Chamonix Apres Ski Report: 31st December 2006
What ever tickles your taste buds Chamonix has it! As your Apres Ski Instructor for this coming winter, I will be bringing you weekly updates on what's hot and where to go to get the best après ski and off-mountain fun during your stay. With so much to chose from and only a few precious days here, you don't want to waste time trawling round town looking for the best live bands or the cosiest corner for a fondue……when I can do that for you!
The après ski in Chamonix is fantastic with pretty much something for everyone every night of the week. Many bars have live music and daily drinks promotions so you can unwind after a day on the mountain, but without question the most popular hangout at the moment is Chambre Neuf. The après ski doesn't officially start till New Years Eve with the early deals and entertainment; however it is still the place to find the masses most nights taking full advantage of the brilliant 2 for 1 offer on cocktails between 8pm and 10pm. There are a wide variety of bars from No Escape, an edgy bar with an effortlessly cool atmosphere, to South Bar, a Scandinavian bar in Cham Sud with a guaranteed lively crowd and a real cosmopolitan following. For nightlife there are large clubs such as Le Garage where lots of people use the late licence to dance the night away, however there are a few smaller venues such as La Cantina and Le Vert where you will often find specialist nights such as drum and bass or latin break beats, offering something different from the norm.
A lot of people head to Chamonix to see in the New Year as it is a fantastic place to be, with the entire population here having a high level of enthusiasm for what hopes to be an unforgettable night. There will be a lot of venues charging admission on Sunday, so if there is a specific venue you would like to spend your evening try not to leave it late to avoid disappointment. There is quite a lot still to be confirmed for New Years Eve so keep your eye on the What's On Calendar where I shall be updating events as an when I receive word.
This week saw the opening of Cha Cha Cha, a wonderfully classy wine tasting bar where they will be holding tastings each night of the week ranging from specific regions to whiskeys, to my personal favourite champagne Mondays. As well as having the chance to sample extremely varied products, the setting for the evening is very chic and modern with a very and friendly informative staff team. You'll find it on Ave Ravanel Le Rouge towards the bottom end of town (just past Zero G).
For food, there are many wonderful restaurants to chose from serving up authentic dishes such as raclette or fondue, to cuisine from all around the world with Satsuki, a Japanese restaurant near the town centre and even an Indian take away Tigre Tigre . A favourite of mine is The Jekyll in Cham Sud, with its really great atmosphere and a menu that offers excellent value for money. From families to couples I would recommend here for a relaxed dining experience with the added bonus of guaranteed service with a smile. For the best pizza in town head for Casa Valerio (Rue Lyret), where the only problem you'll have at this fantastic venue is that you will take forever to order as everything always looks tempting! The more formal L'Atmosphere has some amazing views over the river and yet is easily accessible being in the town centre (behind the Post Office). It is slightly dear but you have the option of a very reasonably priced set menu, making it the perfect choice for a special occasion. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for and for a delectable meal and a serene ambience this is definitely where I would head.
For more information on specific events happening in and around Chamonix over New Year take a look our ‘What's on Calendar'. More from me next week with some New Year fun and games, but in the mean time a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
