The 14 Best Bars, Pubs And Après Ski Spots In Niseko And Hokkaido

From log cabins in the snow and luxury lounges with all-season views, to establishments where the staff breathe fire and others where you can breathe your own (read:smoke cigars), here are some of our favourite bars, pubs and après-ski spots in Niseko and wider Hokkaido for you to enjoy. For a more substantial feed, why not browse our list of Niseko's best restaurants? 

Any bar that's hidden behind a refrigerator door in the snow is worthy of a place on this list. Enter Bar Gyu +  (The Fridge Door Bar), which in conjunction with having THE coolest entrance ever, is Hokkaido's oldest cocktail bar and an après-ski dream (in fact, Bloomberg once named it one of the best après-ski bars on earth). Step beyond the facade into a cosy, retro wonderland where the drinks flow freely, the records play all night long, and glimpses of the snow outside await. Open in winter only. 

blo*blo has been bringing its delicious mix of signature cocktails and homemade gyoza to the table from its spot below the Blowhard Lodge for more than two decades, and unlike many of Niseko's most popular bars is open both in the white (winter) AND green (summer) seasons. The vibe here is nothing short of immaculate, with cushioned nooks, mood lighting and funky Asian décor courtesy of famed Aussie club designer, Nic Brunner. We approve. 

Toshiro Akinori has been dazzling drinkers with his award-winning mixology skills for years, earning his namesake venue—Toshiro's Bar—a place in Niseko legend. Previously housed inside the Prince Hirafu Hotel, now Sansui Niseko, this high-end watering hole is where you go for an extensive, globally-sourced collection of whiskies and gins, along with what are guaranteed to be some of the best cocktails of your life. Drinking here is a true privilege. Open in winter only. 

When winter rolls around, you'll find us hiding out at Niseko Confidential's cosy log cabin with a Gingerbread Old Fashioned in one hand, and a Dirty Cherry Cola in the other. These are just two of the tasty tipples this uber-cool spot—sister to the famous Tokyo Confidential—has up for grabs, which it pairs with a full food menu (the locally sourced A5 Wagyu beef is a highlight) and edgy interiors (we love the colourful mural above the bar). However this ain't just a winter haunt—it's also open in the summer. Happy days.

Despite opening in the midst of Covid, Owl&Rooster has become quite the go-to for cocktail fans (it even had a mention on the World's 50 Best Discovery list). Pairing a cosy and effortlessly cool space with on-fire cocktails and other delights (the Absinthe and chocolate concoction is a particularly good time) from the hands of owner and award-winning bartender Hisatsugu Saito, this is undoubtedly one of best bars in all of Hokkaido. 

Boring nights out are banned at Flair Bar es. You'll be treated to a menu of more than 100 different cocktails and if you visit on the weekend, an epic bartending show complete with juggling and firebreathing (we're not kidding). And if, after all that, you're still not entertained, you can put your gaming skills to the test with a round of Mario Kart or Donkey Kong. 

If classy cocktails in a swish setting are your way of debriefing after a day on the slopes, slide on through to Bar Haku—one of four hospo hotspots located inside The Select precinct. You'll be in excellent hands here with a renowned and award-winning mixologist at the helm, pouring out 'grammable cocktails and all the Japanese whiskey you can handle. Open in winter only. 

Graze over tapas made from locally-sourced ingredients while sipping on fine wine and killer cocktails at Temporada, a popular drinking spot in the heart of Hirafu. Of course, it wouldn't be right to leave without trying their Niseko Negroni, because when in Rome...

Nobody does classy quite like the Park Hyatt, so expect all the bells and whistles when you pop by the luxurious in-house bar at their Niseko Hanazono location. Open year round (with extended hours in winter), you're invited to sip on local micro-brews and gins, beautifully crafted cocktails, and top-shelf whiskies, which you can match with a cigar in the adjoining Cigar Lounge. We're also big fans of Gin O'clock (where between 5pm – 9pm, you can drink unlimited gins or gin martinis for happy hour prices). 

Anyone who thinks a bar called Magic Mountain sounds like a good time, raise your hand. Housed inside a cutesy log cabin that screams 'après-ski', this popular hangout delivers on its name with a laidback vibe, friendly staff and most importantly, drinks for days. Sink craft beers, cocktails and fruit sake as their DJ takes to the decks, and get ready to P-A-R-T-Y. Open in winter only. 

Ume Lounge, while a particularly popular spot in the cooler months, is open all year round and we couldn't be happier. Their long sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows are practically made for wiling away the hours, drink in hand—pick from locally-brewed beers and chic cocktails crafted by an alpine mixologist (now that's what we call job title goals).

If you consider a crackling fireplace, cocktails and maybe even a cheeky cigar the ingredients for a great night out, look no further than Soh's Bar. This grown-up Furano-based hideaway can be found inside a quaint stone-clad building, nestled amongst the woods below the Shin Furano Prince Hotel. It's particularly pretty in the winter, but open all year round.  

So you like your sake? Sip on 20 different varietals and counting at Sake Bar SaSa, a spot dedicated almost entirely to this delicious traditional rice-based tipple. And if you're a sake noob, don't worry—the knowledgeable staff will sort the perfect one for your palette (a fruit-spiked version, perhaps?). Add cosy speakeasy vibes and year-round hours to the mix, and you have yourself one of Niseko's top drinking spots.

Ask us what our perfect night out looks like, and it's this: sinking into a comfy sofa and sipping on chic cocktails beside a roaring fireplace. Thanks to Musu, we can happily live out our fantasy—which also features live music on the weekends, exquisite tapas, and a charming view of Hirafu village. Open in winter only. 

Now you've slaked your thirst, slide on over to our recommendations for the best restaurants in Niseko.

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