7 Best Nightlife in Lyon and the Alps, France

Set in Lyon's hip Hôtel Dieu complex, L'Officine's elegant decor, featuring leather banquettes, plush velvet chairs, wood paneling, and mood lighting, conveys a luxe private club atmosphere. It's the perfect backdrop for a menu of sublime cocktails made by Lyon's star mixologists. An ample selection of whiskeys, bourbons, gins, wines, and champagnes attract aficionados, and the outdoor terrace is a delight in warm weather. Small gourmet plates mean you can get there early and sample for dinner, a good idea at this popular address.

A carefully staged scene of plush velvets, romantic lighting, vintage touches, and mood music on a phonograph create a delicious atmosphere, and that's even before you get to the drinks. Inventive ambrosias with expressive names like Monkey Shoulder or Sex on the Beach are concocted from house-made syrups and fresh juices, and change monthly according to what's in season. There's also an impressive list of spirits and wines as well as small plates of cheese and charcuterie to keep you going through the night.

Resembling a pirate ship, Barberousse is an always-popping rum mill.

Fabled landmark Chambre Neuf is a hot après-ski bar in the Hotel Gustavia.

If you'd rather avoid elbow-to-elbow crowds at the slope-side bars, head to Le Poste de Secours. Dispensing with the chalet-chic decor that's so popular in the region’s watering holes, it has a futuristic feel. In the purple haze, spherical lighting fixtures float like planets while clusters of podlike chairs sit low to the ground. This is the best place in town for classic cocktails, made by bartenders who know their stuff.