Après Cafe is the restaurant and bar at Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort, 4695 Vail Racquet Club Drive, and it is billed as East Vail's only restaurant and bar. The menu runs to salads, sandwiches, entrées and handmade pizzas, served in a two-level room with fireside seating. Two things shape a visit more than the food does: the cafe is run independently of the resort, and it opens only part of the year.
Seasons and hours
Après Cafe is generally open from early December through April and again from late May through October, which leaves a gap in the shoulder seasons when it is closed. The schedule on the cafe's own site is Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and it is headed "Off-Season Hours"; no separate schedule is posted for the busiest weeks. Exact opening dates and hours move from year to year, so call 970-688-5437 or email hello@aprescafevail.com before you plan a dinner around it.
| Day | Posted hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Tuesday and Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday to Sunday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
Seating is first come, first served, and food, cocktails, wine and beer can be ordered to go by phone. A group of any size should ask about seating in advance.
The food and the room
The cooking is casual: salads, sandwiches, entrées and pizzas made by hand, aimed at the après-ski or après-hike hour and at an easy evening. The two seating levels and the fireplace give it a lodge feel rather than a bar feel, and the resort pitches it to families, couples and groups. Diners do not need to be staying at the resort. Dishes and seasonal changes are on the cafe's menu page.
Getting to East Vail from Vail Village
East Vail sits east of the village, just short of Vail Pass. The Town of Vail's free bus has two stops on the resort property, and the ride to the Vail Transportation Center near Bridge Street generally takes 15 to 20 minutes depending on route, season and traffic. Return times matter for a dinner that ends at 9 p.m., so check the evening schedule on the Town of Vail bus page. The resort runs no village shuttle of its own.
By car, take I-70 exit 180 for East Vail, follow Bighorn Road for about a mile, turn right at Streamside Circle and continue east onto Meadow Drive; the resort entrance and main parking area are on the left.
Who it suits
For anyone staying at the Racquet Club or elsewhere in East Vail, the cafe saves the trip into town for dinner. From Vail Village or Lionshead it is a deliberate detour by bus, and the Tuesday and Wednesday closures and the seasonal calendar mean it will not always be the fallback plan. If you are staying in the village, our guides to restaurants in Lionshead, lunch in Vail and the wider list of Vail restaurants have more choice, and things to do in Vail at night covers the evening after dinner. For the lodging and athletic club side of the property, see the guide to Vail Racquet Club.
