Chalet "Bydand" Guidebook
Food scene
A selection of restaurants and bars which we like and which cater for all tastes and budgets.
The very nice Refuge de Frience is a 5-10m walk from our chalet right on the beginners' ski slope (winter) and next to the swim pond (summer). They serve easy comfort food (and of course fondue!) but also nicer dishes. Refined food and at the same time very kids friendly. Booking a table is advised during high season as this place is a destination for people from the surroundings who will make the trip up the mountain for a nice lunch or dinner in a stunning location.
https://www.lerefugedefrience.ch/
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auberge frience
40 Route de l'Alpe des ChauxThe very nice Refuge de Frience is a 5-10m walk from our chalet right on the beginners' ski slope (winter) and next to the swim pond (summer). They serve easy comfort food (and of course fondue!) but also nicer dishes. Refined food and at the same time very kids friendly. Booking a table is advised during high season as this place is a destination for people from the surroundings who will make the trip up the mountain for a nice lunch or dinner in a stunning location.
https://www.lerefugedefrience.ch/
Le Refuge de Solalex is a good restaurant in a very nice location not far from l’Alpe des Chaux. During winter it is a beautiful climb uphill on foot (3km) as the road is closed. You can sled back down or you can also ask to be picked up by snow scooter from the parking of the Cergnement. https://refuge-solalex.ch/en/restaurant-2/
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Restaurant Refuge Solalex
Le Refuge de Solalex is a good restaurant in a very nice location not far from l’Alpe des Chaux. During winter it is a beautiful climb uphill on foot (3km) as the road is closed. You can sled back down or you can also ask to be picked up by snow scooter from the parking of the Cergnement. https://refuge-solalex.ch/en/restaurant-2/
Raide Zinc is another place deserving a shout-out for wine, beers and a colourful offer of curiosities (mainly enamel signs). https://www.raidezinc.com/
Raide Zinc
9 Place de BarboleuseRaide Zinc is another place deserving a shout-out for wine, beers and a colourful offer of curiosities (mainly enamel signs). https://www.raidezinc.com/
Michelin starred female owned restaurant.
https://guide.michelin.com/en/vaud/bex/restaurant/le-cafe-suisse
Restaurant - Le Café Suisse
41 Rue CentraleMichelin starred female owned restaurant.
https://guide.michelin.com/en/vaud/bex/restaurant/le-cafe-suisse
Great Chinese cuisine:
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VIU Hotel Villars
152 Avenue CentraleGreat Chinese cuisine:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.hotelviu.ch/uploads/restaurant_menu/Menu_Horizon_final-JPG_20210830_1.pdf
For good Indian food.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g198849-d19696774-Reviews-King_s_Tandoori-Villars_sur_Ollon_Canton_of_Vaud.html
King's Tandoori
164 Avenue CentraleFor good Indian food.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g198849-d19696774-Reviews-King_s_Tandoori-Villars_sur_Ollon_Canton_of_Vaud.html
Upscale dining in Villars.
https://en.royalp.ch/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=mybusiness
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Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa
23 Les Roches-GrisesUpscale dining in Villars.
https://en.royalp.ch/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=mybusiness
Nice refuge with great food on the slopes uphill from our chalet: with the Fracherets skilift in 5mins or a 20 min walk. https://www.facebook.com/Restaurant-Chez-Gipsy-106465475020443
Chez Gipsy
39 Route des ChauxNice refuge with great food on the slopes uphill from our chalet: with the Fracherets skilift in 5mins or a 20 min walk. https://www.facebook.com/Restaurant-Chez-Gipsy-106465475020443
Good fondue and other typical dishes
https://vieuxvillars.ch/
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Vieux Villars
16 Rte des HôtelsGood fondue and other typical dishes
https://vieuxvillars.ch/
La Marmotte des Alpes is at 2min walking from the chalet next to the SAS office. It has a good pizza and serves decent French cuisine food.
La marmotte des alpes
La Marmotte des Alpes is at 2min walking from the chalet next to the SAS office. It has a good pizza and serves decent French cuisine food.
L'Ancolie serves somewhat more refined food. The restaurant is owned by a young couple who learned the trade in palace style restaurants.
L'Ancolie
L'Ancolie serves somewhat more refined food. The restaurant is owned by a young couple who learned the trade in palace style restaurants.
Worth mentioning is the Charlet bakery, which is great for your bread and croissants and they also make pizzas to go on Friday nights during the season; there is a wine shop and area to sit and eat too.
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Charlet
10 Pl. de BarboleuseWorth mentioning is the Charlet bakery, which is great for your bread and croissants and they also make pizzas to go on Friday nights during the season; there is a wine shop and area to sit and eat too.
Neighborhoods
These are the key towns & villages around the corner from our chalet. You may want to visit them for fun or to get some essentials from time to time.
Villars is a 15min drive from our place. You will find all types of restaurants, bars, shops and other businesses geared towards tourists in this town, with a developed, upscale center catering for all tastes and budgets. This mountain town also hosts 3 Swiss private high schools which adds to the international atmosphere.
Best to discover on: https://www.villars-diablerets.ch/en/Z7788/restaurants
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Villars-sur-Ollon
Villars is a 15min drive from our place. You will find all types of restaurants, bars, shops and other businesses geared towards tourists in this town, with a developed, upscale center catering for all tastes and budgets. This mountain town also hosts 3 Swiss private high schools which adds to the international atmosphere.
Best to discover on: https://www.villars-diablerets.ch/en/Z7788/restaurants
A 10 min car ride from the chalet Gryon is a very typical and cosy town with a nice restaurant - bar in the local train station.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfTfkq0Nunk/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D
https://www.gryon.ch/
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Gryon
A 10 min car ride from the chalet Gryon is a very typical and cosy town with a nice restaurant - bar in the local train station.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfTfkq0Nunk/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D
https://www.gryon.ch/
Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, dog sledding, hot air ballooning, and even open-air swimming in a pond (summer) can start right at your door here in the Frience / Alpe des Chaux area: https://alpedeschaux.ch/en/summer-sports/
Alpe des Chaux
Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, dog sledding, hot air ballooning, and even open-air swimming in a pond (summer) can start right at your door here in the Frience / Alpe des Chaux area: https://alpedeschaux.ch/en/summer-sports/
If you want to hang out in a posh place for a day and meet the "rich and famous".
https://www.gstaad.ch/en.html
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Gstaad
If you want to hang out in a posh place for a day and meet the "rich and famous".
https://www.gstaad.ch/en.html
Cities & Towns in the area
A selection of small and bigger cities which can easily be visited in 1 day in case you feel the need to leave the mountain.
Lausanne is less than an hour drive from the chalet and it is a very nice destination with everything you expect from one of Switzerland’s major (and in our opinion most beautiful) cities. It has the bonus of being located at Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
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Lausanne
Lausanne is less than an hour drive from the chalet and it is a very nice destination with everything you expect from one of Switzerland’s major (and in our opinion most beautiful) cities. It has the bonus of being located at Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
Switzerland’s capital, Bern, is totally doable as a day trip. Less than 2 hours by car either via highways or over scenic mountainous roads. Don't miss the bear zoo and during summer everyone is swimming in the river Aare right in the town center ! Switzerland at its coolest.
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Bern
Switzerland’s capital, Bern, is totally doable as a day trip. Less than 2 hours by car either via highways or over scenic mountainous roads. Don't miss the bear zoo and during summer everyone is swimming in the river Aare right in the town center ! Switzerland at its coolest.
Sion
For wine and history
Definitely consider visiting the Bex salt mines (all Swiss mountain salt comes from there) and the town has some nice restaurants of which one is Michelin starred (https://guide.michelin.com/en/vaud/bex/restaurant/le-cafe-suisse).
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Bex
Definitely consider visiting the Bex salt mines (all Swiss mountain salt comes from there) and the town has some nice restaurants of which one is Michelin starred (https://guide.michelin.com/en/vaud/bex/restaurant/le-cafe-suisse).
Beautiful wine town 30mins downhill from our chalet:
https://www.aigle.ch/
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Aigle
Beautiful wine town 30mins downhill from our chalet:
https://www.aigle.ch/
Sierre
https://www.sierre.ch/
Nice Riviera town at Lake Geneva. If you want to hang out by the lake during summer or visit Freddy Mercury's statue.
https://www.montreuxriviera.com/en/
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Montreux
Nice Riviera town at Lake Geneva. If you want to hang out by the lake during summer or visit Freddy Mercury's statue.
https://www.montreuxriviera.com/en/
You will likely be flying in via Geneva airport if you come by air, so you might as well pay this cosmopolitan city a visit and enjoy the beautiful views by the lake and all the amenities of an international city.
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Geneva
You will likely be flying in via Geneva airport if you come by air, so you might as well pay this cosmopolitan city a visit and enjoy the beautiful views by the lake and all the amenities of an international city.
Sightseeing & Ski Schools
Not exhaustive, but hopefully a good list of all the exciting things which can be done in the area. Never more than one hour away from the chalet and often around the corner.
Arco Mushing Team - Bertrand Pidoux
Route des Ruinetteshttps://www.arcomushingteam.com/
BALLONS du LEMAN - Alpes
223 CPhttps://www.ballons-du-leman.ch/
https://www.salz.ch/fr/decouvrir-le-sel/mines-de-sel-de-bex
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Mines de Sel de Bex (réouverture le 6.3.21) & Boutique des Mines (ouverte)
55 Rte des Mines de Selhttps://www.salz.ch/fr/decouvrir-le-sel/mines-de-sel-de-bex
Aquaparc
122 Rte de la Plagehttps://www.aquaparc.ch/en
School Swiss Ski De Villars / Villars Swiss Ski School
140 Av. CentraleThis is the ski school which is based uphill from the Fracherets lift next to the chalet. Super convenient with very helpful and knowledgeable instructors. Our daughter has been learning to ski with Julien.
School Swiss Ski Gryon
Les ChauxThis is the ski school which is based uphill from the Fracherets lift next to the chalet. Super convenient with very helpful and knowledgeable instructors. Our daughter has been learning to ski with Julien.
Swiss Vapeur Parc
10 Rue du Porthttps://swissvapeur.ch/
Unesco heritage wine region a 40min drive from the chalet
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Lavaux Vinorama
2 Rte du LacUnesco heritage wine region a 40min drive from the chalet
Glacier 3000
Stunning glacier visit:
https://www.glacier3000.ch/en
If you want to know all about Swiss chocolate history and go home with some of the nicest specimens of Cailler chocolate, you should pay this museum a visit. It was recently modernised and cool to visit for kids and grown-ups !
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Maison Cailler
7 Rue Jules BelletIf you want to know all about Swiss chocolate history and go home with some of the nicest specimens of Cailler chocolate, you should pay this museum a visit. It was recently modernised and cool to visit for kids and grown-ups !
One of Switzerland's most typical little gems as confirmed by Unesco and many international tourist boards. But still very laid back and just nice to hang out, visit the castle, eat some fondue and "double crème" as a desert.
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Gruyères
One of Switzerland's most typical little gems as confirmed by Unesco and many international tourist boards. But still very laid back and just nice to hang out, visit the castle, eat some fondue and "double crème" as a desert.
Shopping
A small selection of shops in the area. We'll keep updating this as we hear from you as well.
If you are looking for some nice chalet style decoration or souvenirs, you can have a look at Graf in Villars: https://www.alaingrafdecoration.com/
Alain Graf Décoration
139 Avenue CentraleIf you are looking for some nice chalet style decoration or souvenirs, you can have a look at Graf in Villars: https://www.alaingrafdecoration.com/
Boutique À Suivre also in Villars.
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/category/Shopping---Retail/Boutique-A-Suivre-481921715349673/
Boutique aSuivre...
115 Avenue CentraleBoutique À Suivre also in Villars.
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/category/Shopping---Retail/Boutique-A-Suivre-481921715349673/
Ausoni Villars S.A.
107 Avenue CentraleLuxury clothing
https://ausoni.com/
On the ski slopes
Some great places to eat or hang out during your days on the slopes or during your hikes in summer
A great place to stop for delicious food on the slopes. Reservations recommended during high season.
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Col-de-Soud station
A great place to stop for delicious food on the slopes. Reservations recommended during high season.
Crumbs café
Roc d'Orsay
Col de Bretaye
Chez Gipsy
39 Route des ChauxMaison de Montagne de Bretaye
2 Route de BretayeSports & Ski Rental
All sports activities in the area and important information regarding ski rentals
Golf-Club Villars
4 Rte du Col de la CroixGolfing with a view !
https://golf-villars.ch/
Tennis Club Gryon
34 Route de Villarshttps://tcvg.ch/
Swimming pool, bowling court, ice skating rink.
https://www.villars-diablerets.ch/fr/Z10532/centre-des-sports-villars
Centre des Sports Villars / Tennis
Route du Col de la CroixSwimming pool, bowling court, ice skating rink.
https://www.villars-diablerets.ch/fr/Z10532/centre-des-sports-villars
Patinoire du Villars
8 Rue du Villagehttps://www.villars-diablerets.ch/fr/Z7841/patinoire-de-villars
Bowling Sports Bar
8 Route du Villagehttps://www.bowling-sports-bar.ch/
Lausanne is the olympic HQ of the world. The only olympic capital which never hosted the games ... But with all shakers and movers in the sports world present and with a beautiful museum.
https://www.olympiccapital.ch/en
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Olympic Museum
1 Quai d'OuchyLausanne is the olympic HQ of the world. The only olympic capital which never hosted the games ... But with all shakers and movers in the sports world present and with a beautiful museum.
https://www.olympiccapital.ch/en
Perfect place to rent or buy your ski equipment. Located down the hill and with a small satellite rental place nextdoor from the chalet.
Paragon Sport - Alpe des Chaux
Perfect place to rent or buy your ski equipment. Located down the hill and with a small satellite rental place nextdoor from the chalet.