Après-Ski / Nightlife

What you do in Kitzbühel after skiing is as important as the skiing itself (for some it’s even more important). The nightlife should be renamed morning life, because things don’t really get underway until 2:00 a.m. or so. That’s when you can hear the whoops, yells, laughter, and song of bar-crawling skiers as they slide down the sidewalks.

Amazingly, there are only a few bars that cater to the after-hours crowd. Jet-laggers searching for a cold brew and a warm pizza should follow the stairs in the cellar of Mangoes (0664/2410600) open 10 p.m.–2 a.m., “but we really don’t close until five or so,” says the bartender. Watch out for the darts!

British expatriates can rely on their instincts to find the Londoner (71427) and Big Ben (71100), two almost authentic pubs. The Londoner is across from McDonald’s. For Irish singing, head to Flanngans Irish Pub (63237) at Jochberger Strasse 4. You’ll find Jimmy's (64409) if you wander along the town square in the Fussgängerzone (pedestrian zone). s’Lichtl Pub (63924) is right on the main drag across the street from the Hotel Tenne. Seppi’s Pub (64662) is also a fun spot. Grieserl (72752) beneath the Tieffenbrunner is a good meeting spot for drinks and has excellent Internet connections.

There are four discos in the town square area. Club Take 5 at Hinterstadt 22 (74131), Olympia at Hinterstadt 6 (72143), Club Python at Hinterstadt 6 (63001) and Royal at Hinterstadt 9 (75901) which features the only English-speaking disc jockey. Generally, discos don’t open until 9 p.m., and often close at dawn.

Hotel Goldener Greif’s Casino Kitzbühel is open 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. daily. Visitors may try their luck at baccarat, blackjack, wheel of fortune and slot machines.

Kirchberg is one of the party centers of Austria with a strong Dutch contingent of party animals. This town claims perhaps the wildest après-ski bar in Europe, The London Pub (3993). This bar has been copied in other towns, but this is the original. It’s dance-til-you-melt, dance-on-the-tables time from about 4 p.m.–8 p.m., when most head off to dine in their hotels. This is the wild après-ski party you’ve dreamed of. If you haven’t tried it yet knock back a couple of “Der Flugels,” a drink made with Red Bull and flavored vodka. It has a real kick and is the new drink of choice.

Later at night the party continues there or moves to the Tiroler disco (4455) that is decorated like a giant country barn or head to the Fuchslöchl (2691) for dancing.