This season, Huntington Beach visitors and locals alike will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to discover a place where the surf meets the slopes. Kimpton Shorebreak Resort downtown has opened an exclusive holiday pop-up bar just a stone’s throw from the sand. Dubbed Pier Summit Ski Lodge, it’s the perfect spot to cozy up with a drink in hand — think all the après-ski vibes, but with sunny skies and ocean breezes. The best part? It’s, like, totally ’80s. Drink in the nostalgia (and the craft cocktails) before it’s too late, as the pop-up bar will only be open until mid-January. Though you’ll hardly need convincing to check out this blast from the past, here are four reasons you need to visit Pier Summit Ski Lodge right now.
The vibes are killer.
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Who doesn’t love the ’80s? This rad decade brought us iconic pop culture, mix tapes and neon fashion brighter than the sun. Relive it all (or experience it for the first time) at Pier Summit Ski Lodge, which has taken over the courtyard at the Shorebreak Resort. Party under the stars — retro ski outfit, optional — while surrounded by kitschy yet chic decor, complete with neon lights, View-Master menus and wooden pop-up bars framed to resemble a ski chalet. There’s even a life-size Yeti to greet you at the entrance.
You’ll warm up with European-inspired winter foods.
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The menu at Pier Summit Ski Lodge is small but mouthwatering. The curated selection of culinary delicacies includes the West Slope Rösti, a twist on the classic Swiss potato dish. The Surf City USA take features fried grated potatoes, warm gruyere, caramelized onions and dill crème fraîche, with optional grilled bratwurst. There are a couple entrees as well, including coq au vin with winter veggies. But don’t miss the fondue for two, which can satisfy sweet or savory cravings with its three-cheese or chocolate options. For a treat to pair with your nightcap, try the “snow day” waffle — a decadent Belgian dessert served in a cast iron skillet with whipped cream and drenched with a chocolate ganache.
The drinks are totally tubular.
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While you may come for the vibes, you’ll stay for the drinks. Pier Summit Ski Lodge has an epic bar menu with more fun drinks than you can try in one visit. If you’re ready to party, up your fun factor with the shot ski, which turns drinking into a team effort with two or four shot glasses on ski that doubles as a serving board. The Feeling Nippy rye and ginger cocktail comes with a mitten for holding the glass made of ice, while the whiskey Big Foot is wrapped in a fuzzy paw and includes a flaming marshmallow garnish. The experiential drinks also include the Peanuts-themed Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow, a double-shot gin cocktail prepared using a Snoopy snow cone machine. Plus, all the bartenders are appropriately on-theme, dressed in their neon best as if they just skied in from the slopes.
The special activations make every night a party.
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Pier Summit Ski Lodge goes all in on its theme with special events every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Sweat, dance and move to the beat in a heart-pumping Jazzercise class held Tuesdays at 6 p.m., then receive 15 percent off when you grab a seat at the bar. If live music is more your speed, sink into one of the plush couches between 5 and 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday. But on Fridays, it’s time to party like it’s 1989. As snow flurries swirl around in the beach breezes, line up for the ice luge and raise a (shot) glass to an unforgettable night at Huntington Beach’s only surfside ski lodge.
