Après-ski isn’t just about enjoying drinks after the lifts close. It’s also about working on your tan in February, live music that makes people dance in ski boots and noshing on food while sharing skiing stories–the kind of experiences that doesn’t just cap off a day on the slopes, they complete it.

ASPEN/SNOWMASS

Snowmass always stood out as an awkward younger child with its bevies of condos and lack of unique character. Well, little brother has grown up. A multi-million-dollar rejuvenation of Snowmass Village was just completed and will make this area just as upscale as the offerings in Aspen. Chief among them is the brand new Sneaky’s Tavern (970-923-8787), modeled after the famed Ajax Tavern in Aspen, and the new Sam’s Smokehouse at the top of the Village Express chair, where you can augment the panoramic view of the peaks with a dripping plate of babyback ribs. And if you want to stick with the original Aspen location, the Ajax Tavern (970-920-9333) itself has been remodeled with a bigger deck where you can watch the beautiful people while sipping on the bar’s signature Ajax Toddy, a smooth mix of local apple cider and vanilla rum.

CRESTED BUTTE

Crested Butte drips with Colorado postcard charm and garners hardcore cred with extreme terrain and a claim to being the spot where the telemark skiing rival began—and thanks to new ownership and a $25-million makeover, it can now brag about its sophisticated side. The proof is at the bottom of a glass of single-malt scotch at Trackers (970-349-4228), the new high-end whiskey-and-wine bar at the base of the mountain. And when you’re ready to eat, head to Django’s where creative small-plate dishes complement a worldly wine list. Of course, if you still want a taste of classic CB style, head to the can’t-go-wrong Ice Bar (970-349-2275), where girls who look like they strolled out of a Bond movie serve drinks at a bar carved out of solid ice—make reservations for the famed Last Tracks Dinners.

VAIL

Après reaches its apogee (and often dips to its nadir) at Vail where you’ll usually end up transitioning seamlessly from slopes to drinks on the deck to dancing without ever making it back to your hotel. You can’t really call yourself an aficionado of ski-culture kitsch if you have never been to The Red Lion, where for the past 20-years co-owner Phil Long has been playing two nightly acoustic sets that pepper classic rock standbys with indie anthems on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Watch the end-of-day carnage at the bottom of Lionshead and soak up some sunshine on the deck at Garfinkel’s. Menu favorites include baby-back ribs, grilled salmon and heaping pasta dishes.

BRECKENRIDGE

Breck’s facelift this season includes the opening of the first new base area at the resort in 30 years—and that means swanky après right in sight of some of the best lines on the mountain. The new Sevens is a few steps away from the Independence Chair and it’s the only place on the mountain where you can find Guiness on tap (alongside fine dining and wine). If you want retro, low-key cool, the outside of the restaurant/bar will feature a ski-in window where you can order organic burgers. For fine dining later in the night, head to Relish (970-453-0989)—it’s a bit off the beaten path but its worth seeking out for chef/owner Matt Fackler’s creative take on Colorado-inspired cuisine such as the mustard cider glazed chicken with spaghetti squash.

WINTER PARK

In general, Winter Park’s plebian après scene consists of elbowing up to the base area bars and screaming at the Broncos game. If you are seeking a more refined-yet-still-hedonistic experience, head over to Devil’s Thumb Ranch, where a world-class spa and 100km of cross-country trails make it a destination worth experiencing in its own right. It’s a 15-minute drive from the ski area and the draw here is the new Heck’s Tavern, named not for what Midwesterners shout as they try to navigate the bumps at Mary Jane but for the hexagonal stone fireplace inside. Try the Pear Martini, made with Absolute Pear vodka, Riesling and fresh lemon and lime juice, and stay for dinner. Smoked meatloaf with mushroom gravy and salmon cheddar mashed potatoes, perhaps?

PARK CITY

Utahan’s jokingly refer to Park City as the Vegas of the Beehive State. While that may be hyperbole, it is an oasis of extravagance in an otherwise quite conservative state. The place to be seen is The Spur, where live music, Western kitsch and margaritas rule. But the hottest après destination, and possibly the best drinking establishment in this reddest of red states will open in the spring. The High West Distillery, will be the first of its kind in Utah since Prohibition and sits off the lift at the Park City base area.