36 hours in Verbier

Gstaad, Sankt Moritz and Verbier are frequently mentioned in one breath as Switzerland’s swankiest ski resorts. Although there are similarities, Verbier is has its very unique charm. To begin with, it is much larger than Gstaad and it is famous for its beautiful wooden chalets which give Verbier its signature look of a sleepy fairytale village. Due to its altitude of 1500 meters, the ski resort offers a reasonable snow guarantee, even in mild winters with little snow.  Given its large number of chalet owners,  Verbier is home to many seasoniers who stay here during the entire ski season. Nonetheless, things  get particularly busy from 23rd of December to 1st  of January which is when the international jet sets flocks here to spend time with family and friends. Verbier has traditionally been popular with Brits and continues to be their favorite ski resort in Switzerland however generally speaking tourists are very international with many coming from the Benelux countries, USA, Canada and Germany. La bonne vivante spent a few relaxing Christmas days in this lovely resort.

Where to eat:

Chez Dany: This is a cute little hut hidden in a clearing in the middle of the woods. The restaurant offers a super cozy ambiance, very friendly service and serves fantastic cuisine. The majority of the menu consists of traditional cuisine however many come with a modern twist and are prepared with a lot of attention to detail. Try the “Pierrade” which includes various types of meat barbecued on a hot stone. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and accessible from the slope provided that there is enough snow. At night you can only get there by snow taxi with a pick up at Carrefour restaurant. The drive with the snow taxi is complimentary and a fun ride through a little tunnel. Hameau de Clambin 10 , 1936 Verbier http://www.ledahu.ch/restaurant/cuisine/10-chez-dany/

Carrefour: This cozy restaurant nearby the downhill slopes is one of the oldest of Verbier and serves traditional cheese based dishes such as Fondue and Raclette, Pierrade and other local delicacies . The interior is charming and service is friendly. http://www.lecarrefour.ch

Cabane Mont-Fort: This rustic stone hut by the slopes serves a large variety of comfort food and offers a beautiful mountain view from its large terrace. Inside, the small hut offers a simple but charming wooden interior. http://www. cabanemontfort.ch/

Dahu: Close by the ski lift offers a great variety of Dishes, a lovely outside terrace and to die for Truffle Tortellini. A good place for a hearty lunch after a long morning of skiing. http://www.lecarrefour.ch/

Fer a Cheval: This restaurant and bar is a local hangout. Loud and always busy this is a good place for an aperitif. Rue de Médran 18, 1936 Bagnes, Tel: +41 27 771 26 69

Where to stay

Chalet D’adrian is an über cozy 5 star hotel a bit outside of verbier’s center. It’s style is rather traditional and the rooms have names instead of numbers: Chemin Des Creux, Verbier 1936, Schweiz, http://www.chalet-adrien.com/index.php/en/

 The W Verbier which opened a bit more than a year ago can boast with a stellar location just by the lifts. Although the hotel has adapted its design to blend in with Verbier’s chalet architecture, its signature pink and eclectic design are evident everywhere. The hotel also hosts a Sushi Bar and a Nightclub. Good choice if you like W hotels. http://www.wverbier.com/

IMG_0352 gstaad

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *