Overlooked by the magnificent Mont Blanc massif, the Chamonix valley has one of Europe's
most breathtaking backdrops and skiing to match.If its steeps and adrenalin rush you're
after, this is The Place, with the best offpiste this side of heliskiing in Kashmir. But you don't have to be expert to access the magic world of high
altitude: with a guide, the 19kms of the renowned Vallee
Blanche are intermediate skiing. As are many of the 600kms of marked pistes in the
Mont Blanc region. The valleys very varied resorts offer plenty for the beginner too, from
sunny Le Tour at one end down to treelined Les Houches
at the other favourite venue for days of 'bad vis'.
Chamonix town is the antithesis of the purpose-built
resort. Bustling, cosmopolitan, it pre-existed the skiboom and has an identity all its own
with plenty to offer beyond skiing. A charming openair market, shops, bars, lively
nightlife, as well as skating rink with international ice-hockey matches, fully equipped
sports centre with pool and sauna, bowling alley even a casino. |
Bars (coming soon)
Restaurants
Night Life |
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Hello all you skibums out there! This is for the die-hard fans of exhausting holidays.
That's right, I mean you. Imagine (cue harp music) you've skied all day at the Grands
Montets, your cheeks are tanned (well, sunburnt for me!), your feel fit (exhausted...),
and you just can't wait to get into a warm bath, maybe read a little, then have a good
night sleep....BUT NO!
Not satisfied with being one of the best skiing resorts in the world, Chamonix also boasts
a highly active social side! Me and a friend of mine did the tour of the pubs in Chamonix
just for you, tasting the beer, judging the audience, tasting the beer, and getting
trashed (it started out as cultural sortie!).
Read this and you shall know where it's happening, where to go, etc...
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Note: The order of the pub is the actual order we went to them, not preference...check out
the overall mark for our grading.
Click here for our favourite.
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First Stop:
<Picture>As always we usually start with Le Choucas. This is a
friendly-french-bar-type thing, entirely wood-panelled, with pictures of famous visitors
and cow-skins all over the place, the decor in this bar is excellent. It also boasts two
wide screens, on which they show images of extreme skiing, climbing and outdoor activities
(great if you ever get bored!). The problem with the screens is that many people tend to
watch them instead of talking, so keep that in mind! The beer is pretty cheap (for
Chamonix standards!) and good. Waiters are friendly.
4/5
Next Stop:
This place sounded quite promising...a pub in Chamonix? The best of both worlds: the warm
friendly feel of a British pub, surrounded by skiers! Unfortunately, this failed to
deliver, and is a bit of a tourist trap. If you're over 30, you'll quite like it here,
since it's calm, and has that sort of aged-people (have I offended anyone yet??!?).
Doesn't look like a pub on the inside at all.
2/5: It's alright, but a. it lies about being a "pub", and b. people are too old
in there for me. <Picture>
Next Stop:
The Wallaby. Now this place is where it's happening. You have to go beyond the "cute
marsupial" name and the rather uninviting outside and get in to find a really packed
bar full of young people (well, about my age, twenty). The music is cool, with grunge on
at full blast, the beer is also at reasonable prices, and they have a couple of pool
tables. Definitely a cool place (this change is quite recent!).
4/5: Shame about the name, otherwise I'd give it a 5. So cool I couldn't take a picture.
Next stop:
The Ice Rock(s):
<Picture>This is quite a cool place if you like to go clubbing (there are plenty of
clubs inside Chamonix, but we were on a pub crawl, so it's not the same. We still stopped
here 'coz the entrance is free and it has a "bar-ish" area, where you can have a
"demi" (a beer in French...good to know, pronounce "duh-mee"!). The
music is quite good usually, and it's ultra-low ceiling gives it the feel of a student
flat party. I quite like it, even if it is often full of Italians (and even though you can
watch the beautiful ladies, talking to them is another thing...unless you're good at sign
or body language!). Cool. If you like clubbing, I recommend the Blue Night, and other
night spots...maybe I'll do a club section next term.
3/5 Friendly, yet not a place where you can really chat.
Next Stop:
The Bowling:
We didn't even stop to go in this time. It's a nice place if you like bowling (I'm crap at
bowling...so I don't love the place), and you can have a good time with a good number of
friends. Drinks are average-priced, and the atmosphere is pretty friendly, don't expect
loads of "babes" though! On the second floor there are 6 pool tables and 4
SNOOKER tables...so it's pretty good.
2.5/5. It's alright if you want to go out with the lads! <Picture>
Next Stop:
This place is excellent when it's packed (which it was!). They almost always have a live
band playing there (and some famous names if you're lucky!). There's a dance floor, the
whole interior is wood-panelled, and the waiters are quite friendly. A lot of French
people here, which is always appreciable (I'm french if you hadn't noticed!).
4.5/5. If you like live music this is the place to go to! <Picture>
Final Stop:
Last but definitely not least: the Jekyll
<Picture>We "discovered" this place by accident last Christmas. I spoke to
the Manager who was one cool Irish guy, and I think he acquired it recently...which would
explain it. This is a REAL IRISH PUB. They serve you your pint in a pint glass (actually I
think it's 0.5 litre glass shaped as a pint...but it fooled me anyway!). They have
Guinness and Caffreys...what more can you ask for? A great place, it was always packed
when we went, lots of English speaking people, friendly. We stopped our tour there, had
three pints and staggered back home, feeling incredibly happy! What a night.
Verdict: 5/5. Great place, we ended up going there for New Year. Lots of gorgeous
"people" here (I'm being PC...). Cool.
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We then got back home, well-pissed, and walked all 2 miles back to Champraz under the snow
(it was snowing if you haven't noticed from the pics!). Have a good time. Other places we
usually go to, but didn't go this time: La Carpa (friendly small place), le Driver (big
screen TV strikes again.pretty good), and others that I'll probably remember once I've
sent this file away.
<Picture>During New Year '98 we went to Le Refuge (night club). It was alright,
although people only started turning up around 1 AM, and the entrance was 300 francs! It
was a good night anyway. We also went to the Queen Vic, an "traditional" English
pub. It's a nice place, but not as warm as the Jekyll (too spacey).
Warning: pub crawling in Chamonix can seriously affect your sobriety!