The Verbinet.Com Verbier Après Ski Report

Alex (centre) at the Farinet. Melbourne"s gain is Verbier"s loss.

Life in a ski resort is many things, but it is rarely dull. Although the season has changed to spring, the temperatures have plummeted and we shiver while skiing under sun-kissed skies. It is also the end of the road for many of my friends: for them the winter is over so that parties can be pursued throughout the Med, Thailand and Australia. It will be sad to see them go, and I’ll miss meeting up for sunny beers at 1936, happy hour at Pub Mont Fort, darts at Wonderbar and Atelier and dancing – both on the bar at Farinet and the floor at Casbah. Still, aren’t they the losers for leaving the mountains when the snow’s still deep, the pistes once again empty and the resort still rocking with the incredible energy that makes Verbier the world’s premier ski destination?

Verbier has more than its fair share of high octane bars and clubs, where you can find yourself dancing next to a scantily clad young winter sports enthusiast, comparing diamonds with a Geneva socialite or discussing stocks with a city boy as quickly as you can get served – but what do you do if you fancy a quiet pint and a chat?

Probably the best bet is the Nelson Pub, opposite the post office. Somewhat ironically in a resort stuffed to the gills with Brits, this most British of Verbier’s bars is particularly popular with locals. The décor has you thinking of a London boozer, yet the bar staff and clientele are reliably Swiss and French, save the odd holidaymaker who discovers the delights of this quiet bar. Beers are pretty reasonable, there are plenty of alcoves to hide away in and you won’t have to put up with DJ Bodybag spinning the latest ‘choons’. Should you have a down day for whatever reason, you can even bet on the horses.

Many of the people that come to Verbier stay in chalets, which is generally an excellent thing. Each morning and evening a perky young chalet host/ess will arrive to prepare bacon and eggs, cake or boeuf bourguinon – in short everything you need to get the energy required to drag yourself out of bed and up those mountains. They clean, make beds, light fires, get lift passes and are generally the best thing since fresh snow but unfortunately they do regularly require some time off to go out drinking, leaving the unsuspecting holidaymaker to fend for themselves. This happens without fail on a Wednesday, so at least you can plan where to go for a meal out on the town.

One low-cost option for Wednesday is La Pergola, opposite the car park in the centre of town. Serving cheap (for Verbier) and cheerful Italian food it’s great for groups. The pizzas are pretty good and if you have a serious appetite then sign yourself up for the ‘spaghettata’, an all-you-can-eat pasta banquet including six sauces at only CHF 26 per person. My friends and I were proud to break the restaurant record last night by eating seven bucket sized dishes of spaghetti between six, meaning over 40 standard pasta bowls, both impressing and disgusting the waitresses simultaneously. Come and have a go if you think you’re hungry enough, but I warn you that after bowl five you will never look at a spag bol with the same desire again.

This week I will be visiting all my favourite haunts in Verbier to say goodbye to my friends that are off to pastures less snowy, and I suggest that you come too as they are an extremely fine way to enjoy oneself while in town. Stop off for a beer on the way down the slopes at Bar 1936, get down at Farinet après-ski (dancing on the bar a must), throw shapes at Casbah, watch rugby at Wonderbar and go for a vin chaud at the Fer à Cheval.

Whatever you do, get involved!





For a full list of this week's events, check out our What's On Calendar.
You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.