Verbier, Switzerland

Here we bring guests staying in one of our luxury ski chalets in Verbier some tip-top information on where to find the very best mountain restaurants, the most scenic runs and the coolest cocktail bars. Read on for the definitively chic guide to skiing and chilling out in one of Switzerland's top resorts.

• THE RESORT
• THE RUNS
• OFF PISTE
• MOUNTAIN RESTAURANTS
• APRÈS SKI
• DINING OUT
• NIGHT LIFE

The resort

Resort height: 1500m
Highest skiable run: 3330m
Nearest airport: Geneva
Transfer time: Two hours

Verbier is deservedly a hugely popular, perennially fashionable 'Mayfair' resort. It has an excellent piste network, plenty of challenging off-piste, an animated après scene and a kicking night-life. It is also chalet central, with a rich selection of high-end chic chalets to choose between. ^

The runs

This is high-mountain territory, with rather more to offer the solid intermediate or expert skier than beginner. There are around 100km of groomed pistes, the best area for intermediates being on the Savoleyres side. There is a particularly good run down to La Tzoumaz from where you can ski across to Carrefour and link into the Medran side of the hill. Fontaney on the Medran side provides a nice wide run that brings you out at Ruinettes.

Mont-Fort offers the gnarliest piste skiing, the black run down from the very top turning into unforgiving bumps pretty quickly. ^

Off-piste

Verbier has some of the best off-piste in Europe and is arguably one of the birthplaces of the modern freeskiing movement. Its big appeal is that the off-piste terrain is readily accessible. Tortin, for instance, is a challenging, officially off-piste (or itinerary) run, served by the lift system and which becomes a massive mogul field that tests even the most accomplished bumps skier. Stick to skier’s right for the best snow. Gentianes, too, does not require a hike to be reached and is another great itinerary, while Vallon d’Arbi is a glorious off-piste run which starts at Lac de Vaux and winds through the trees, ending up at La Tzoumaz.

A little climb (accompanied by a mountain guide and all necessary off-piste equipment) will reward the dedicated off-pister with some more off-the-beaten-track magnificent runs, such as the Stairway to Heaven, at the top of Gentianes, off the back of Mont- Fort, and Rock Garden. There is some epic heli skiing to be had here too. ^

Mountain restaurants
A must-visit is the infinitely cosy Chez Dany, in the hamlet of Clambin. It might not be much more than a tiny shack hut, but it has among the best views of the Alps and specialises in quite delicious local cooking. Order the steaming spaghetti clambin or the soupe de potirons, pumpkin soup served inside a suitably rustic bread loaf. Otherwise head for La Marmotte, another popular mountain eaterie, this time on the Savoleyres side. This too does local Swiss dishes, or go to La Marlenaz also in Savoleyres, another lovely off-the-beaten-track spot with fabulous views and classic dishes using fresh local ingredients.

The Cabane du Mont Fort is a bit chaotic -- you have to queue up at a hatch to order your food and it can get rather frenetic -- but it’s really worth the hassle and the views are fantastic if you sit outside. Order a mountain platter of cheese and cold cuts washed down by an ice cold beer. Just perfect. L’Olympique at the top of the Funispace lift also offers one of the best lunches on the slopes, is accessible for non-skiers and has a wonderful terrace to tan on when the sun is out.

Chalet Blanc, meanwhile, is a new on-mountain private members dining club in Savoleyres (added surcharge for non-members) which has a gorgeous décor, fabulous lounge upstairs plus handy crèche for children. ^

AprÈs ski
The Fer à Cheval on the main street is a major draw where you are guaranteed to bump into people you know. It is a genuine locals/seasonaires’ hang-out, and becomes a restaurant later on. New for the 2008/09 season was Le Rouge, situated at the bottom of the Rouge Run just below Carrefour. Local Niko de Rohan plays on the roof terrace whenever the sun is shining and the locals lap up the rays and the atmosphere whilst snuggling on sheep skin rugs. A perfect spot for people watching. The Farinet bar is also a lively après hang-out. ^

Dining out
Al Capone is a great Italian restaurant in town with excellent service and simple but delicious Italian food which is perfect for big groups. Le Caveau is a traditional, very central spot for raclette and fondue, while Le Millennium is rather trendy with a more varied worldly menu.

Le Rouge has a private dining room which doubles as the wine cellar. They do a fabulous lamb dish that needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance, but is well worth it. King’s Restaurant, too, in the 4-star King’s Parc Hotel, offers high class cuisine with a matching price tag, but it is always excellent service and it has a very good wine list.

L'Ecurie restaurant in Hotel Verbier is a centrally located family-run business that always provides great food, while you should also check out Vieux Verbier just at the bottom of the Medran lift. They do a fabulous steak dish called Potence, where the fillet steak is served attached to a red hot, round, studded iron ball. It is then set on fire with Calvados and the juices from the meat drip down into the rice below. It is fabulous, fun food and is great for sharing. ^

Night life
For a civilised way to end the night, without the full-on noise and energy of a night club, head to Coup d'Etat on Route de la Poste. This is a smart, late- night cocktail bar, concentrating on cocktails, champagne and premium brand spirits. It has funky music, a loungey feel, great drinks and service and a relaxed atmosphere for no more than 100 people. A perfect spot to chill out away from the raucous youngsters.

The Lounge Bar in the Hotel Farinet similarly offers cocktails (particularly fantastic mohitos) and quiet late night drinking, and is a popular haunt for the Geneva crowd at weekends, while the Coco Club is really the place to be seen. It is expensive and always full of beautiful people, with private areas and rooms that can be reserved for groups. The Nevai Hotel also has a gorgeous lounge area serving cocktails. In the deep winter they have a roaring fire and in the spring months you can sit and sun on the deck looking out across to Bruson.

The fab five

Hot chocolate
The Milk Bar. Cosy, and central

blue run skiing Cruisey blue
Savoleyres
'le Nord'

Terrace
with a view
Le Rogue

scenic ski run Scenic run
Top of Mont Fort

Lazy lunch
Chez Dany

10 resort facts

Verbier/Mont Fort, excluding Savoleyres

1 Highest skiable run3330m Mont Fort
2 Highest lift 3330m Mont Fort II
3 Lowest lift 1500m Medran
4 Vertical drop 1830m
5 Number of lifts 27
6 Patrolled piste 100km
7 Longest pisted run 15km Mt Fort - Verbier
8 Longest off-piste or itinerary run 8km (the resort has no official off-piste)
9 Type of runs
blues 45%
reds 17%
blacks 38%
10 Cost of a week’s lift pass CHF 345 for Verbier only without Mt Fort; CHF 351 for 4 Vallées

the chic
chalet guide collection of luxury chalets
in verbier

For anyone wanting to book one of our luxury ski chalets in Verbier for their winter holiday, here is our exclusive collection:

• Chalet Chineur
• Chalet Kernow
• Chalet Le Ti
• The Lodge
• No.14 Verbier
• Chalet Sagittaire
• Chalet Spa
• Chalet Thomas
• Treize Etoiles II

See summary details for all our Verbier chalets to quickly get essential chalet information and easily compare the chalets to each other.

Read our guide to Summer in the Alps and see which of our luxury Verbier chalets stay open for the summer season.

If you would like to
make an enquiry or
a booking, please
email enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk,
or telephone
+44 (0)7772 853996.^

ESSENTIALS

• cool tips
• Ski school and mountain guides
• How to get there
• children
• Non-skiers
• verbier chalets
• maps, passes, weather & webcams
• verbier directory and contacts

The Chic Chalet Guide cool tips

Verbier has arguably the best bumps run in the Alps at Tortin. Attack with gusto, and remember there is a lift running directly above the slope, so ski your very best.

Don’t miss out on Verbier’s fabled après scene. Go to the Pub Mont Fort for a lively seasonnaire crowd or the Fer à Cheval for a similarly animated gathering. Le Rouge also has furs, fine food, and a funky upper level for those looking for a rocking après experience.

The whole Savoleyres area is a delight for intermediate skiers with cruisey runs through the trees. It is often much less busy than the main Medran area.

Don’t miss the panoramic vista taking in Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn on a clear day from the top of Mont Fort. The mogul field at the top is not for the inexperienced, however – and it’s the only way down.

Make sure to book lunch at Chez Dany. A Verbier institution nestled in the woods above the town in the hamlet of Clambin, it serves delicious, modishly rustic cuisine and fine wines, and has a semi-enclosed terrace with plenty of heaters. ^

Ski school & mountain guides
For regular on-piste requirements we would recommend Performance Verbier and then European Snowsport, in that order. For off-piste, Powder Extreme. ^

How to get there
Verbier is about 105 miles from Geneva and takes under two hours to get to. Fly to Geneva and, for the greenest approach, then take the train at the airport station. It goes from Platform 3 to Martigny, from where you can catch a taxi up to resort, or you can get the tiny St Bernard Express train from Martigny to Le Chable just below Verbier, then get a taxi or catch the bubble up. The best value ticket for a return journey, which can be pre booked, is a Swiss Transfer Ticket.

Alternatively book a shared transfer or private transfer with Verbier specialists Alpine Express. Heli transfers are almost more trouble than they are worth because you have to land at Le Chable and get a transfer up the mountain. The best airport if you can get flights is Sion, which is less than an hour away. Private jets fly into Sion, as do Snowjet. ^

Children
There is all sorts for children to get up to in Verbier, aside from the skiing. New to Verbier is ice karting, which is popular with little boys of any age. KEV (Karting Extreme Verbier) run high powered electric karts with studded ice tyres on a custom built solid-ice track next to the sports centre. Alternatively they could try tobogganing. The Verbier Piste de Luge runs from the top of the Savoleyres lift through a winding 8km piste reserved exclusively for sledging, down to the town of La Tzoumaz. Sleds can be rented at Mountain Air for 10chf per day. ^

Non-skiers
Verbier is really well set up for non-skiers. For starters there are the shops, from the amazing cheese emporium La Chaumiere to the fantastic wine shop Macbirch. Mountain Air is great for mountain hardware, while there are endless other outlets such as Peak Performance peddling mountain couture. Hublot and Rolex are both good for posh Swiss souvenirs. Alternatively non-skiers can go ice skating or swimming or even husky sledging. A team of dogs run by "musher" Olivia can take a family group on a sled run from the Ruinettes station, out and around the mountain above the town. Fast, fresh-air fun.

Alternatively they can go on a heli-tour to get a different perspective on the mountains around Verbier. Helicopters and pilots can be arranged through Heli-Alps.

Snow shoeing and ski randonee are also both popular, Verbier having a wealth of marked routes for those who shun the telecabines. All equipment available at Mountain Air.

Then there is the popular thermal spa and wellness centre of Lavey at Les Bains de Lavey, a 40 minutes drive from Verbier. Perfect for an après ski restorative soak and some relaxing therapy. More pampering is available through Verbier Touch, including numerous massage therapies ranging from Thai to sports and hot-stone, brought to you by a fully trained therapist in the comfort of your own chalet. Skilates and yoga are also available through Chilali Verbier.

Parapenting is also a possibility. Take to the skies from Ruinettes with Verbier Summits for a thrilling flight over the mountains and town of Verbier with a pilot who will even swoop over the rooftop of your chalet, should you so wish.

An independent guide to luxury ski chalets

Verbier, Switzerland

The fab five

10 resort facts

ESSENTIALS

The Chic Chalet Guide cool tips