Apres Ski in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d’Huez is somewhat of a party town with a good selection of English, Scandinavian and French bars. Restaurants range from traditional French to spicy Indian to late-night sandwiches, and the Alpe d’Huez restaurant scene caters to every taste.
Apres Ski Bars & Restaurants in Alpe d’Huez
Alpe d’Huez is somewhat of a party town with a good selection of English, Scandinavian and French bars. Locals tend to hang out in the Freeride Cafe and the Last Bar, both of which are near the sports Centre and neither of which is the last bar on the block. The underground has good live music in the afternoon and continues into the early hours. One criticism of the nightlife is that it is quite dispersed but there is a nucleus of Smithys (which also does good Tex-Mex food), the Zoo Bar, Tropicana and the nightclub, Igloo which are all in staggering distance from each other. For a more swish, expensive French ambience check out the cabaret-style Sporting Bar, which is the haunt of visiting French celebrities.
Good traditional restaurants in Alpe d’Huez include the Pomme de Pin (with its old barn setting) and the rustic Au P’tit Creux. The Genepi does a mean rib of beef. For something a bit different try the Chilli Powder, surprisingly enough specialising in Indian and Thai. For a late snack on the hoof, Captain Sandwich stays open until 2 am.
Photo: Copyright © Alpe d’Huez Tourisme | Laurent Salino
Other Activities in Alpe d’Huez
Alpe d’Huez is famous for ice driving and lift passes include free access to many sports facilities.
Alpe d’Huez is famous for ice driving and there is a big circuit where you can drive both cars and carts with studded ice tyres. It also has one of the most comprehensive sports centres of any mountain resort, complete with climbing, squash and tennis courts, table tennis tables and large halls for five aside football and basketball. There is free entrance on your lift pass though you have to pay extra for some activities. You also get free entrance to the large heated outdoor pool, Olympic ice rink and indoor swimming pool.
Photo: Copyright © Alpe d’Huez Tourisme | Laurent Salino
Alpe d’Huez Villages
Alpe d’Huez is spread out and purpose-built; the smaller lower villages of Auris-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas, Oz-en-Oisans, and Vaujany (and its hamlet Villette) are much smaller and quieter. Oz and Vaujany also have quick access to the higher slopes at Dome des Rousses.
Photo: Copyright © Alpe d’Huez Tourisme | Laurent Salino
The main village of Alpe d’Huez is quite spread out but loosely set in a triangle with the church and sports centre in one corner, Bergers in another and the Rond point des pistes at the apex. Some of the Alpe d’Huez accommodation spills outside of this and there has been a recent surge in chalet building above Bergers. It’s not an ugly resort by the standards of French purpose-built resorts, but it is a bit bland, sprawling and amorphous. It’s only architectural highlight is its church. Built in the round, the organ is in the shape of a giant hand and is one of the more surreal that you will see anywhere in the world. Whist it’s not a beautiful place to stay in, Alpe d’Huez can be a very enjoyable one. It’s not an outright party town, but there is enough choice of bars, restaurants and nightclubs to make sure everyone has a good time.
You can also stay in the smaller, quieter lower villages of the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine. Villard Reculas has the most rustic charm and good skiers will relish the final black run home with its off-piste alternatives (there is also a blue back for less accomplished skiers). Vaujany is a good value option with quick access to the highest and most North facing slopes, and marvellous views but you often have to do take a lift back to the resort as it is impossible or nasty to ski all the way down. It’s hamlet of La Villette is even smaller, quieter and more isolated but it has good access to the uncrowded, beginners-friendly area at Montfrais. Auris is on the other side of the Grand Domaine. It’s small, purpose-built but in a nice wood-clad chalet style, and family friendly.
Oz en Oisans is really called Oz en Oisans 1350 (it used to be called Plan Oz) to distinguish it from the old village (now sometimes called Oz en Oisans Village) which you pass through on the road up to it. The new Oz en Oisans was purpose built in the same attractive style as Auris, but for most people it’s better positioned within the ski area. It also has an ice rink and a supermarket, and most of the accommodation is sk- in, ski-out. Lastly you can stay in the old village of Huez, from where there is a cable car up to the main resort and a blue run down. It’s cheaper and more authentic than the huge child it gave birth to nearly sixty years ago, but less convenient