Experimental Chalet, Verbier
"Set the scene.Mon dieu, things have changed in the Alps, non? This is chic like something chic on the chicest bit of the Canal St-Martin. Only with mountains outside and an even better wine list. There is no lobby as such; the ground floor is almost entirely given over to spaces for eating and drinking—tables and chairs as far as the eye can see, upholstered in slinky velvety fabrics in shades of peach, pistachio, and olive. What’s the story?Not content with revolutionizing the Parisian bar scene with their superb little Experimental Cocktail Club, the Experimental Group (actually, at that time, just three bourgeois French guys who liked a drink) subsequently branched out into restaurants and hotels, in London, New York, Ibiza and elsewhere. The elsewhere now includes Verbier, a notably high-end and seriously sporty resort town in the Swiss Alps, which might seem an unlikely choice but makes perfect sense the moment you see it. What can we expect from the room?Mid-century modern with a few ironic concessions to the Alpine context. Simply but impeccably done—this time by Fabrizio Casiraghi, in his first project for the brand. Do not neglect the small but remarkably well-stocked mini-bar. How about the food and drink?This is the best bar, restaurant and nightclub in town. The cocktails are as good as you would wish them to be, given the provenance of the brand. Ask head barman Anatole Boutant to make your favorite cocktail, whatever it might be, using local Alpine substitutes for the standard-issue ingredients. You will be amazed. The restaurant, overseen by Grégory Marchand, occupies most of the ground floor—a bright, convivial, unpretentious space that is as delicious as anything on the menu (except perhaps the Baked Alaska with Chartreuse). The nightclub in the basement is none other than the legendary Farm, which the Experimental team inherited with the premises and have wisely left as they found it. Anything to say about the service?Simply delightful. You get the feeling that everyone is happy to be here, guests and staff alike. As well they might be. Who comes here?Tricky, this. Verbier is harder to pin down, socially, than you might imagine. Royals rub shoulders with roustabouts, pop stars pout at cheesemakers. Eclectic. What’s the neighborhood scene like?There is no weirdness, no bling, just a sense of freshness and fun with a minimum of fuss. And the emphasis on social spaces—bar, restaurant, club—makes this a place for everyone, not just for guests. Is there anything you'd change?The numbering in the boot room. But numbers are always confusing, especially in boot rooms. Anything we missed?The “secret” passage that allows hotel guests to bypass the queue into The Farm. Also the ladies' bathroom in The Farm. Which is not really a ladies' bathroom. More like a club within the club. Worth it—and why?Great fun, great attitude, great cocktails." - Steve King
