Soldeu Restaurants & Bars
Traditionally Andorrans eat out in bordas (farmhouse restaurants) but there are few of these left in the resorts. Much more typical is The Villager behind the cable car station which offers essentially British fare (chips) and other delicacies (like chilli) perceived to be British.Fat Albert’s (Tel +376 851 765) set back up the hillside from the main road is the nearest thing to a typical Andorran mountain bar offering food downstairs and a bar above. It stays open from 3:30pm to 3am and is always busy.
For something more upmarket try Xalet Sol i Neu (Tel +376 851 325) next to the cable car building which offers Asian/Catalan/French fusion cuisine. Prices very similar to the mountainside “charm” restaurants (a la carte from 35 euros) with specialities that include beef filet au foie, sea and mountain risotto, vegetable tempura and escalibada (cold braised aubergines with tomatoes and onions) .
Corte del Populaire, one of the few traditional Andorran bordas in Soldeu has a great old wood atmosphere and lots of Pyrenean specialities including homemade desserts.
Many hotels offer half board so there is a temptation to stay in to eat, however one evening you should take a taxi (approx 25 euros) down into Andorra La Vella and sample at least one restaurant in the capital. Among those highly recommended are:
Andorra La Vella restaurants
San Marco (chef Marco Mora) Web: www.sari_restaurant.com
El Rusc (chef Pablo Urcelay) Web: www.elrsuc.com
El Cresper (chef Michael Bayloco) Web: www.elcresper.com
Can Benet (chef Jospeh Maria Benet) Web:
www.restaurant-canbenet.com
Soldeu Après-Ski
In the evening it’s party time all the way down the main street of Soldeu.
Esqui-pub Piolets (Tel +376 871 787) is located in the basement of the Abhotel Piolets at the bottom end of the village and is a good place for large noisy parties. Its opening hours are 5pm to 3am Sundays to Thursday and 7pm to 4am Fridays and Saturdays. Music tends to be techno, dance and house and Tuesday night is resort party night.
The Aspen Bar (Tel +376 851 974) is an English pub open daily from 2pm to 2:30am with live music on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Avalanche (Tel +376 878 515) opens from 3:30pm to 3am and has a good live show on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (starting time 10:30pm).
Iceberg (Tel +376 806 095) has karaoke on Fridays and a 3-hour happy hour (two drinks for the price of one) from 9pm ’til midnight on Wednesdays.
Alternatively think about spending an evening in the Sport Hotel Hermitage’s spectacular wellness centre (Tel +376 870 550). Admission is 35 euros for 3 hours. Unfortunately the hotel then sting you for a further 12 euros to buy outsize flip-flops that have to be worn inside the spa so save yourself some money by bringing a pair from home.