Home › Eat & après-ski › Bars & après-ski
Jacks Méribel: Après-Ski, Live Music, and Food
Jacks Méribel sits right at the foot of the slopes at La Chaudanne, making it an easy meeting spot when your ski day winds down across Les 3 Vallées. If you ski over the ridge from Courchevel across Saulire, you can coast directly down to the terrace without unbuckling your boots early or dealing with a long uphill walk.
The venue pairs an open outdoor deck with a relaxed indoor pub room. Inside, you will find a steady rhythm of afternoon bands, casual homemade comfort meals, and a friendly mix of ski instructors, seasonal staff, and traveling families sharing long wooden tables.
At a glance
| Type of place | Après-ski bar and restaurant |
|---|---|
| Village | Méribel (La Chaudanne) |
| Best time | Late afternoon for live après-ski sets |
| Music | Live bands, acoustic duos, and solo artists |
| Dress code | Casual skiwear and mountain clothing |
| Entry / tables | Free entry; walk-ins for bar and lunch; dinner reservations online |
| Season and hours | Open daily in winter and summer; hours vary |
| Price range | Mid-range for Méribel; prices vary by season |
Why Jacks Is Worth an Afternoon Stop
Skiing between Courchevel and Méribel is one of the classic daily circuits in the Three Valleys. When you drop down the Saulire face into the Méribel basin, La Chaudanne is the central hub where the valley runs converge. Jacks is set right opposite the lifts, giving you an immediate place to rest your legs without wandering through village streets in stiff ski boots.
The draw here is straightforward hospitality. The venue does not try to be an exclusive VIP lounge or an overbearing club. Instead, it offers an outdoor terrace that catches the daytime sun, reliable homemade food from midday onward, and an easy transition from afternoon drinks into evening dinner.
Inside, the layout provides plenty of room to escape cold mountain weather. A pool table and television screens showing major sports fixtures give it the feel of a traditional alpine pub, keeping things entertaining on stormy days when poor visibility drives skiers off the higher peaks early.
The Terrace Vibe and Live Music Lineup
Live music is the centerpiece of the après-ski program at Jacks. From Monday through Friday during late afternoons and early evenings, the venue stages regular live music sets. These sessions bring in local alpine bands, acoustic duos, and solo musicians who run through well-known pub anthems, folk tunes, and rock covers.
As the ski lifts close around La Chaudanne, the terrace fills up rapidly. Skiers rack their gear along the barriers, order drinks from the outdoor bar service, and join the crowd around the stage area. It is an energetic scene, but it remains accessible and friendly to everyone rather than rowdy.
The clientele mirrors the open setup. On any given afternoon, you will stand alongside off-duty ski instructors, seasonal chalet hosts, snowboarders who spent the day on the Méribel park lines, and families enjoying a round of hot drinks before heading back to their chalets.
When to Go Across the Season
Jacks operates daily throughout both the winter ski season and the summer mountain biking and hiking months. Daily hours typically run from mid-morning or lunchtime through late into the evening, though specific opening and closing times vary depending on the month and snow conditions.
If you want a sunny table outside without competing for elbow room, plan to arrive around early lunchtime. Between midday and roughly two in the afternoon, the terrace serves full lunches at a calmer pace. Families often prefer this window because younger children have room to sit comfortably before the après-ski rush gathers.
The tempo shifts sharply around mid-afternoon. Daily happy hours generally kick off as the lifts begin to close, followed closely by the weekday live music sessions. Later in the evening, the bar hosts pub quiz nights, sports viewing parties, and seasonal events around Christmas, New Year, and end-of-season closing weeks. Check their official website or social media channels for up-to-date weekly schedules.
Food, Drinks, and Practical Table Rules
The kitchen serves homemade pub dishes built to satisfy big mountain appetites. The menu runs throughout the day, focusing on crowd-pleasing staples prepared fresh on site.
- Signature burgers, including the hearty Bad Boy Burger and dedicated vegan burger options.
- Crispy stone-baked pizzas, loaded fries, and platters of nachos designed for sharing around the table.
- Fresh salads and lighter lunch plates for skiers looking for an easier meal before heading back up the mountain.
- Dedicated children meals and comforting Sunday roasts during the winter months.
At the bar, you will find craft beers on tap alongside regular lagers, available by the pint or in shareable pitchers. The drinks menu also lists signature cocktails, regional wines, and house-made toffee vodka, which is a common favorite for warming up after skiing in cold conditions. Prices fall into the moderate bracket for Méribel, though exact figures shift across the season.
Entry is completely free. For drinks and daytime lunch, seating operates on a walk-in basis, so arriving early is the best way to secure a prime table on the deck. If you plan to visit for evening dinner or wish to bring a larger ski group, book a table in advance through their official website.
Local tip: If you are skiing over from Courchevel for lunch or après-ski, keep your trail map handy and leave enough time to catch the Saulire or Pas du Lac gondolas before they shut for the day.
Safety, Age Rules, and Night Travel
Jacks is an inclusive and family-friendly establishment. High chairs are available for families traveling with toddlers, and non-alcoholic drinks are served across the bar. For alcoholic beverages, the legal drinking age in France is 18, and bar staff may ask for photographic identification during busier evening events.
Ski safety requires particular attention if you are stopping here midway through your day. Drinking alcohol reduces reaction times and coordination on the snow. Keep consumption moderate if you still need to ski back to your accommodation, always keep your helmet fastened, and stick strictly to marked runs. Off-piste descents should never be attempted after drinking or without checking the daily avalanche bulletin and carrying safety gear.
Leaving the bar after dark requires care, especially as temperatures drop and meltwater freezes across the footpaths of La Chaudanne. Always walk cautiously on icy pavements. Never drive after drinking alpine cocktails or beers. Méribel operates a free local shuttle bus system called the Méribus, with stops just a short walk from the venue. If you stay late into the evening after the buses cease running, book a registered valley taxi in advance rather than risking a long walk along unlit roads.
Getting There from Courchevel and Where to Stay
Jacks is located at 2 Rue des Jeux Olympiques in Méribel Centre, directly across from the La Chaudanne lift station and the Olympic Centre. If you are staying in Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650 Moriond, or Courchevel Village, reaching Jacks on skis is simple. Take the lifts up toward Saulire or the Col de la Loze, cross the ridge line into Méribel, and follow the blue or red valley runs straight down into La Chaudanne.
Remember that ski connection lifts back to Courchevel close around late afternoon. If you stay at Jacks past lift closing times, you will not be able to ski back. Returning to the Courchevel valley by road requires a taxi journey down to Moûtiers and back up, which takes roughly forty-five minutes to an hour and incurs substantial taxi fares.
For travelers who want to base themselves near the venue, Méribel Centre and the immediate Chaudanne area offer numerous self-catering chalets, tourist apartments, and traditional hotels within walking distance. If you base yourself elsewhere in the Méribel valley, the regular Méribus shuttle lines connect La Chaudanne to Méribel Village, Méribel-Mottaret, and the surrounding hamlets free of charge.
How to Plan Your Day Around Jacks
A day trip over to Méribel is an essential part of any Courchevel holiday. You can spend the morning exploring the sweeping cruisers above Mottaret or tackling the scenic runs below Roc de Fer before dropping into La Chaudanne around lunchtime. Grab a bench on the terrace at Jacks for loaded nachos or a burger while resting your legs in the mountain sun.
If you finish skiing early, you can pair a drink at Jacks with a visit to the Olympic Centre directly across the street, which houses an indoor ice rink, swimming pool, and spa facilities. Non-skiers in your group can take the road bus down to meet you at La Chaudanne for afternoon coffee or an early evening band set before dinner.
For a complete evening out in Méribel, you can enjoy the live music session at Jacks until the set finishes, then head up the hill into central Méribel for a traditional Savoyard dinner of fondue or raclette. Finish the evening at one of the village pubs before catching the Méribus back to your chalet doorstep.
What recent visitors say
A quick, honest snapshot from recent Google reviews, so you know what to expect before you go.
What people liked
“Really good burgers especially the chicken tandoori. Great vibe & the music was great too. Open all year round in Meribel. I recommend to check the website for reservations & meal times. But definitely worth a visit”
“Great atmosphere. Decent prices compared to most places, especially at happy hour. Live bands/singers are always good and makes the place extremely lively around Apre Ski. Visit most days after a day on the slopes. We haven’t ate at Jack’s…”
“Wow, I am afraid to advertise as it might get to crowded, but they deserve! What a great place! The food was awesome and at fair pricess. The pizza was delicious and the burgers to lick your fingers, try the chicken sandwich.”
What some found difficult
“DO NOT GO TO JACKS. The staff are entitled, rude, unfair, and do not deserve your money or time. (See below for details) There are plenty other options. I will not lie, this is a great bar, and the band Pink Miami were fantastic, so do…”
Reviews via Google Maps. Opinions are those of their authors.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a table to visit Jacks Méribel?
Daytime drinks, lunch, and late afternoon après-ski sessions operate on a walk-in basis with free entry. However, if you plan to visit for evening dinner or have a large group, you should reserve a table in advance through their official website.
Can I ski back to Courchevel after the après-ski band finishes?
Usually no. The connecting ski lifts between Méribel and Courchevel across Saulire close around late afternoon. If you stay for the full live music set, you will need to take a road taxi back to Courchevel, which takes roughly an hour.
Is Jacks suitable for children and families?
Yes, Jacks is very family-friendly, especially during daytime lunch and early afternoon hours. The venue provides high chairs, soft drinks, and a dedicated children’s food menu.
What kind of food does Jacks serve?
The kitchen serves all-day homemade comfort dishes including craft burgers like the Bad Boy Burger, vegan burgers, pizzas, loaded fries, nachos, fresh salads, and winter Sunday roasts.
Find it
Address: Jacks, 2 Rue des Jeux Olympiques, 73550 Les Allues, France
