Farinet Apres Ski Opening Party 2017 Review
An evening of music and great fun!
Verbier is synonymous around the world for its unbelievable freeride skiing, as well as the huge 4 Vallees ski area. However, it also has a well-earned reputation for being a mecca for party-goers and the hub of some unbelievable apres venues.
One of the venues leading the charge of the Verbier apres scene is Le Farinet, a luxury hotel with two bars (the Lounge and the Apres Ski) and a nightclub, voted in 2004 as “Best Apres Ski Bar Worldwide” by ‘Which’. If you want unforgettable apres, then you really need not go further than this amazing venue. You can party straight from leaving the slopes until the early hours of the morning, and all under the same roof. It’s also the only place in Verbier with international live bands playing every evening, all season long. They “guarantee a good time with beer on tap, a daily happy hour and compulsory bar dancing”.
Last Wednesday marked Farinet Apres’ opening party for the season. I was lucky enough to be there and take in the insane atmosphere. First of all, be warned, if you intend on leaving an evening of apres at Farinet still with dry clothes, then take something to change into. Everyone is too busy partying hard and dancing/jumping around to worry about the collateral damage caused by spilling their beers. This definitely adds to the atmosphere of the place, with everyone adopting a wild care-free attitude that will have you throwing yourself into the mosh pit in no time.
The Function One sound system is the same you’ll find in many high profile venues all over the world, from Brixton O2 Academy to Glastonbury, so the sound quality is phenomenal. The music was classic after classic, with plenty of singing-along to 80s, 90s, and 00s rock anthems. The band did a great job of keeping the energy of the venue up all evening long, and the bar was managed excellently, as I never waited more than a couple of minutes to get a drink. The hedonism of the room was infectious, with people dancing on raised platforms and free-pouring beer and shots left, right, and centre.
Like any popular venue, with so many bodies in one room it can get hot. However, when the temperature starts rising in Farinet, they have the amazing option to open their roof and take the party outside. As soon as they did this a rush of cool air came flowing in and cooled everyone down instantly.
For a more chilled out experience, the next door Farinet Lounge Bar offers just that. Here you’ll find a stylish, elegant venue, with DJ Hasse providing some rhythmic house music to drink and dance to. The lighting in here sets a laid-back, comfortable ambiance, and there’s an undeniable feeling of class and sophistication. This is a great venue for anyone who wants to get chatting to people over a cocktail. The relaxed vibes, talented mixologists and delicious tapas menu promote a Bond-esque, cool environment
If you want to carry on the party well into the early hours of the morning, then head downstairs to Farinet’s newest venue, South. Live resident DJs keep the tables turning until 04:00, so you don’t need to worry about having to search for somewhere open late if you’re coming straight from the Apres bars upstairs. Happy Hour runs from 22:00 to midnight, and you can even make VIP reservations and table bookings. The music in here was an eclectic mix of golden age hip hop and melodic EDM, and had everyone in the room on the dance floor throwing plenty of questionable shapes.
