Mike’s Sports Bar – Not Exactly a Mayrhofen Après Bar, But Deserves a Special Mention
Loved by tourists, locals & skiers who came to Mayrhofen and never left (like some of our Monsguide Team), Mike’s has had a fancy refurb in recent years, but it’s still got the same 100% good vibes & 50% schnapps behind the bar. Of course, it’s the place where you can watch the football & rugby in Mayrhofen, but it’s a whole lot more than that. It’s the hub of the resort, where you’ll find all current & present Inghams, Crystal Ski & Neilson reps congregating & rubbing shoulders happily with holiday makers. Although it’s open during Mayrhofen après ski hours from 3pm onwards, it’s always remained more like your favourite local pub. Less dancing on tables, and more chats with friends in a lively, lovely atmosphere. Also, you can play darts & Austrian nails. At Monsguide, we love Mike (say ‘hi!’ from Ange) & we love Mike’s Sportsbar!
Mayrhofen Après in all it’s glory. A great, big sunkissed terrace, a bar run by a lederhosen-wearing Austrian-après superstar, a tonne of guest après DJs, table dancing encouraged and singing along required, Kaisermandl has it all. Bonus points for the decent food it does at lunchtime. After 3pm, don’t expect to get a table. After 4pm, don’t expect to not be on the table.
On the Penken Mountain, this is you umbrella bar experience before the last gondola down. It’s got the perfect on-the-mountain Austrian après. Expect to be packed in tight, belting out the classics, while ordering rounds of shots. The one thing everyone always says against Hof is that there’s no home run off the Penken, but a packed out gondola after last orders can be pretty fun, too. Get a sing-a-long going, chat to your lift mates, and by the time you get to the bottom, there’ll be a whole crew of you spilling into Ice Bar at the bottom of the lift, or heading over to Bruck n’Stadl.
Ice Bar
At the bottom of the Penken, so it does exactly what you need it to at 5pm: plays the bangers, doesn’t care if you’re a bit sloppy in your ski gear, and keeps the beers flowing. Not the most atmospheric Mayrhofen après venue, but a great stop for a beer and a shot before you keep the party moving.
Bruck n’Stadl
It’s hell for the more discerning holiday maker, but absolute bliss is you love your Mayrhofen après Austrian-style, and if want to party from 3pm right past midnight. Lederhosen, Johnny Dapp, sausages and shots: Bruck has it all. From the Austrian chalet décor to the Europop playlist, it’s an absolute joy of silly nonsense. Don’t try to be cool, just embrace it for what it is, in all its cheesy glory. Just remember, Schatzi, send me a photo. And don’t forget to #monsguide.
Scotland Yard
Scottie’s has changed hands in the last few years, but still remains one of the best places for live music in Mayrhofen. The bar snacks are nothing fancy, but if you want tasty, filling pizzas, chicken wings & onion rings, they’ve got you covered. And however many times the place has a makeover, it’s always going to have that bar right in the middle of the room, making it standing room only, most nights of the week. It can be a tight, sweaty squeeze when there’s a lively band or DJ playing, but we love it that way, and wouldn’t change the ‘come as you are’ vibe for a million quid.
Harakiri
Go late, stay late. Mayrhofen’s club is where you can go for a proper dance, to a mix of pop, rnb & hip hop classics, interspersed with chart pop and eurobangers. Go home and change out of your salopettes before hitting the dancefloor here. Yes, technically it opens at 4pm for après, but honestly, I’ve never been in before 10pm. In fact, the thought of being in there while its still light outside is making me feel all sorts of awkward. It’s where the night should end, not where it should start.
Apropros
Speaking of where a night should end… Just because the tiny little Apropros door seems to be tantalizingly open 24/7, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to go for ‘one last drink’ at 3am. You know that saying ‘nothing good happens after midnight’? Well… Ahhhh, who am I kidding? You’re on your holidays, might as well! Apropros has tiny little booths to squeeze into with all your new best mates, and talk absolute rubbish until dawn. Also, pool tables, and we all know you’re an absolute pool shark after ten shots of Jaegar.* They do late night toasties and other, indescribably delicious snacks. I make no claim to their tastiness in the cold, morning light, but when you’re doing all you can to make sure the night never ends, they are the best thing since sliced bread. *It’s usually winner stays on rules, and the young locals who never seem to leave Apropros don’t like to give the table up easily.
Hostel Chillertal (The Gasthof Zillertal)
The Gasthof has had a rebrand, but its still brings the cheapest beers, the seasonaire vibes, the (in)famous Tuesday night beer pong ,and the general wild & loose vibes that have always made it worth the walk out of town, and across the river. They promise the cheapest Zillertal beer in Hof (€4.50 a pint), a free pool table, nails and have something going on almost every night of the week, from karaoke to pub quiz, live music to DJs. Connected to the only hostel in town, there are no airs & graces here, just more of that relaxed, Mayrhofen welcome and a late, late night guaranteed. Probs not where you’d take the family for a relaxing after-ski drink, but one you’ll be gutted you miss if you’re in Hof for a party.
