Chamonix Apres Ski Report: 14th February 2009
It's what we've all being praying for over the last month and this week it dutifully arrived just in time, bucket loads of the stuff, snow, snow and more snow, falling as I write! When the clouds are full and the lifts are closed what and where should you go? On occasions like this I always find that food and cocktails can hold the answers and luckily for me Chamonix is great at both these things!
With the snow still falling thick and fast on Monday evening we were looking for a cosy spot to warm our cockles and fill our stomachs after a day's riding with some hearty grub. There is no better place for doing just this then Le Caveau in the centre of town and no better food to do it with then their speciality mozzarella garlic bread followed by Swedish meatballs!! If you do go for this option however be aware that, like me, you might be going nowhere further for the night. I was just a little too full and cosy to brave the snowdrifts in between me and the bars so cocktails would have to wait for another night !
The following night I was armed with a gaggle of girls and a list of recommended cocktail bars and so began The Chamonix Cocktails Crawl! Our first port of call was The Mix Bar Since arriving in Chamonix I'm the first to admit that I may have become a slight creature of habit when it comes to the bars I frequent. Shamefully, this was my first time in the Mix Bar and with it's chic and shiny interior this bar would be just as at home in London. The Mojitos came highly recommended from many sources and for good reason. After a couple of these zesty delights we were reluctant to leave our comfy couches but the crawl must go on!
Next on the agenda was the The Clubhouse, a bar where you would be at home be wearing a cocktail dress! This is definitely the spot to be seen sipping cocktails at the bar and we were swept away in a sweet haze of Moscow mules and somehow found ourselves in the our final destination of the night Le Privilege.This typically French bar is deceptively uninspiring from the outside but once inside it's bohemian lamps and Moroccan interior sweeps you away to an Arabian paradise. The cocktails are equally as attractive and our final drinks of the night came adorned with sweets!
Other places worth visiting if you fancy your own cocktail crawl are:
Chambre 9 - 2 4 1 cocktails every night between 8 and 10pm.
No Escape - super cool London style bar. if it's good enough for Kylie.....!!
Le Chucas - great Pinacolada's!
Other events to look out for this week:
The main event of the month which is definitely not to be missed on the après ski scene is Gilles Peterson playing at the Podium on February 18th as part of the winter sessions part two. The first winter session turned out to be a massive night at New Year so this next one is guaranteed to be even better featuring the likes of Bad Boy DJ SKITZ with his own blend of Dirty Hip, and backed up by MC Heavy weight DEADLY HUNTA - famed for the reworks of the Collli Budz Track - Come Around, and Catch 22. There are still a few tickets available for the event so if you're quick, you might still be lucky as this is one night you don't want to miss! Get yourself in touch with one of the following outlets where you can buy tickets for €20 in advance (and if there are any left €25 on the door).
Zero G Snowboard Shop
Garbo & Neve (+33 (0) 450 54 73 26)
Chamonix Tourist Office
Rusticana, Argentiere
World Freeride Tour15th- 19th of February.
This weekend Chamonix is going to see some of the very best freeriders (boarders and skiers) in the world take to the hillside to compete for a place in the finals. The competition will take place at Brevent. Racers choose their line and their descent and are rated by a panel of judges posted at the bottom.
The 2nd edition of the Nissan Outdoor Games also starts tomorrow (Sunday), which see's mountain professionals from all over the world return to Chamonix to BASE jump, climb, ski, board and paraglide - and condense the best of their stunts into a 5 minute film. The final films will be shown on a giant screen in the Tourist Office Square on Friday/Saturday (20th/21st).
For a full list of this week's events, check out our What's On Calendar.
You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.
