Apres-Ski at the Iconic Mangy Moose Saloon
“Iconic” may be the best word to describe The Mangy Moose Saloon in Teton Village. This traditional apres-ski establishment even earned its place as “one of the top ten hottest ski bars in the world” from Forbes Magazine. The Jackson Hole institution, known by locals as “The Moose,” is everything you want in your classic apres-ski bar: stiff drinks, affordable fare, a massive taxidermy moose suspended from the ceiling, and live music daily.
A Jackson Hole Institution
While the Mangy Moose has nailed the traditional offerings for the skier craving an end-of-day libation, it’s not just the food, drinks, and entertainment that make this bar worth visiting. The Mangy Moose has a long history in Jackson Hole dating back to its opening in 1967. As more modern restaurants, hotels, and inns have popped up around the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the Moose has stayed true to its roots, and it’s traditional 60’s ski chalet structure and decor. In addition to the levitating, sleigh-pulling moose hanging in the main bar area, the walls of the Moose are home to hundreds of collectible relics. Owner David Yoder jokes that the Moose should hire a docent to showcase the collection. “It’s unbelievable how much stuff is in here. If it looks like an oxen yoke from the 1850s or a signed guitar from B.B. King, it really is!”
Family Style
After taking in the classic ski decor and tossing your wet gloves by the fireplace, settle down at a table or at one of the two bars. The wooden chalet ceilings create a cozy atmosphere, but the bar seating extends across two floors, with the upstairs area lofted and open to the stage down below. The apres food menu is just as expansive, offering everything from the piled high “World Famous Moose Nachos,” to chicken wings, personal pizzas, and parmesan truffle fries. If you’ve come to Wyoming to sample game meat, the Moose apres menu also delivers an affordable elk beer brat, elk chili, and a buffalo BBQ super burger.
Spicy margarita and the “World Famous Moose Nachos”
The menu offers something for everyone as the staff finds the fare is often shared family-style. The bar is home to everyone from non-skiing tourists looking for an affordable bite, locals ending their bell-to-bell ski day, visiting families with children of all ages, and friends on their annual ski pilgrimage. Apres at the Mangy Moose not only brings friends and family together at the end of a wintery day, but the Moose staff even mirrors a unique and generational family. Yoder says: “Speaking of family-style, our staff have become like family.” Yoder says the average bartender has been serving up drinks during apres hours for 12+ years. Grab a beer from Max Diem at the second-floor bar, known as the “Up Bar,” and you might learn that Max has been at the Moose for 17 years, met his wife Kelsey through the Moose, and now has a baby on the way. Max and Kelsey are just two of many loyal staff members that keep the stellar apres service at the Mangy Moose dialed during the wild winter months.
Hot Tips and Local Favorites
Locals and visitors might agree that the “World Famous Moose Nachos” is the best-shared plate at the end of a long ski day, but a local favorite and a must try from the drink menu is the Mangy Moose spicy margarita. This spicy margarita, made with fresh fruit and jalapenos, offers the perfect amount of heat and citrus to warm you up after a powder day. The bar also serves beer by the pitcher, local craft brews, and hot libations like a hot toddy or Irish coffee. The saloon opens for service at 11 a.m. with the apres menu starting at 2 p.m. Swing in early to grab a seat for live music acts taking the stage daily in the winter from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Hot tip: If you are craving the apres grub but ready to get out of your ski gear, order online and swing in the saloon for your pick-up order at the end of the day.
When visiting Teton Village during the winter months, it’s hard to miss the vintage sign and slanted snow-covered roof of the Mangy Moose. Follow the sign, walk through the Western wooden doors, and experience the magic of one of the hottest ski bars in the world right here in Jackson Hole.
