I spy with my little eye a theme throughout my boomer photo collage. Drinks, bucket hats, shades, Aperol and bluebird skies. That about sums up the 48-hour company ski holiday my Dutch private equity fund took us on in the French Alps. Each year, they pick one Thursday through Saturday in March to treat the firm to an expensed ski trip. What they did not tell me when I joined is that they would plan 2026’s ski holiday over my 30th birthday.
The cherry on top was that most of my family (mom, dad, brother, sister in law, nephew and best friend) all flew over from the U.S. to spend the rest of the week with me. I included my six day trip itinerary below with some planning tips if you happen to visit Verbier soon. I spent the past three winters in various ski towns throughout the US, and they don’t hold a candle to Verbier’s views or legendary spring corn conditions. I’ll be back next winter!
Accommodations
Hotel de Verbier I loved this boutique hotel. It’s exactly what you’re looking for in a mountain town. It’s a sub ten minute walk from the gondola, has all the amenities you could ask for, including stunning wooden floored rooms, balconies overlooking the sweeping mountain views, a delicious European breakfast buffet with a terrace to enjoy, a sauna, gym, spa and equipment room for your ski gear. 11/10.
Air BnB with my family. This four bed, four bath, two story mountain apartment was the perfect stay for the six of us. It was just over a ten minute walk to the gondola and right in town, not to mention the incredible mountain views photographed below. It was also right next to the grocery store, which, in my humble opinion, should be on the rating system for Air Bnb’s.
Dinner
Le Ferme du Soleil - We never had the chance to go here, but it was highly recommended by locals in town. A bit of a walk from town center, we kept hearing it was the best farm to table meat and fondue available.
Le Caveau - Classic touristy, Swiss fondue restaurant in a cool, underground cellar. They literally have 250 cheeses on deck. Certainly family oriented but cool to experience. Get the cheese fondue aux morilles!
Fer a Cheval - Food was decent for dinner, but the real play is to sit on one of their two awesome balconies for Aprés or lunch.
St Bernard - Very upscale but oh-so cozy. Think decorative wallpaper and upholstery, firewood and a thicc wine list. The highlights of the meal were the dandelion and endive salad with blue cheese, pickled pears and walnuts as well as the filet de boeuf. Also, if you’re on the red wine train and have a few Francs (Swiss currency) to spare, order the Rotem & Mounir Saouma “Omnia” Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021. Incredible.
Off Mountain Aprés and Pubs
Le Rouge - the most legendary Aprés bar (club?) I’ve ever been to, hands down. Every photo (except for one) in my nine photo collage at the beginning of this post is from Le Rouge. It’s at the base of the mountain, tucked away from town center and it’s such a party. I’m scared to check how much it costs, but if you can get a table, do it. My company took us here on both days for approximately four hours a day, and it was such a blast. No shortage of vibes here.
No. 8 - An Aprés bar on a balcony overhanging the center of town. Tunes were bumpin’ (hence my newphew’s headphones) and the spritz were flowin’! Similar to Le Rouge, you will not find locals here. It’s touristy but a vibe
Mentioning Le Caveau - Again, just in case you skipped over the dinner section.
La Terrasse Blonde - Perfect for family, more casual, indoor and outdoor seating.
Big Ben Pub - For a lack of better words, perfect ski town pub vibe with a pool and foosball table. You will get the local vibe here.
Nightclubs
Farinet - I’m not a club gal, but it was my 30th and I was treated with Dom. I’ll take it.
Farm Club - I never made it here during my six night trip, but I’ve heard this is the nightclub if you’re looking for a time and a half! I had friends that went and recommended it over Farinet.
Pub Mont Fort - The least “club” vibe of the three listed here, but it gets rowdy. For example, you grab a table for Aprés at 4pm, and next thing you know, it’s 2am the next day and your ski boots are still on, whereas Farinet and Farm are more dress up occasions with booked tables
On Mountain Lunch and Bars
L’Inkontro - Not the fanciest place on the mountain, but 11/10 views, outdoor seating, crispy chicken tenders, goat cheese salad, and fries. I went here four out of the six days I skied for either lunch or a drink.
Le Mouton Noir - One of the most picturesque views from a restaurant or bar on the mountain. It’s right on top of the gondola from town, so it’s accessible for non-skiers as well. It’s busy and a great on mountain spot to get the drinks flowing, but if you’re looking for top tier quality food, I’d opt for somewhere else.
Chez Deny - Hands down highlight of the trip, dining and experience wise. The only way of getting here is via skis/board, but trust me when I say, it was so freaking cool. I’ve never felt so engulfed by mountain views while dining. It felt touristy, yes, but also impossibly local. The food was incredible and the staff was great. Extra bonus was that McCall and I skinned here so it was just a 10/10 all around experience. Get the croquettes and pulled pork sandwich! Also, be sure to make a reservation.
Tipi de Siviez - A local’s hidden gem. Bar and lunch option inside of a tipi on the Nendaz area of the mountain. There are picnic tables and lounge chairs for outdoor seating. It’s just steps from Ski Bistrot La Tétine, which is another great lunch option right off the slope.
Restaurant Les Chottes - I never went here, but my coworkers said it was great. Indoor fireplace, very local , very Swiss.
Le Balcon - Touristy but extremely picturesque on mountain Aprés or lunch restaurant. Take the Médran 2 cable car to access.
Cabane Mont Fort - My brother and his wife went to Cabane and loved it, they have great outdoor seating like you see below!
Off-Piste Skiing
Verbier has legendary off-piste options. We unfortunately did not hire a guide because we figured it was too late in the season to get our money’s worth, but we were proved wrong. I captured the below group out touring from the top of Mont Fort:
If you’re looking to hire a guide, we got a recommendation to this outfitter. Although I am a bit jealous of the group photographed above, I ended up having an incredible uphill day on the resort. We started where Le Rouge is → skinned to Chez Deny → skinned to Le Mouton Noir which made for almost 3,000 vertical feet all together. What’s unique here is that you can uphill during the entire day, compared to most U.S. ski mountains where you can only uphill before the mountain opens or after it closes.
On-Piste Skiing
Verbier is only just part of Switzerland’s expansive 4 Vallées ski area, which offers over 400-km of high-altitude terrain with long, scenic runs that stretch from glacier peaks down to the village. The mountain is definitely meant for advanced skiers and skis a bit rugged, adding to its reputation as a more demanding, less polished resort compared to others in the Alps. If you’re looking for big terrain, long runs, and a slightly wilder alpine experience, Verbier is an amazing option.
