The best après-ski bars and activities in Whistler
Whistler’s après action starts at the bottom of the mountain once the lifts close at around 4pm. Lively venues at Whistler, Blackcomb and Creekside serve big plates of snacks alongside a large variety of local beers. Good-value cocktails are often available by the pitcher.
Later, Whistler Village is the main focus of nightlife, and there are rocking bars with live music, in addition to more sophisticated wine bars, including the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, for a quieter time.
For further Whistler inspiration, see our guides to the resort's best accommodation and restaurants.
Find après-ski by type
Bars in Whistler
The GLC
Gasping for a post-powder pint? Just steps from those final burn-turns, the Garibaldi Lift Company is more than a mere après-ski stop – it could be the final destination. GLC’s spirited après puts a stake in Canada’s shy, reserved reputation: expect damp Gore-Tex, pitchers of beer surrounded by fully loaded plates of nachos, and a slight ringing in the ears from talking over the excellent live band du jour. The GLC satisfies a range of desires – from a quick chill stop to top-gear ski boot stomping sessions.
Contact: whistlerblackcomb.com
Price: £
Merlin’s Bar & Grill
At the base of Blackcomb, Merlin’s is the place to be at the end of the day, serving up pitchers of beer and monster-sized piles of nachos in a big woody room. Big as it is, it still manages a laid-back cabin vibe, and dancing on tables to old-school local rockers The Hairfarmers is positively encouraged.
Contact: whistlerblackcomb.com
Price: £
Dusty’s Bar & BBQ
Famous for its gold-medal location at the base of the 2010 Olympic downhill runs and home to Whistler’s sunniest patio, Dusty’s is nestled into the base of Whistler Creekside – a lively spot to end the ski day. Dusty’s is a barn of a bar with pitchers, partying and live music at après time. The decor is vintage mountain and the huge windows can be opened fully on hot days for a festival feel.
Contact: whistlerblackcomb.com
Price: £
Garfinkel’s
Sometimes it’s got to be Garf’s. Big weekly après parties regularly kick off here, Whistler’s biggest nightclub, with DJs, live music, fog machines, themed parties and giveaways. Check for different drinks specials each night, like five-can buckets of lager. If wanting a seat to rest weary dancing legs, booths with table service can be reserved.
Contact: gibbonswhistler.com
Price: £
The Longhorn Saloon
Situated at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas, The Longhorn is the cowboy-themed crucible of Whistler après. From champagne showers to heaped trays of legendary nachos, this iconic Whistler bar is shorthand for a quick drink morphing into an epic session (it’s open from lunch until late night). There’s a large indoor seating area and a dance-friendly patio that’s popular in all weathers.
Contact: gibbonswhistler.com
Price: £
Other activities
Cultural Connector
Take a stroll on the arty side along the Cultural Connector, a new walking path winding through Whistler Village. The signed route connects six of the town’s interesting arts and cultural attractions, including the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s collection showcasing local Native peoples, Olympic displays at the Whistler Museum, and the award-winning Audain Art Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of First Nations masks and a trove of Canadian painters including acclaimed Emily Carr.
Contact: whistler.ca/culture-recreation/arts-nature-heritage/cultural-connector
Price: £
Ziplining
Winter doesn’t stop the high-wire hijinks in Whistler. There’s no experience required to glide above icy creeks and through majestic old-growth trees on a guided ziplining adventure. Zippers zip in all weather conditions, so dress warmly as you would for skiing or snowboarding. Helmet, harness and orientation supplied. Come with your own sense of fun.
Contact: whistler.com/activities/zipline
Price: ££
Whistler Sliding Centre
It’s headrush time, two ways, at the world’s fastest ice track. At the site of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, be driven as a passenger by a trained pilot in a four-person bobsleigh, racing through 10 twists and turns at speeds up to 125 km/hr and acceleration of up to 4G forces. Or slide solo atop your own skeleton, pushing off headfirst and belly down, from the Maple Leaf starting point (about a third of the way up the track from the Olympic start), through six chin-bashing corners, at electrifying speeds up to 100 km/hr.
Contact: whistler.com/activities/olympic-tours
Price: ££
Scandinave Spa
Hydrotherapy in the heart of nature; soak ski-addled muscles in the soothing outdoor pools tucked Nordic-style into the forest. Combine crisp Canadian air with Scandinavian bathing to cleanse the skin, improve blood circulation and repair muscles. Raise the temperature in a eucalyptus steam bath, hot bath and wood-burning Finnish sauna, then cool down under a bracing waterfall, with a plunge into cold baths and beneath heart-shocking showers. Reward your corpus with total relaxation in the solariums, hammocks on a terrace or by the outdoor fireplace. No phones, just peace.
Contact: scandinave.com/whistler
Price: ££
Fire & Ice Show
Music, dance, fire and snow? Start your ski week with a bang every Sunday evening of the winter (and on special events such as New Year’s Eve) with this family-fun spectacle. Watch fire-spinners and world-class skiers and snowboarders flip and twist through burning hoops of fire, capped off with a first-class fireworks display. Accompanied by a live DJ, this easy-peasy entertainment kicks off at 7pm in the Skier’s Plaza, free of charge.
Contact: whistler.com/events/fire-and-ice-show
Price: free
How we choose
Every bar, venue or activity in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our ski expert, who has visited the resort to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs on the piste to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of skier – and consider the drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. Non-ski activities are chosen to provide an alternative to traditional aprés, whether for families or adrenaline junkies looking to enjoy the mountains in winter away from the slopes. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
