← Back to Les Contamines-Montjoie

Beer & Après Prices in Les Contamines-Montjoie

What you'll actually pay for drinks and food in Les Contamines-Montjoie, France. Prices verified for 2025/26 season.

The Drinking Culture in Les Contamines-Montjoie

Les Contamines-Montjoie has cultivated a distinctive après-ski culture that stands apart from the neon-lit party towns of the French Alps. This traditional Savoyard village, tucked beneath the dramatic Mont Blanc massif, has resisted the homogenization that plague many resorts, maintaining an authenticity that attracts skiers seeking genuine mountain experiences over packaged nightlife. The drinking culture here evolved organically from farming traditions and mountaineering heritage, where warming spirits after alpine pursuits has always been sacred. Unlike neighbouring Chamonix's backpacker-fuelled energy or Megève's celebrity-studded sophistication, Les Contamines offers unpretentious hospitality where locals and visitors mingle freely around worn wooden tables. The resort's compact size creates a convivial atmosphere where the same faces appear throughout your holiday, and the absence of late-night clubs encourages moderate enjoyment rather than excess. The season peaks during February half-term when families fill the village, creating a vibrant but family-friendly atmosphere, while January offers quieter slopes and more intimate bar experiences. The drinking culture here prioritizes conversation, local wines, and traditional mountain spirits over DJ sets and bottle service.

Complete Bar Guide

Le Tremplin
mountain-bar €€

Perched at the Lachat cable car mid-station, Le Tremplin is the quintessential Les Contamines après-ski institution. The sun-drenched terrace offers unobstructed views of the Aiguille du Bossons and serves as the unofficial meeting point for afternoon gatherings. Inside, exposed wooden beams and vintage ski posters create nostalgic alpine atmosphere. The crowd skews mixed-age, frompowder-hungry locals to holidaying families enjoying their first vin chaud of the day. Live acoustic music on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons draws standing-room-only crowds.

Signature Chalet Fondue Shot (chartreuse-flamed cheese shooter)
Best Time 3pm-5pm daily, live music afternoons
Insider Tip Arrive before 2:30pm on powder days to secure terrace seating, and ask for the 'ski boot warmer' special—朗姆酒 spiked with local honey served in pre-warmed glasses.
La Ferme à Jo
village-bar €€€

This converted 16th-century barn is Les Contamines' most atmospheric evening venue, retaining original stone walls and a roaring fireplace that crackles through winter evenings. La Ferme à Jo strikes perfect balance between refined and relaxed, attracting a 30-something crowd appreciative of quality over quantity. The cocktail menu features Alpine-inspired creations using locally foraged ingredients and spirits from small-batch Savoyard distilleries. Service is attentive but never stuffy, and the generous cheese boards complement drinking perfectly.

Signature Mont Blanc Noir (Espresso, crème de cacao, local gentiane liqueur, house-made vanilla foam)
Best Time 7pm-10pm for pre-dinner cocktails, excellent for couples
Insider Tip Request the 'secret menu' cocktails by asking nicely—they include limited-edition seasonal creations and a remarkable Savoyard old fashioned made with Génépi-infused bitters.
Le Refuge des Sports
village-bar

The heartbeat of Les Contamines' evening social scene, Le Refuge des Sports draws consistent crowds with its lively atmosphere and legendary happy hour. Sports screens dominate the interior, showing everything from rugby to Formula One, while the outdoor terrace transforms into a bustling social hub as ski lifts close. The crowd is predominantly French, with adventurous British and Belgian visitors well-represented. Budget-conscious skiers appreciate the generous measures and straightforward pricing that hasn't inflated despite the resort's growing popularity.

Signature Picon Biere (Traditional French bitter beer with orange)
Best Time 5pm-7pm happy hour, 9pm-late for evening crowd
Insider Tip The 5pm-7pm happy hour offers 50% off all pints and house wine—buy one get one free deals are posted on their Facebook page before major sporting events.
Café Montjoie
village-bar

Located in the village centre near the church, Café Montjoie operates with the unhurried rhythm of traditional French café culture. This is where older locals gather for morning coffee, afternoon pastis, and everything in between. The interior remains virtually unchanged for decades, with worn leather banquettes and black-and-white photographs of the village before ski lifts arrived. While less exciting than other options, Café Montjoie offers authentic immersion into resort life and surprisingly decent house wine.

Signature Pastis Hemingway (Pastis with multiple ice cubes and a bowl of free olives)
Best Time Any time before 8pm, ideal for solo travellers
Insider Tip Locals order the 'kirs' (white wine with crème de cassis) and leave small change on the bar to ensure continued service—this old-school tradition still works.
Le Dahu
wine-bar €€€

Les Contamines' sole dedicated wine bar, Le Dahu, opened in 2019 and quickly established itself as the resort's most sophisticated venue. Owner Guillaume Champagnon sources exclusively from Savoie and Haute-Savoie producers, offering tastings and by-the-glass options that showcase the region's excellent but overlooked wines. The intimate space accommodates only 25 guests, creating an exclusive atmosphere perfect for romantic evenings. The menu changes seasonally, featuring local charcuterie and artisanal cheeses that pair beautifully with the wine selection.

Signature Flight of three Savoie whites (Monternier, Jacquère, Altesse)
Best Time 7pm-10pm for wine tasting experience
Insider Tip Guillaume offers complimentary 15-minute consultations for wine purchases—perfect for picking up bottles for apartment supplies. Ask about the 'dégustation surprise' blind tasting flight.
L'After Ski Bar
village-bar €€

The closest Les Contamines comes to late-night party atmosphere, L'After Ski Bar opens until 2am on weekends, attracting younger skiers and seasonnaires seeking post-dinner entertainment. The basement venue features a small dance floor, reasonable sound system, and energetic vibe that picks up after 11pm. While not a club by any definition, it provides dancing opportunity rare in the traditional resort. Weekends draw dancing crowds, while weekday evenings remain low-key withDJ sets replaced by curated playlists.

Signature Jungle Juice (House-punch bowl serving 4-6 people)
Best Time 11pm-2am Friday and Saturday nights only
Insider Tip Avoid cover charges by arriving before midnight—after-hours entry sometimes includes €5 charge depending on artist bookings. Drinks are significantly cheaper before 11pm.

Prices & Value

Les Contamines-Montjoie occupies a middle ground between budget Alpine villages and premium resorts, offering reasonable drinking prices for the Mont Blanc region. Village bars deliver solid value, with happy hours and local drinks providing excellent quality-to-cost ratio. Mountain venues command premium pricing due to logistics, but vin chaud at altitude remains tradition worth indulging.

Beer
Draft beer: €4-6 (pint €6-8), Mountain bars: €7-9
Wine
House wine: €4-6 per glass, Bottle (Savoie): €18-30
Cocktail
Standard cocktails: €10-14, Premium/signature: €14-18

How it compares: Prices run approximately 15-20% lower than comparable Chamonix venues and 25-30% below Megève establishments. Mountain bar drinks cost roughly double village prices, so strategic timing—drinks at altitude during daylight, village bar sessions for evening—maximises value significantly.

Where locals drink: Café Montjoie and Le Refuge des Sports attract price-conscious locals and seasonnaires. Le Dahu draws wine enthusiasts despite premium pricing. Café Montjoie's free olives with drinks exemplify old-school value locals appreciate.

Perfect Après Itineraries

🎉 The Classic Route

Begin at Le Tremplin mountain bar at 3:30pm for vin chaud and terrace sunset views, moving to Le Refuge des Sports by 6pm for post-slope recovery pints and happy hour deals. Transition to La Ferme à Jo at 8pm for sophisticated dinner cocktails around the fireplace, finishing at L'After Ski Bar after 10pm for weekend dancing. This route balances scenery, socialising, atmosphere, and action across a full evening.

💰 Budget-Friendly

Maximise Café Montjoie's morning pastis and afternoon Picon biere sessions, taking advantage of Le Refuge desSports' daily 5pm-7pm happy hour for discounted pints and wine. Share ski-day snacks instead of dinner out, returning to your apartment for pre-drinks with supermarket wine (€6-8 bottles available at Sherpa market) before one reasonably-priced final bar session. Target €30-40 for a full evening's entertainment.

✨ Upscale Evening

Reserve tables at Le Dahu for 7pm apertif hour, indulging in wine flights and artisanal cheese boards while discussing the day's skiing. Transition to La Ferme à Jo for dinner and signature cocktails at 9pm, requesting the intimate corner booth for two. Arrange a taxi (€15-20) to the village for late-night digestifs at the hotel bars, embracing the unhurried sophistication of après-culture refined.

Local Secrets

tion__title">Quick Price Check
Pint of Beer (Mountain) €5

On-slope bar, standard lager

Pint of Beer (Village) €4

Village bar, evening drink

Glass of Wine €5

House wine, restaurant

Coffee €2

Espresso or cappuccino

Mountain Lunch €14

Main course + drink, on-slope

Evening Meal €27

Two courses + drink, mid-range restaurant

How Does Les Contamines-Montjoie Compare?

Item Les Contamines-Montjoie France Avg Alps Avg
Pint on mountain €5 €8 €7
Mountain lunch €14 €21 €22
Evening meal €27 €39 €45

The Après Scene

Our Take

Les Contamines-Montjoie has modest après-ski. A few bars and restaurants, but this isn't a party resort. Good for families or those who prefer early nights. Prices are reasonable.

Where to Drink

Money-Saving Tips

🏔️ Planning your ski trip to Les Contamines-Montjoie Beer & Après Prices 2025/26?

Find Accommodation on Booking.com

Compare hotels, chalets & apartments