Sunday, November 17, 2024

Soldeu: hotels, restaurants and entertainment

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Sport Hotel Hermitage (sporthotels.ad) At the foot of the slopes; all bedrooms are suites with mountain views. A huge spa is part of the hotel.

Four Star

Euro Esquí (736666) On road to El Tarter but there is a shuttle. ‘Large rooms and good buffet food.’

Himàlaia (hotelhimalaiasoldeu.andorramania.com) Central, with sauna, steam and hot tub.

Piolets Park (hotelpioletspark.andorramania.com) Beside the gondola, with a pool and spa.

Sport (870600) Over the road from the other two Sports. Spa. Lively, comfortable bar and disco-bar.

Sport Hotel Village (870500) Right by the Hermitage. Stylish public areas – comfortable chairs and sofas, high ceilings, beams and picture windows. Spa.

Two Star

Bruxelles (851010) Recommended for its helpful staff and cleanliness; 50m from the lift.

Eating out
Some atmospheric places

Most of Soldeu’s restaurants are hotel-based. But we’ve enjoyed meals in two atmospheric old restored buildings: Fat Albert’s (steaks, fish, burgers) and Borda del Rector (Andorran cuisine), nearer to El Tarter than Soldeu.

Après
No shortage of live music

Lots of bars have regular or occasional live music or DJs – reader favourites include the Aspen, Fat Albert’s and the Villager (with Elvis nights too).

Off the slopes
Head downhill

Soldeu has lots of sporting activities, including snowmobiling and dog sledding, but is otherwise not great in this respect. The Sport Hotel Hermitage (pricey) and Piolets Park (cheaper) both have excellent spas. Down in Canillo is the Palau de Gel (see below). Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, has good shopping and the Caldea spa (an amazing array of pools, baths and treatments).

Food, drink and entertainment

Eating out
Some atmospheric places

Most of Soldeu’s restaurants are hotel-based. But we’ve enjoyed meals in two atmospheric old restored buildings: Fat Albert’s (steaks, fish, burgers) and Borda del Rector (Andorran cuisine), nearer to El Tarter than Soldeu.

Mountain restaurants
Not a highlight

Restaurants are marked but not named on the piste map. A recent reporter said bluntly: ‘Poor – head to the village.’ But an earlier reporter enjoyed ‘really nice Catalan sausage, roast cod, beef shank and pasta’ at various places. The table-service section of Arosseria Pi de Migdia at the top of the El Tarter gondola has been recommended. Not far away, the Riba Escorxada restaurant includes a trattoria-pizzeria with a neat little terrace. At Espiolets, the Gall de Bosc (steakhouse) has table-service. But the best places are over towards Pas de la Casa – read that section. There is a picnic room at Espiolets.

Après-ski
No shortage of live music

Lots of bars have regular or occasional live music or DJs – reader favourites include the Aspen, Fat Albert’s and the Villager (with Elvis nights too).

Off the slopes
Head downhill

Soldeu has lots of sporting activities, including snowmobiling and dog sledding, but is otherwise not great in this respect. The Sport Hotel Hermitage (pricey) and Piolets Park (cheaper) both have excellent spas. Down in Canillo is the Palau de Gel (see below). Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, has good shopping and the Caldea spa (an amazing array of pools, baths and treatments).

Where to Ski and Snowboard 2015

This guide is taken from Where to Ski and Snowboard, written by Dave Watts and Chris Gill.
Click here to buy a discounted copy of the book

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