Après is “where the day marries the night,” (according to longtime local expert and après facilitator Mike Varrin), and Whistler prides itself on hosting some of the best après in North America. As such, the Whistler Insider has no fewer than ten articles about the traditions and local favourites of Whistler après ski (and bike, and golf).
But we haven’t talked about après ice cream! Or après tater tots.
Because much like every winter storm (and season) each après is unique, with their own personalities and adventures within. Après ski is also, according to Oprah’s professional matchmaker, the best place to fall in love with a new partner, but that’s hard to quantify. So let’s talk… ice cream!
Ice Cream for Après
“Getting ice cream is a smart call after any number of things, not just skiing,” explains Kevin Yeung, a Vancouver/Whistler skier whose son, Bear, races with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. “But ice cream in the winter just feels a bit more celebratory,” He adds. “It’s a great way to celebrate the day with my son. He isn’t going to join me for a cocktail, but he’s always ready for ice cream. And so am I.”
And so is science. Ice cream melts more slowly in winter temperatures, so you get to savour it for longer. And the undisputed—and longstanding—ruler of savouring après-ski ice cream is Whistler’s Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Locally founded in 1988, Rocky Mountain Chocolate went on to open 45 locations across Canada, but that original Whistler spot still stands just a quick shuffle away from the Village bases of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Kevin’s first ski trip to Whistler was in 2009, just before he got married. Bear was born in 2010 and the family has been skiing regularly since 2016 staying at the Crystal Lodge, which has a great central location to access the slopes (and the ice cream).
“I love Whistler’s vibrant community, filled with adventurers from around the world who have made it their home – some just for a season, others for a lifetime.”
For après in Whistler, however, location isn’t everything. Certainly, the slopeside favourite “Big Four”, Longhorn, Dusty’s, Merlin’s and the GLC, have dialled in their après experiences to legit world-famous levels (mostly thanks to The Hairfarmers), but there’s always value in venturing a bit off the beaten path too…
Tater-Tots for Après
Just down the Village Stroll (and technically closer to some of the day skier parking lots than the big four après spots) Stinky’s on the Stroll is a local’s favourite (and kid-friendly) sports bar that celebrates the lesser-known tradition of tater-tot après.
Established in 2019 by longtime favourite local Jeremy “Stinky” Peterson, knows the allure of a proper serving of tater tots. Stinky’s has perogie tots, tater poutine (add Montreal smoked meat for bonus street cred) tater nachos and plain taters with dips.
“Whistler was built by people who were not afraid to venture off the beaten path,” Peterson says, “so why not go a bit further into the Village to find a new—and less crowded—après experience? I promise it’s worth it.”
And fear not, Stinky’s is just a name – it smells fine in there. The other thing kids (and parents) love about Stinky’s is its proximity to the Whistler Olympic Plaza, home to ice skating (late November to March) and the very popular snowbank sledding Snow Zone. (Sliding around on snowbanks is a time-honoured Canadian tradition kids would do before, during, and after school. In fact, snowbank fun may be the original kid après experience.)
Vintage Camper Cocktails for Après
Breaking from the beaten path can also reward families with après s’mores! The Braidwood Tavern, at the Four Seasons Whistler, features a s’mores wagon, and fire pit, plus a cool bar built into a vintage camper.
And while the Big Four après spots often focus on those cold beers, the Four Seasons is also a hotspot for Whistler’s always-evolving cocktail après scene. In fact, when he’s not après-ing with his son, Yeung can often be found saddling up to the bar at the Whistler Four Seasons, discussing the finer points of mixology with the bar staff.
In fact, Kevin recruited his friend and ex-Four Seasons bartender Rob Kharazmi to join the team at Audécious, a Whistler-founded pesticide-free vodka company, so apres-ski drink sessions can also count as product development. Kev says the “Spritz Moritz” is an off-menu favourite and that he…
“…loves après cocktails because they celebrate the artistry of the bartender mixed with the mood of my friends. And after a great day on the hill, it’s like tasting a live performance custom-made to suit your needs at that moment. Life is too short to limit your apres to the same beer or wine.”
Nearby, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s Mallard Lounge, the après margaritas pair perfectly with live music and truffle fries. In Whistler Village, The Raven Room team is always ready to mix up a creative libation. Down the road in Whistler Creekside, Cure Lounge at Nita Lake Lodge serves craft cocktails in one of Whistler’s most tranquil settings – overlooking frozen Nita Lake. Cocktail après culture is definitely on the rise.
Whether it’s ice cream, cocktails, tater tots or pizza (check out the après/pizza scene at HandleBar!), Whistler après is yours to discover, or create. Just don’t be afraid to try something different.
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