Chamonix Restaurants On The Mountain
So, which end of the Chamonix valley shall we start for our round-up of our favourite places to eat when up in the mountains? We thought we’d work our way from the furthest point on the Mont Blanc Unlimited piste map so that takes us to Vallorcine.
We’ve also included some unmissable options close to the bottom of ski runs. But, don’t worry, you won’t have far to walk in your ski boots!
Vallorcine
This tiny village is almost at the Swiss border in the valley of L’Eau Noire. But, don’t worry, access is easy using the train and it’s often a great way to get into the Le Tour/Balme ski area. What’s more, it boasts not one, but two great places to eat.
The Café Comptoir is open winter and summer. In the winter it offers fantastic lunchtime fare that will fuel even the hungriest of skiers. The ambience is as wonderful as the food in this beautiful building nestled at the foot of the mountain pastures. Delights include the house speciality, the “Mystère” made with melted reblochon and morels or a delicious rib of beef served with fresh, crunchy vegetables.
Home for L’Arrêt Bougnête is in the station building itself. Another great favourite with skiers, it and the Comptoir are neck-a-neck on near faultless 5* TripAdvisor ratings.
When the sun is out both cafés have outside seating so you can enjoy the views of Mont Buet – or Mont Blanc des Dames as it’s known. They are both incredibly busy at lunchtime, so booking is recommended.
Le Tour
Back in the Chamonix valley, our favourite stop on the mountain is L’Alpage de Balme. You can ski to the door of this old mountain refuge and enjoy delicious home-made food. In the summer, you can even spend the night in its tiny dormitory.
Grands Montets
A huge area of skiing, but sometimes it’s a challenge to find a peaceful place to eat. For those who like to get off-piste and off the beaten track, then the Refuge du Lognan is the place to be. Although high on the mountain, it’s a simple ski in. Keep in mind you may need to work off your lunch by tackling the moguls that often appear below it to get out again…
At the bottom of the Pierre a Ric, you’ll find La Cremerie du Glacier. This is a hidden gem. You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled to spot the signs for the track that takes you to it – or better yet pin it to your map and follow that. But, watch out for the trees. On offer are many classic Savoyard specials including croutes, fondues and gratins.
You can find our top pick of Savoyarde restaurants here.
Brevent
Our pick for Brevent is La Panoramic. If you want a meal with an unrivalled view of Mont Blanc, then this is the spot. Quite literally, perched on the side of the mountain it boasts a semi-circular sun deck which is the perfect place for a well-earned lunch. What’s more, on blustery winter days, there’s a snug dining room, complete with rugs where you can warm up with a vin chaud.
Les Houches
Last, but by no means least, in our Chamonix Restaurants On The Mountain round-up is les Houches. The family favourite of the valley’s ski areas, it also comes with some of the best piste-side food stops too.
Top of our list is, without doubt, les Vieilles Luge. Sadly, you’ll have to wait for winter 20/21 to try it out as it’s currently closed for renovations. That means, there are lots of opportunities to try some of the other great options on the mountain.
La Cha is a firm favourite and offers delicious home-cooked food every day in the restaurant. It also has an impressive sun deck which operates winter and summer. A great spot to enjoy a vin chaud, a glass of fizz or a beer from your deck chair.
Hidden away on the far side of the mountain you’ll find Restaurant la Tanière and its Argentinian “asados” – the stuff of local legend. It’s not always easily accessible, but it’s always worth the effort of getting there! Be sure to reserve by phone first.
At the foot of the Bellevue lift, there’s the Kitsch Inn to be enjoyed. Open from 9 am you can enjoy breakfast before heading up, lunch and some great Après ski too. It has a great live music line-up and you can find all the details on their Facebook page.
Related pages you may be interested in: Chamonix Transfers – Fantastic Food in Chamonix – Geneva transfers
