Victoria Hotel and Residence is an Alpine resort in the Valais region where I have recently stayed. I am truly excited to present you with this place. Mostly because I had the most fabulous stay at Victoria Hotel and Residence. l loved our family time in Villars and I will be more than happy to return to this beautiful resort very soon.
Victoria Hotel and Residence in Villars is a stylish getaway location nestled in the beautiful ski resort Villars-sur-Ollon. It has reopened its door on the 17th of December 2021 after a huge renovation. Now guests can enjoy a completely renovated hotel with 150 beautifully decorated rooms and suites. The hotel is decorated in soft natural hues and interior inspired by Nordic and Asian influences. There are various restaurants, seminar rooms, wellness areas with a swimming pool, fitness and sauna. Everything you need for a comfortable stay in the mountains. What is very important, and I will highlight it below is the sustainable concept of this place. It is surely unique and new to Swiss hotels.
Table of Contents
About the Hotel
Victoria Hotel and Residence is part of the large Villars Alpine Resort.
The Villars Alpine Resort is a hybrid destination subtly blending hospitality, education and sustainability.
Our aspiration: to revolutionize traditional hotel industry by creating a unique holistic concept that meets the needs of the travellers of tomorrow.
Part of this concept is Villars Lodge from 1877. Villars Palace , a 5 stars hotel that will be reopened in June 2022 and Chalet St Francois. But also Vilars Academy and a few restaurants are part of the concept.
Few facts about Victoria Hotel and Residence:
- Hotel was recently was completely renovated with the spirit of modern, Nordic and Japanese design.
- It has dreamy views on the peaks.
- It is a sustainable hotel: zero-waste program, local suppliers, glass bottles, no mini-bar instead coffee machines on each floor.
- There are 150 rooms and family suites.
- It has great restaurants: Peppino – Italian, artisanal trattoria, with delicious and fresh dishes. 2nd is Les Seasons. It serves creative cuisine based on fresh and local products with a delicious selection of desserts and cakes.
Ambience at Victoria Hotel and Residence
The ambience of the hotel I could describe as relaxing Zen style. It is designed between elegance and minimalism. There is a lot of light in the lobby area and this combined with the soft colours make it very clean, yet warm and cosy. There is plenty of comfortable furniture to relax on and large inspirational quotes. For examples inspired with Nordic movement Hygge:
A mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.
Or Japanese Ukiyo :
Term used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects.
The lobby is inspiring us to be relaxed, enjoy the moment, admire the view, and also be creative. Focus on art and culture. There are also nice books or albums, anything we need during our leisure time.
The centrepiece in the lobby is LOVE XXL Typographic Art Sculpture by Dorit Levin-Stein. Beautiful sculpture in different colours that makes everyone contemplate for a moment.
The colours are beige, grey light wood. Soft and not disturbing, rather soothing. Victoria Hotel and Residence is surely an ideal Alpine Residence. Modern, yet with the heritage.
Sustainability
A Tribute to the land and environment.
What I find interesting, yet it can’t be appreciated at first are local materials used in the interiors. In the lobby, you will find tailor-made furniture created with the use of local resources. For example, some furniture in the lobby and bar were made with wood from nearby forests or stones from the Drance. It is a river in Valais, that flows into the Rhône near Martigny.
Interiors were designed by Iconia Group. Company based in Switzerland, Italy and Asia that specialises in retail, hotels and working spaces, but also technology and eco-friendly solutions. The renovation project of the Victoria Hotel started in May 2021. It involved over 200 workers to meet the objective. Its artistic director, Ottavio Di Chio, has
used all its talent to create a refined and innovative concept. He wanted to use sustainable materials, in compliance with the codes of Swiss interior design. There is also an elegant, mixing state-of-the-art lighting, concrete, wallpaper and woodwork in shades
Sustainability is also visible in restaurants. All products used in the kitchen are local, including drinks and spirits. Only in Peppino Restaurant, there are Italian products used, but they are coming from good sources. They use only glass straws, plastic is banned in the resort. The menu is printed on wooden coasters, that looks also very original and is environmentally friendly.
Coffee machines are located on every floor, there are no minibars, water in rooms is stored in glass bottles and toiletries in the bathroom are in a large glass bottle.
They also try to reduce the overall energy impact of the hotel, especially in restaurants. They also have reduced the waste of the products in the kitchen.
Room with a view at Victoria Hotel
We have stayed at JUNIOR SUITE VALLEY VIEW. It is a spacious suite (45 sqm), ideal for families of up to 4 people. It has a bed and sofa that transfers into a large and comfy bed. The view from the room is absolutely fabulous to the peaks of Mont-Blanc massive. The colours in the room are also in the same theme as in the lobby: beige, grey and wood. There is plenty of natural light in the room and it really was like a mood booster since the moment we woke up. There are designers lamps, huge TV and a very comfortable bed. Overall room was very comfortable even though it was so minimalistic in design.
The price of this room starts at 475 CHF per night.
The price of a single room starts from 180 CHF per night.
Amenities
Regarding the amenities, Victoria Hotel and Residence have all need for the Alpine getaway. There is a Spa area with a beautiful pool and stylish wooden beds for relaxation. There is also a Hamman, Finish Sauna and relaxation room.
The gym is not very big but has all the essential machines for cardio workouts. There added some green plants, which looked very nice.
Breakfast
Breakfasts in the hotel are my favourite meals. I love the smell of fresh coffee and nice bread. Breakfast in the Victoria hotel didn’t disappoint me, quite on contrary. There was a large buffet with a great selection of cheeses, cold cuts, fruits, cakes. Another one with hot meals, like eggs, bacon, sausages. There was also a gluten-free selection of bread and pastries. My favourite dish for breakfast was delicious blueberry Bircher muesli and meringue with double cream from Gruyère.
Food and drinks
The first evening we had the pleasure to try the cuisine at Peppino restaurant. Italian place where Italian specialities are reinterpreted by their chef. Chef Mirto Marchesi has already received the Michelin star in the past while working at Chalet d’Adrian in Verbier. Peppino is an artisanal trattoria that showcases the most Italian flavours. It has an open kitchen so all guests can see chefs at work. We have tried delicious dishes, starting with fabulous artichokes cream, Burrata, octopus, slow-cooked pork, homemade pasta and of course pizza. They also offer a gluten-free option for this famous dish. Desserts were equally delicious as other courses. My favourite was Baba al Limoncello, and the Italian version of Baba au rhum. It was melting in my mouth.
As I mentioned in the suitability part of my article, in the kitchen they use only local products, so most of the drinks were made in Switzerland. You can’t find a coca-cola, but Vivi Cola (Swiss-made), many local wines and spirits. There is also a mini boutique where guests can buy selected Italian specialities.
The interior of this restaurant was very cosy, a bit rustic and had warm decorations. It’s definitely a place where you can spend hours eating, drinking and enjoying a good conversation with friends or family.
The second evening we had dinner at Les Saisons, the hotel’s second restaurant. Les Saisons has a buffet restaurant and can seat 140 guests. It’s the same venue where breakfast is served, very modern, yet cosy. Chefs serve here dishes made with local, and fresh ingredients with a culinary twist. I found some delicious salads, Asian ravioli, pasta, meatballs and salmon. The sweets buffet was also very impressive. Starting with delicious apple tarts and finishing on chocolate mousse.
In the lobby, there is a VIC’s Bar that also has a lovely panoramic terrace. We enjoyed a lovely lunch there. They serve delicious burgers, soup and other snacks. There is also something suitable for vegans and vegetarians too. It’s a perfect place for a lunch of apéritif.
Family and Pets friendly
Villars as a ski resort is very much family-oriented. I would expect nothing less from the largest Villar’s hotel. I can definitely recommend Victoria Hotel and Residence for all families who are searching for a place where their children will also have a great time. As the resort is new they don’t yet have a baby club, however, I have been told that it’s the plans. However it was not an issue, helpful concierge Bruno has arranged a babysitter for my son for each day of our stay. They are working with several ladies, who are qualified and trusted.
The downstairs of the building there is also a kids room. It has a TV with cartoons, toys and Lego. Ideal for children of all ages.
The pool in the wellness area is also suitable for children.
Last but not least restaurants offer balanced kids menus, so children will not only get fries and nuggets.
When it comes to pets, don’t worry you can take them with you on your holidays at Vicotria Hotel and Residence. Pets are welcomed and appreciated there. My dog loved the sunny terrasse and mostly stayed there during the day.
Summary of my stay at Victoria Hotel and Residence
- Very helpful staff members
- Spacious and beautiful rooms
- Amazing swimming pool, ideal also for children
- A central location that allowed me to get to the slopes easily
- Sun terrace with delicious drinks and food
- Breakfast buffet with many gluten-free options
Who will enjoy staying at Victoria Hotel and Residence?
- Families
- Corporate clients
- Single traveller
- Sports enthusiast ( access to the ski sloped is nearby the hotel)
- Escape seekers
To see more hotels reviews in Switzerland please click here.
I would like to thank Victoria Hotel and Residence team for their wonderful hospitality. Especially front desk staff Bruno and Irina and Hotel Director Sebastien Michea. You all made our stay very pleasant and unforgettable.
Useful Information
Victoria Hotel and Residence Website
Address:
Route des Layeux 1
1884 Villars-sur-Ollon
Email:
Phone Number: +41 24 495 31 31
As always with love
Bella Zofia xx
Your Fashion, Beauty and Travel Blogger from Geneva
