After a day on the mountain, everybody loves a good apres ski meet up. My personal criteria hits the following: 1) casual, come-as-you-are vibe; 2) menu with some hearty options and/or solid appetizers; 3) great beer. Fun atmosphere and music are bonus points. So based on that, here’s my list of favorite spots around the Whiteface (downhill) and Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Cascade (XC) areas.

1. Lake Placid Pub & Brewery: Excellent beer, great food (love the fish & chips), casual and fun joint. An ADK classic. Great spot for friends and families alike, although it can get a little rowdy at times. Only downside is that they’ll get super busy during peak times and can run a rather long wait. But you can also go online and join the waitlist, and they have some outdoor seating in the parking lot where you can drink beer and wait for your table. Tuesday nights are 2-for-1 Pints, and Thursdays are Brat Night.

2. Big Slide Brewery: A little more foodie farm-to-table than the other spots, but definitely a fun, casual scene. They also offer great specials: Thursdays are Pizza & Pint Night and Fridays are Oyster Night. Because Big Slide is on Cascade Road (not Main Street), it can be easier to park and is perfect is you’re coming from XC skiing at Cascade or Mt. Van Hoevenberg. Go online to add yourself to the waitlist.

3. Players: Serious hamburgers. Sooo good. If there’s a game on TV, this is a good place to go. Their Main Street location is either good or bad depending on your mode of transportation — either you can walk there, or good luck finding a parking spot.

4. Smoke Signals: Being from Texas, I think Smoke Signals is crazy expensive for BBQ. We’re talking about $42 for a brisket plate and $32 for baby back ribs … seriously. But, this is a hugely popular spot and sometimes it’s what you want. Plus, this place has a great selection of whiskey and bourbon, and legit BBQ nachos. It’s almost always busy with a line out the door, and parking on Main Street is a pain. Make a reservation in advance (like a day or two in advance!).

5. R.F. McDougall’s Pub: If you’re so hungry coming off Whiteface and your crew can’t make it all the way to Lake Placid, consider a stop at McDougal’s Pub (part of the Hungry Trout resort). As of right now, McDougall’s hasn’t yet reopened for ski season, but we expect them to open up soon with a revamped menu. As you might guess, they’re known for their fish.