Famously known as one of the best ski villages in the Alps, Verbier is classic, quintessential Swiss perfection. And even then, the area has had a few new contemporary additions in recent times. Read on for the best places to stay, eat, and what to do when you need a break from the pistes...
STAY
The perfect all-rounder, Richard Branson's private Verbier chalet is everything you'd expect it to be. Sitting on a quiet road 250m from the main ski lifts and backing onto one of the returning pistes, The Lodge can accommodate up to 18 adults in 9 bedrooms and up to 6 children and young adults in a specially designed bunkroom. It also has an indoor pool and spa, indoor and outdoor jacuzzi and its own ice rink. Conceptualized to feel like a home-away-from-home, dining is semi-communal so guests can mingle and feel like one big family. An impressive ninety-eight percent of guests have rated it Excellent on Trip Advisor, which attests to a safe bet and no detail being spared.
The Lodge, Chemin de Plénadzeu 3, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 27 775 22 44
Rate: from CHF63,910, £50,500, $62,850
For exclusive use for seven nights. Includes stay, breakfast, dinner, all drinks, and 24-hour driver service within Verbier.
Just a short walk away from the Place Centrale, No.14 is one of Verbier’s best-known boutique-style chalets. Sleeping up to 26 guests in its 13 bedrooms, the Fiona Barratt-designed interior, which thoughtfully allows for both privacy and socializing, is furnished with bespoke furniture handmade in London. The spa area includes a 10m pool, steam room and stone jacuzzi, as well as a treatment room with on-call masseuse. The quality of the food delivered by the team of chefs truly reflects their Michelin-starred experience.
No.14, Rue de la Velle 14, 1936 Bagnes
Tel: +44 1608 674 011
Rate: from CHF67,600, £53,465, $66,470
For exclusive use for seven nights, based upon current availability. Includes stay, breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, dinner with wine and a complimentary bar.
You know those postcard-perfect Alps pictures circulating on Pinterest and Instagram? This is what you’ll find at La Cordée des Alpes. In addition to its range of rooms and suites, this classic Swiss chalet includes several individually designed apartments and arguably one of Verbier’s best spas. The Spa Cinq Mondes houses a 15m pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym, and some serious mood lighting (which can be very welcome after staring at snow and sun). The international cuisine served in the hotel’s La Cordeé restaurant is a little bit Swiss, a little bit Italian, and a whole lot of truffle – serving up the very best kind of après-ski nosh.
La Cordée des Alpes, Route du Centre Sportif 24, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 27 775 45 45
Rate: from CHF375, £295, $370
For a double room per night.
Located in the heart of the village, the Nevaï perfectly exemplifies the sleek, contemporary style that has been invading Verbier in recent years. This ultra-modern hotel has 35 rooms, which include two penthouse suites each complete with their own private balcony and outdoor jacuzzi. The hotel restaurant serves a novel kind of Asian-Mediterranean fusion with a local twist, and you’ll find some of the best sushi and Japanese grill dishes in the Alps at the hotel’s new Nomad Sushi Lounge. Spa, steam room, sauna, dipping pool, et al are all top notch, and for those looking to bust a few moves, a night at the hotel’s legendary Farm Club is a must.
Hotel Nevaï, Route de Verbier, Station 55, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 277 754 000
Rate: from CHF220, £175, $216
For a standard category room per night based on two people sharing.
EAT
Le Carrefour
One of Verbier’s oldest restaurants, Le Carrefour is a local institution, and favorite lunchtime spot given its slope-side location.
Serving authentic Swiss food, specialities include cheese fondue and potato rosti, but for a dining experience to remember the Pierrade is the menu item of choice. Cooking your own piece of filet steak on the hot stone sets a primal tone for dinner, fitting considering the dramatic landscapes surrounding.
The scene, is, well, the scene. Skip the dining room on sunny days for the large sun terrace, where you can soak up the Verbier atmosphere and take in the views.
Route du Golf 95, Verbier Valley, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 27 771 5555
Au Vieux Verbier
Located at the foot of the Médran ski lift, Au Vieux Verbier may be one of the largest restaurants in the village, but with a warm welcome, friendly service and great atmosphere guaranteed, this local favorite still manages to feel personal.
Traditional wooden beams and polished brass decorate the interior, and the coziness of the restaurant is complemented by an open-air sun terrace.
A Carmen favorite, Au Vieux Verbier is naturally centred around Swiss cuisine, yet the menu changes by the season. Order the house speciality La Potence, an impressive dish of sautéed beef that’s famed for its theatrical presentation as well as its taste.
Rue de Medran 43, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 27 771 166
DO
Housed in the classically styled Chalet d'Adrien, Le Spa du Chalet is a welcome retreat from the drama of the slopes. Enjoy some serious pampering in one of the restful treatment rooms, or spend some me time in the Hammam, sauna or jacuzzi. A dip in the open-air pool is a must, if only to marvel at the magnificent view.
Chalet d'Adrien, Route des Creux 91, 1936 Verbier
Tel: +41 27 771 62 00
Surely the ultimate Alpine activity. Whether you're looking to spend a fun forty five minutes being driven across the snow by a trained musher, or want to learn how to drive your own sled and handle those amazing animals, Verbier is the perfect spot for this winter sport.
Eywa's Trails, Batterie de Cretadzera 132, 1934 Bruson
Tel: +41 79 270 76 24
Helicopter Ride
Those breathtaking views from the slopes are hard to beat. But hop aboard a helicopter, and you'll see Verbier's snow covered mountains in all their panoramic magnificence. Or for the ultimate airborne experience, take a ride to your own private glacier for a heli-picnic. Tuck into a classic Swiss fondue or go full-on fine dining, seated at a snow-carved table.
Kando Sàrl, Rue de la Velle, 1 Rez, 1936 Verbier
Phone: +41 27 565 21 76
Transfer: Time from Geneva International Airport is up to two and a half hours by road or rail, considerably less by helicopter.
Ski Season: Runs from the end of November to early May. To guarantee snow cover, early March is the best time to visit Verbier, but avoid the Easter holidays if you prefer a quieter stay.
Highest Lift: 3,330m