

Create your own mountain spirit at PARK Distillery

One of the most unique Alberta après-ski experiences happens at PARK Distillery, where guests blend their own gin after a distillery tour and spirit tasting session. Don’t leave without sampling a Mountain Joe, Canada’s bestselling (and dairy-free) Shaft cocktail, made right here in the mountains.

Find beer with local character at Banff craft breweries

If you prefer hops to hard stuff, there are plenty of craft breweries near Banff ski resorts, including Banff Ave Brewing Co., Sheepdog Brewing and Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant. At Three Bears, après means wood-fired pizza, live music, and a pet-friendly patio perfect for people watching.

Fondue happy hour with a view at Bluebird

Dunking cubes of bread into melty cheese is elevated at Bluebird, a classy spot housed in a mid-century looking ski chalet with Rocky Mountain views. Their fondue happy hour (4–5 p.m.) is one of the best deals in town. Settle in by a blazing fire or head to an outdoor fire table. The rhubarb negroni is not to be missed, nor are the creative spirit-free riffs on cocktails. 

A posh après-ski in honour of a notorious bison at The Prow

Meanwhile, Buffalo Mountain Lodge combines après with accommodations. Inside The Prow, pine posts frame the space while an impressive elk chandelier sets the tone. Their smoked elk tartare and Randy’s Lager, named after the lodge’s legendary resident bison, are mountain favourites.

Nightrise takes après-ski to new heights

As night falls, the Banff Gondola transforms Sulphur Mountain into Nightrise, an immersive light and sound experience created with the Stoney Nakoda Nation. Cap the evening with a local gin cocktail flight or feature mocktail at Sky Bistro.

Fist-pounding sake bomb action at Hello Sunshine

Locals love Hello Sunshine's indoor fire tables and karaoke rooms. Sake is served hot or cold, and during happy hour, there are fantastic discounts on sushi and steaming bowls of ramen. Try a Joe sake bomb: After pounding fists on the table, a shot glass of chocolate sake teeters into Mountain Joe's shaft. 

Best Lake Louise après-ski

If you’ve ever wondered where locals go for après-ski in Alberta, look no further than The Outpost at The Post Hotel & Spa. Just minutes from Lake Louise Ski Resort, this cozy pub blends English countryside charm with the rugged warmth of the Rockies. Think timber beams, stone accents and a wine list that’s earned Wine Spectator’s coveted “Grand Award” for over two decades. It’s one of the most impressive wine cellars in Canada and is available to pub guests. 

On the mountain, the best Lake Louise après-ski happens at Banded Peak Base Camp, where pints of Mt Crushmore and smokehouse barbecue platters get devoured on the patio. For elevated dining and après, The Lodge at Bow Lake reopens in February 2026 after renovations, fresh from earning a Michelin Guide Key.

Best Jasper après-ski spots

With its laid-back charm and long ski season, Jasper delivers the perfect balance of wild adventure and warm hospitality. After a day carving turns at Marmot Basin, where Canada’s longest high-speed quad reveals sweeping views of the Athabasca Valley, kick things off at their Caribou Bar & Grill. Here, rustic log interiors and hearty Alberta fare pair perfectly with a classic Caesar, another Alberta original cocktail. (Not familiar? If you like Bloody Marys, you’ll want to sample a Caesar, which is a bit like a clam-juice-spiked Bloody Mary.) 

For something equally spirited, head to The Maligne Range, one of the top distilleries for après-ski in Jasper, and sip a signature Shangri-La cocktail made from their own rye whisky beside the fire. Locals flock to Jasper Brewing Company, one of the best Jasper après-ski spots with lively trivia nights and craft pours. 

More to do in Jasper after skiing

For a scenic unwind, glide across Pyramid Lake before settling fireside at Aalto inside Pyramid Lake Lodge for a winter mule and bison carpaccio. To set the tone for your après adventures, hop aboard the Pony Express, a horse-drawn wagon that clip-clops through downtown Jasper.

Best Camore après-ski spots

Perched outside the gates to Banff National Park, Canmore’s après-ski scene plays out in a smaller yet no less stunning setting. After a day exploring the Kananaskis backcountry or carving lines at Nakiska Ski Resort, adventurers gather in town for a vibrant mountain view dining scene.

Bridgette Bar: Where fire meets flavour in Canmore

For one of the best Canmore après-ski experiences, follow locals to Bridgette Bar, where the fire theme burns bright—from the flicker of open flames to cocktails kissed with smoke. Its legendary happy hour pairs Alberta-inspired small plates with inventive drinks.

Classic pubs with Rocky Mountain soul in Canmore

Those seeking cozy pubs for après-ski in Canmore will find charm and character at spots like The Georgetown Inn, The Drake and Rose and Crown. Or head to The Grizzly Paw Pub for craft ales brewed right in the Rockies.

Wellness and warm elixirs at a local café

For zero-proof indulgence, Communitea Café brings a wellness vibe to après-ski with live music, house-made lemonades and warm elixirs, proof that in Canmore, connection is the ultimate winter spirit.

Castle Mountain

At Castle Mountain Resort, the T-Bar Pub delivers laid-back après vibes with cold drinks, hearty food and that perfect post-ski atmosphere where everyone's swapping stories from the day. Guests can stay overnight at Castle Mountain Ski Lodge to keep the good times rolling.

In the Crowsnest Pass, Pass Beer is a must-stop for on-site craft brews, with a welcoming taproom that feels like the community's living room. Further south in Pincher Creek, Lost Things Distillery crafts small-batch spirits using Alberta grains, offering tastings and cocktails that showcase the region's agricultural roots.

After skiing, soak, steam and recharge in Alberta’s mountain spas

For those who believe après-ski should extend beyond the bar, Alberta’s mountain resort towns offer spa experiences as rejuvenating as the Rockies themselves. While the iconic Banff Upper Hot Springs are temporarily closed until early 2026, visitors can still embrace the alpine tradition of hot springs after skiing in Banff at a range of soothing sanctuaries nearby.

In Canmore, the newly opened Everwild Spa channels the natural beauty of the Bow Valley with grounding treatments and steam rituals in cedar saunas designed to melt away post-slope tension.

At Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, hotel guests can unwind at the BASIN Glacial Waters spa, where treatments draw inspiration from the surrounding glaciers.

The Fairmont Spa Banff Springs provides another luxurious option with its elegant Kur baths and cascading indoor waterfalls. For more casual soaking, the Fox Hotel’s cave-like hot pool offers a steamy, lantern-lit dip for thawing out after a day of adventure.

Tips to après-ski like a pro in Alberta

• Happy hour is alive and well in Alberta cities and mountain resorts, so book ahead to avoid missing out.
• Happy hour usually runs from 3 to 5 p.m., but can vary.
• Keep your clothing casual. Comfort and warmth always come first here.
• Don’t shy away from enjoying winter patios. Most offer heaters, blankets or even fire pits.
• Always layer up with mitts, a hat and a water-resistant winter jacket to stay warm through the snow season.