Lech has the finest après-ski life in Vorarlberg, and if you ever get bored here, you can check out the action at the satellite resorts or go over to Zürs.
The evening begins with a tea dance at the Hotel Tannbergerhof (tel. 05583/2202), where Veronica Heller welcomes you; later in the evening you can enjoy disco music. It's open from December to April 14 daily from 9pm to 5am. Beer starts at 4.20€ ($5.45); hard drinks start at 9€ ($12).
The previously recommended Hotel Krone (tel. 05583/2551) is a major nightlife spot in Lech. Its magnet in winter is the Side Step Bar, where there's live music from the 1950s through the 1980s, and evergreen music is often featured. Beers cost 5€ to 8€ ($6.50-$10). It's open daily from 10pm to 4am, and there's no cover. The hotel lounge also occasionally has a zither player. In summer, about twice a week, depending on demand, folkloric evenings are presented for free.
Oberlech's Red Umbrella, operated by the December-to-April Petersboden Sport Hotel (tel. 05583/3232), is the most famous afternoon rendezvous for skiers in the Lech area. The hydraulically operated red umbrella, approximately 36 feet wide, is set on a raised wooden deck. It's raised at 11am each morning and lowered each afternoon at 4 or 5pm, depending on business. Under the umbrella there's a circular bar where you can sit on a stool and order drinks such as Jägertee (laced with rum) or vodka feigen (with figs floating in it). Of course, in this cold, schnapps remains the favorite drink. The food here is simple and filling; a popular item is germknödel, a jam-stuffed steamed dumpling covered with poppy seeds. Meals begin at 12€ ($16). If the weather is bad, you can retreat to the hotel to eat, drink, and warm yourself by a log fire.
