Apres Ski in
Both St-Luc and Chandolin villages are quiet at night. Apart from the main hotels – the lovely Hotel Bella Tola & Spa, the Grand Chalet Favre, the Grand Hotel du Cervin and Hotel Le Beausite – there are just a handful of bars and restaurants to choose from.
The Villages of St-Luc / Chandolin
While St-Luc Chandolin has a smaller ski area than Grimentz-Zinal (on the other side of the valley), the village of St-Luc is bigger, prettier, sunnier and arguably a better place to stay. The historic centre of the village has an authentic charm and is surrounded by hundreds of traditional Swiss chalets and offers a range of traditions and events all year round. St-Luc is also home to the renowned François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory (OFXB), which offers memorable stargazing opportunities for astronomy fans.
At an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres, the smaller village of Chandolin is one of the highest villages in Europe inhabited all year round and boasts even better views. A perfect destination for those seeking peaceful relaxation at high altitude it enjoys a particularly high level of sunshine and has been a firm favourite among the rich and famous for many years.
Apres-Ski Bars & Nightlife in St-Luc / Chandolin
The majority of St-Luc Chandolin’s guests are content to head back to their hotel or chalet to relax and enjoy a good meal and if all you need for après ski is a few drinks after a hard day’s skiing you will be fine. Accordingly, the après ski scene is relatively low-key and only Pub Azimut remains open after midnight.
Pub Azimut, St Luc
The liveliest and most popular bar in St-Luc, Pub Azimut is a fun place for drinks from 7 pm until late. Address: Route Principale, CH-3961 St-Luc. Open from 19:00 to 02:00 Mon-Sun.
Le Tapouk, St Luc
Le Tapouk is a popular open-air après-ski bar on the Place de la Marmotte in the centre of St-Luc that is only open in winter. Address: Place de la Marmotte, Route de Vissoie, CH-3961 St-Luc. Open from 16:00 to 20:00 Mon-Sun.
Le Tir’Bouch, St-Luc
A popular café and bar in the centre of St-Luc and a fun place to visit for an aperitif and to enjoy savoury and sweet crepes in addition to Valais fondues and Swiss dishes including Gruyère double cream for dessert! Address: Route du Funiculaire 1, CH-3961 St-Luc. Open from 16:00 to 23:00 Mon-Sun.
Le Panoramik, St-Luc
Le Panoramik is a small and friendly Swiss-Belgian bar in the centre of Saint-Luc offering an extensive selection of Belgian beers and a simple menu including great burgers, Vegan curry and tasty desserts, and amazing views of the valley. Address: Route Principale 1, CH-3961 Saint-Luc. Open from 07:45 to 21:00 Mon-Sun.
Le Ratrac Bar, Chandolin
Le Ratrac is a pop-up bar built around an old snow grooming machine from the 1970s and with outdoor seating. Located at the bottom of the Illhorn slope in Chandolin (or above the Tourist Office if approaching from below), it’s a fun spot for après ski drinks and music after an exhilarating day on the mountain. , DJs on Saturdays. Open from 15:00 to 19:00 Mon-Sun in winter.
Sunset Bar, Chandolin
The Sunset Bar at the Chandolin Boutique Hotel is a great place for après ski drinks with music and a friendly atmosphere and opens only on Saturdays. Address: Route des Plampras 10, CH-3961 Chandolin. Open from 16:00 to 20:00 Sat.
Restaurants in St-Luc / Chandolin
St-Luc Chandolin offers great opportunities to enjoy raclette, fondues and other Swiss mountain fare at restaurants scattered around the villages including the main hotel restaurants.
St-Luc-Chandolin, Hotel du Cervin Restaurant © Sierre-Anniviers Marketing
The Chez Ida and Le Tzambron restaurants at the Hotel Bella Tola, the Brasserie du Cervin at the Grand Hotel du Cervin, the Veranda restaurant at Le Grand Chalet Favre, the restaurant at Hotel Le Beausite and La Fougere Hotel & Restaurant in St-Luc, and the Chandolin Boutique Hotel restaurant in Chandolin, are all open to non-residents for lunch and dinner. Other options include:
Café Restaurant Poste, St-Luc
The Café Restaurant Poste menu offers a choice of reasonably priced traditional Valaisan dishes including locally cured ham with salad, a selection of fondues, the house speciality Charbonne de Boeuf as well as other meat dishes including burgers made from chicken, beef or lamb. Cooking daily from 12:00-13:45 and 19:00-20:45. Address: Route Principale, CH-3961 St-Luc. Tel: +41 27 475 15 08.
La Fougère, St-Luc
The Hotel Restaurant La Fougère offers traditional Swiss mountain food and pizzas including raclette pizza and is a popular restaurant for lunch or dinner and après ski with lovely views from the terrace. La Fougère’s selection of Swiss and Belgian beers makes it a popular bar for locals. Address: Route Principale 67, CH-3961 St-Luc
Restaurant Le Chalet, Chandolin
Le Chalet Restaurant offers a stylish combination of rustic and modern decor, and its menu offers a great choice of Swiss-Italian gourmet cuisine including fresh pasta dishes, delicious pizzas and desserts, all of which are homemade from only the best local ingredients. Children’s menu available. Address: Route des Plampras, CH-3961 Chandolin. Tel: +41 27 565 65 40.
Other Activities in St-Luc / Chandolin
St-Luc / Chandolin offers a small selection of charming boutiques offering local crafts and souvenirs as well as cosy cafes and restaurants with stunning mountain views. Other activities catering for non-skiers include the OFXB Observatory, delightful hiking trails for winter walking, ice skating and sledging. For relaxation, there are wellness centres providing spa treatments and rejuvenating massages.
François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory (OFXB), St-Luc
St-Luc is home to the famous François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory (OFXB), which offers astronomy fans an unforgettable night-time experience. The OFXB is a leading observatory at an altitude of 2,200m equipped with state-of-the-art telescopes and a cutting-edge digital planetarium in the mini cinema room (15 seats). Join a public group or schedule a private group to enjoy memorable animations of the Universe and sky views at night. When the weather is favourable, the OFXB offers alternating and complementary naked-eye and telescopic observations from the observatory terrace. When the weather is unfavourable, planetarium sessions are available. Groups meet at the bottom station of the funicular in St-Luc 15 minutes before the appointed time. Reservations can be made online at OFXB >
François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory, St-Luc © Sierre-Anniviers Marketing
Winter Walking and Hiking Trails in St-Luc / Chandolin
The Val d’Anniviers Tourist Information website briefly describes family-friendly walking trails in St-Luc Chandolin, including pushchair-friendly routes for families with toddlers, and more hiking trails nearby in Grimentz-Zinal. Enjoy short walks (1-3km) in under an hour within and around the lovely villages of St-Luc and Chandolin or easy hiking trails (5km) that cross the St-Luc / Chandolin ski area and longer walks including the trail from St-Luc to Cabane Bella Tola (8km) involving more climbing and descending and the 11km St-Luc Planets Path walk via Tignousa to Hotel Weisshorn for good walkers.