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Here’s a list of the best places for après ski in Big White, BC, Canada’s largest ski-in-ski-out resort in Canada.
Known for its light, fluffy and dry powder and an annual snowfall of 750cm, Big White’s champagne snow has put it on the map as one of the best ski resorts in Canada.
Located less than an hour from Canada’s famous wine region, the Okanagan Valley, Big White Ski Resort is the highest mountain of the Okanagan Highland in beautiful British Columbia.
It’s not just the reputation for spectacular quality of snow that puts Big White on many lists of the best ski resorts in Canada. It's been voted one of the top resorts in the country by the Condé Nast Traveller's Reader's Choice Awards for 3 years in a row! This BC ski resort has Canada’s largest lifting system and tubing park, 118 designated runs, 5 bowls and a terrain park.
Big White is where you will find an amazing variety of places for après-ski. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly atmosphere, great food, an impressive local wine list or somewhere to do ski shots with your besties, Big White has it and unlike other, more costly resorts in British Columbia, it’s far more affordable.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you that Big White should appear at the top of your list for your next ski trip, it’s also Canada’s largest ski-in-ski-out village. That means everywhere on this list of the best places for après-ski in Big White are ski-in-ski-out. I mean, that’s living the dream, right?
Should you not want to ski to everything all the time, all of these best places to go for après-ski in Big White are located super close together within the village. They’re a stone’s throw from the hotels in the village and even only a 15-20 minute walk from Snowpines, where many ski-in-ski-out chalets are located.
Read on to find out what are the best places for après ski in Big White, BC, Canada, including where you can find a previously-voted #1 Ski Bar in North America.
BullWheel
The BullWheel is a great, casual restaurant and sports bar in Big White and also the easiest place to ski straight up to for your après ski. It’s located on Easy Street right in the heart of Big White village.
Aim to sit by the windows facing the village so you can look out onto the skiers making their way down Easy Street, which runs through the centre of the village. It’s one of the best parts about Big White being a ski-in-ski-out resort.
The BullWheel serves breakfast, lunch, après-ski and dinner and has a large drinks list celebrating local wineries and breweries of the Okanagan Valley. This whole valley is much loved by Tamsin, owner of Winternational too!
It’s family-friendly for a cosy meal with the kiddos whilst also being somewhere to shoot back ski shots whilst the staff hype you up! The BullWheel should be one of your top picks to go for après-ski in Big White and is handily located to the left of the clocktower, next to the gondola.
The Woods
The Woods restaurant is the best place to go for elevated après-ski within Big White ski resort. Looking like a big and beautiful chalet right in the middle of this ski-in-ski-out village, the Woods is where you want to go in your best après ski outfit.
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The Woods offers a more refined cocktail list than the other après-ski spots mentioned here along with a wine selection that best showcases many of the incredible wineries from the local wine region of the Okanagan Valley.
Book your table here and leave a note requesting to be by one of their windows in the front. If you’re lucky with the forecast you can gaze out at the glittering snowflakes as the village lights catch them whilst they’re falling to the ground.
The Woods is located in the centre of the village opposite the clocktower.
Snowshoe Sam’s
Snowshoe Sam’s is the longest operating pub in Big White and is without a doubt the best place for après-ski in Big White.Ski Can Magazine once voted it the #1 Ski Bar in North America!
Snowshoe Sam’s is a total vibe. Expect a laid-back atmosphere where the walls are lined with vintage and retro ski posters and the music is always good. It’s best for pitchers of beer shared with friends, a casual North-American menu that includes good pizza and, if you’re into it, it’s a great place to do ski shots.
Keep an eye on Snowshoe Sam’s events calendar when planning your trip so you don’t miss out on some great evenings with live music and more.
Snowshoe Sam’s is located on Big White Rd along with the majority of the bars and restaurants on this list. It’s above Toasty and next to Black Diamond Bar & Grill.
Toasty
This one is bending the rules of après-ski and is really more of an avant-ski recommendation but it had to make the list.
Toasty is one of the newer additions to Big White’s eateries. It’s the coffee shop to get your caffeine fix to fuel a full day on the slopes.
It’s popular for a good reason, their incredibly delicious baked goods are from the team behind Sprout, one of the best bakeries in Kelowna.
Toasty is located on Big White Rd under Snowshoe Sam’s and is totally worth the morning line up.
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Underground Pizza
With the majority of rental chalets and condos in Big White having private hot tubs it would be rude not to partake in an après-ski soak.
And what food goes best with hot tub après-ski? Pizza! - Obviously.
Underground Pizza has been serving the hottest sourdough pizza in Big White since 1988. It’s a cosy Mom & Pop spot that has perfected their dough recipe over the decades to bring you the best pizza on the mountain.
You can either nominate the most confident/well balanced snowboarder in your group to ride with your takeout pizza back to your chalet (why them? Because they don’t have poles to hold) or you can get it delivered right to your door. Which arguably could be the most reasonable option, the least fun though.
Eating in the restaurant at Underground Pizza is an option too.
Underground Pizza is located on the corner of Big White and Kettle View Rd.
Order online at Underground Pizza in Big White here.
The Market at Big White
Looking to enjoy après-ski from the comfort of your chalet or hotel room? Upstairs of The Market at Big White is where you will find this ski village’s liquor store.
With over 300 local and imported wine, spirits and beers there’s sure to be something to wet your whistle.
Whilst you’re there grab a 4-pack of Big White IPA by BNA Brewing Co as they make a great gift or souvenir from your trip and supports a local Okanagan brewery.
Looking for 0.0% ABV après-ski options? You’ll find plenty downstairs within The Market at Big White.
The Market at Big White is located in Whitefoot Lodge on Big White Rd. It’s accessible from both the front and the back and has limited parking if you need to pick up any necessary groceries.
Black Diamond Bar & Grill
Black Diamond Bar & Grill is primarily a steak and seafood restaurant but their menu also caters for more casual meals too. They have a Turkey Dip handheld that has all the best flavours of Christmas dinner in one amazing sandwich.
Black Diamond Bar & Grill is one of the few restaurants in Big White where you can enjoy your après-ski outside. Their patio has firepit tables so you can stay warm and cosy as the snow falls around you.
If you’d rather be inside, there's the option to sit at high-tops in the bar area which has some neat vintage ski photos up on the walls or you can dine in the restaurant which, on a clear day, has views of the Monashee mountains.
Black Diamond Bar & Grill is located next to the Plaza Chair at the same end of the village as Snowshoe Sam’s, Toasty and The Market.
Fourth Ace Bar and Smokehouse
Fourth Ace Bar & Smokehouse is Big White’s BBQ restaurant and where you can get your protein fix mountainside.
Being located on the Perfection run it’s a great place to fuel up for an afternoon of incredible skiing at Big White.
If good food is important to you when planning your après-ski at Big White then Fourth Ace Bar & Smokehouse is for you. Expect a hearty meal with an exciting variety of sides. Check out the menu here.
Fourth Ace Bar & Smokehouse is located at 20 Kettle View Rd. By foot it can be found behind Underground Pizza but you can ski to it by taking the blue run, “Perfection”, that runs parallel to the Ridge Rocket Express chair lift.
Big White is an incredible place to ski in Canada. It’s a huge resort with world famous powder and as you can see from this list of best places for après ski in Big White, BC, Canada you're sure to have a great time both on and off the slopes. Let me know what you think of my list of the best places for après ski in Big White, BC, Canada - I'd love to know your recommendations too!
Happy Skiing!
Written by Gabriella Wisdom, founder of travel & lifestyle blog, Postcards from Hawaii.
Catch Gabi skiing in her fabulous apparel from Winternational on Instagram at @gabriellawisdom
Read Gabriella’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Women Skiers here on the Winternational Journal.
FAQs
Where has the best après ski in Big White?
Travel blogger and keen skier Gabriella Wisdom offers her wisdom on all things apres ski in Big White from cool casual beers and shots to upmarket cocktails with menu tips thrown in.
