Restaurant du Lac des Chavonnes

This rustic farmhouse-style hotel restaurant occupies an idyllic spot by Lac des Chavonnes, a short hike or ski from the Bretaye mountain rail station above Villars-sur-Ollon. From spring to autumn its lakeside terrace makes for a lovely lunch spot when hiking on trails around the beautiful Vaud countryside, whose peaks and troughs are reflected in the water. And in winter – when you may not be able to even see the lake for the amount of snow that covers its frozen surface – it’s just a short flat skate from the bottom of the Chavonnes chair lift. It’s not the cheapest of places, but the food – hearty local dishes including rösti, tartiflette and trout fished from the lake – is good quality and a welcome change from the cheap, poor quality hot dog and chips found elsewhere in the ski area.