A mountain restaurant in Portes du Soleil closes due to serious hygiene failures and plans to reopen with relief
The establishment, on the Swiss side of the ski resort, has been closed by the SCAV after detecting nearly fifty health violations.
Although it was highly rated on TripAdvisor, inspections uncovered hygiene problems in the kitchen and storage, according to the newspaper 20 Minutos.
The closure at Portes du Soleil after the SCAV inspection on February 25
Can a restaurant be closed for not correcting deficiencies? Yes. After verifying that no corrective measures had been applied, the Valaisan Consumer and Veterinary Affairs Service (SCAV) ordered the closure after the inspection on February 25, 2025.
The establishment was known for its rostis potatoes and its terrace overlooking the French chain Dents-du-Midi, but, according to the agency, the lack of hygiene could put diners, many of them skiers, at risk. These were the main control dates.
| Period | Key fact |
|---|---|
| February 2023 | First inspection |
| January and February 2025 | New controls |
| February 25, 2025 | Closing order |
The repetition of controls in 2023 and 2025 reflects that the deficiencies were dragging on and were not corrected in time.
Sanitary violations detected: expired items, mold in the cold room and more
What was found in the reviews? Among the irregularities detected were:
- Expired products and fruit in poor condition.
- Food burned by the cold and unprotected merchandise.
- Cleaning products with food.
- Mold in the cold room.
- Non-standard jerky served to customers.
In short: it was not an isolated failure. Now, since there were not enough improvements, the SCAV ended up taking the step of closing.
Fines for the owner, debate of responsibilities and a reopening at the end of the year
The closure was accompanied by a financial penalty by criminal order: 60 Swiss francs per day for a month and a half (50 days) and, in addition, 400 Swiss francs for insubordination and for violating the law on food products.
Before the Monthey Court (VS), the owner withdrew his opposition and maintained that the responsibility fell on the tenant managers of the premises. The restaurant was opened by Frédéric Verdon in 2009; In 2012 he achieved a Michelin star, which he lost in 2019, and he assured that this did not stop the work, but rather the opposite.
The hospitality brand announced that it plans to reopen at the end of the year, once the change in management occurs; the Tourism Office confirmed that announcement, according to 20 Minutes. As context, the SCAV stressed that these closures are rare: in 2024 there were none and in 2025 nine of the 9,100 establishments in the region were temporarily closed. Will the change be noticeable when it reopens?
