Fancy your food with a view? Look no further, we are here to give you some on Insider knowledge on some fantastic restaurants, cafes and hotels that offer outstanding local and international dishes for you foodie lovers out there.
Be it on a mountain terrace, a 5* Hotel lounge or a true local restaurant, we have selected just a few of the best places to eat whilst enjoying your next ski or snowboarding holiday.
After a busy day out on the slopes, there is nothing better than tucking into one of your favourite meals or treating yourself to trying a new dish.
Think of dinner in a ski resort and the mind instantly conjures images of hearty dishes such as pizza, Wiener schnitzel and tartiflette.
Those in search of Haute Cuisine in the Alps need look no further. We’ve revealed the culinary highlights across the mountains and picked the best places to go to ski and eat…
San Cassiano, Italy
Best for: Gourmet Ski Safaris
The Alta Badia ski area, in the heart of the Dolomites, is renowned for its exceptional cuisine. It is a paradise for passionate foodies and skiers, with its ready access to the remarkable Sella Ronda ski circuit and world-class restaurants.
There is a genuine gourmet scene here, with three Michelin starred restaurants. The St Hubertus in San Cassiano has two Michelin stars and is recognised for using local ingredients to create colourful dishes full of flavour. There are only 11 tables, so make sure you book in advance!
La Siriola is run by the youngest Italian chef to have a Michelin star, Matteo Metullio. You should visit his restaurant for the Chocolate Room alone, where guests can sample and buy up to 40 varieties of chocolate.
In nearby Corvara the Stüa de Michil, run by chef Nicola Laera, creates innovative modern cuisine based on traditional Ladin dishes. The delightful décor of homely wooden furnishings and soft lighting also make this one of the most charmingly attractive restaurants in the region.
Excellent mountain restaurants
There are too many excellent mountain restaurants to mention. From the cool and lively Las Vegas to the incredible Col Alt, you can’t really go wrong.
Courchevel, France
Best for: Michelin Starred Restaurants
Wow, there’s a grand total of eight Michelin starred restaurants in and around Courchevel – that’s more than enough for every night of your week’s ski holiday! If you’re looking for fine dining on your ski holiday, you will certainly find it in Courchevel.
One of them, Le 1947 has three Michelin stars; its menu is inspired by its Alpine surroundings and the restaurant serves modern takes on traditional dishes, such as tartiflette with black truffle.
One of the first gourmet restaurants in Courchevel, Le Chabichou has two Michelin stars. A family run enterprise, Chef Michel Rochedy has been creating exquisite cuisine in his restaurant since 1963. There is an exclusive lunchtime menu for skiers which costs around €55 per person.
If Michelin starred prices are outside your budget, we highly recommend Le Chabichou’s sister restaurant, Chabotté a contemporary bistro with a buzzing atmosphere and delicious cuisine. When we last ate there, a brilliant Jazz band performance accompanied our meal, and was all signed-off with a complimentary shot of Génépi poured from an exaggeratedly large bottle. This is dinner as theatre.
Haute cuisine at high altitude
The on-mountain restaurants in Courchevel are eclectic. From the pricey but atmospheric La Soucoupe, which provides stunning views over the Three Valleys, to the bustling Le Pilatus. Expect delicious, traditional Savoyarde dishes, perfectly grilled steaks and delicious wine.
Find out more about Courchevel >Zermatt, Switzerland
Best for: Stylish Swiss Cuisine
Zermatt is an obvious choice for gourmet connoisseurs. This amazing ski resort has not one, not two, but four Michelin starred restaurants!
The most recent restaurant to receive this prestigious award is the After Seven. The celebrated chef, Ivo Adam is renowned for his creative flair and innovative menu. Instead of a choice of dishes you choose from a list of ingredients – the talented chefs do the rest.
There is a huge and diverse range of high quality restaurants on the mountain in Zermatt. One of the most popular is Chez Vrony, which is also mentioned in the Guide Michelin. Not only does the terrace provide stunning views of the Matterhorn, but the menu, created from locally sourced, organic ingredients is simply divine.
What to eat in Switzerland?
You can’t visit Switzerland without having the most famous Swiss dish - a fondue. Melted Gruyère cheese, white wine and garlic served in a communal pot, sometimes fondly referred to as ‘the Grandmother’, a fondue is great for sharing with friends and family.
We’re also big fans of rösti, a potato fritter that was traditionally served as a farmers’ breakfast. The basic ingredients are grated potato and sautéed butter, but don’t be surprised to find it served with extras. Bacon, onion, cheese, and a fried egg are all acceptable additions.
Kitzbühel, Austria
Best for: Sophisticated, Delicious Alpine Food
Traditional Austrian cuisine isn’t known for its sophistication, despite the deliciousness of weiner schnitzel and chips, käsespätzle, and apple strudel. But all that is changing. Kitzbühel is the home of civilised lunch time dining in Austria, with new on-mountain restaurants driving a culinary renaissance.
Leader of the pack is the Sonnbühel, which was reopened by Italian chef and veteran, professional ski-racer, Ivan Marzola in 2015. His aim? To bring gourmet restaurant dining to the mountain. Sonnbühel is no traditional mountain restaurant; there’s an expansive seafood menu. Booking a table is strongly advised, as the innovative and delicious dishes certainly draws the crowds.
Also on the mountain is the stylish Bärenbadalm which remains faithful to the culinary traditions of Austria and prides itself on the quality of its regional ingredients and freshly prepared food. The Bärenbadalm is well known for the quality of its beef dishes, which are all made from locally sourced Jochberg Angus.
Incredible hotel dining
The gourmet dining continues in town, the Inghams Select hotel, Hotel Schloss Lebenberg boasts of over 150 different wines from all over the world that perfectly accompanies the kitchen which has exciting and varied recipes with space for creative ideas.
Val Thorens, France
Best for: Bistronomy
The self-styled home of ‘snow bistronomy’, Val Thorens has a proud culinary heritage, as well as fantastic skiing. As Europe’s highest ski resort it has an incredible, season-long snow conditions.
Epitomising ‘snow bistronomy’ is the ever popular Chalet de la Marine which combines a cosy, friendly atmosphere with gourmet style food. Its on-mountain location is ideally suited for a ski-lunchbreak, and the restaurant terrace provides sublime views of the ski area.
Another on-mountain treat is Le Bouche à Oreille, between Val Thorens and Les Menuires. It’s a sister restaurant of La Bouitte, the first restaurant in Savoie to be awarded three Michelin stars (itself only a short distance from resort), and has a gourmet menu inspired by local cuisine.
What to eat in France?
If you didn’t know we were going to say tartiflette then we’d guess you’ve not been skiing in France yet! This tasty classic is ubiquitous in French mountain restaurants and with good reason. Slices of potato, chunks of reblochon cheese and bacon, it’s the perfect meal after a tiring work-out on the slopes.
Another delicious, regional speciality of the French Alps are Savoyard sausages, otherwise known as diots. These pork sausages are typically served in an onion and wine sauce, often accompanied by another regional speciality - crozets.
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