Val Thorens Mountain Restaurants

Le Grand Lac (+33 (0)4 79 08 25 78)
This restaurant is located just at the start of the Teppe drag lift and Granges fast chair in the St Martin sector and can be reached via the blue runs Grand Lac or Gros Tougne,  It is also on the Itinéraire du Soleil down the Belleville Valley, so if you like skiing in the sun all day, this route could be for you.   It has a large but cosy interior with a central log fire and exposed beams; outside there is a large sun terrace and deck chairs for chilling out.  Now in its third season, it is getting very popular so booking is advisable at peak holiday times.  The staff are very friendly and the service is excellent. Plat du Jour is typically 12€ and always very good.  Salade Nicoise is excellent value and children are well-catered for too with a choice of main course and desert.  Chocolat Chaud is always a favourite here piling in at around 6ins high!!

Chalet du Cairn (+33 (0)4 79 00 19 81)
Situated on the David Douillet piste (red) above Les Menuires, this restaurant is easy to miss if you’re on a journey either up or down the valley.  From VT, take the Bouquetin Funitel to the Col de la Chambre and then the Blvd de la Lance followed by the David Douillet red with no detours. Alternatively, from the top of the Becca chair above Les Menuires, take the blue Lac des Combes piste followed by the red Liaison, going straight on at the crossroads.

Outside, there is a large south-facing sun deck with unbeatable views towards Val Thorens and La Masse. Inside, the atmosphere is cosy with two levels for dining.  In warmer weather, extra seating is provided by numerous deckchairs on the snow.  There is such a good choice on the menu that it is sometimes quite difficult to decide.  The pizzas, charcuteries and tartiflette are all excellent and there is generally something to suit all tastes and a good choice for the children too.  The pichet (jug) of house rosé was so good that we had to keep ordering more! The bill for 3 adults and two children came to 90€ and included 5 main courses, several deserts and 3 x 50cl pichets of wine and other drinks……at the last count anyway!

La Paillote (+33 (0)4 79 00 02 34)
From the top of the Retour double drag in the centre of Val Thorens, there is a street on the left which is skiable for most of the season.  About 50yds down on the left is the restaurant La Paillote. This small and cosy, family-run restaurant has loads of wood and pretty decorative Savoyard-style curtains.  From the narrow entrance, the restaurant opens up at the top of the stairs to larger dining areas, with the largest being at the top. The menu is quite extensive and very good - take note of the number of ski instructors who eat here which is always a good sign.  The cost of Plat du Jour changes dependent on what is cooking, but is generally around €12 to 13€.  Reckon on around 50€ for a meal for two with wine and coffees.

Chalet des 2 Ours (+33 (0)4 79 01 14 09)
This mountain restaurant is in the Boismint sector of Val Thorens and is accessed by the chairlift of the same name.  From the top, ski either the blue Blanchot or red Boismint back towards the bottom of the same chair.  The restaurant can be found ¾ of the way down and has a large terrace and fairly large interior.  In peak times, it is very popular and tables can be reserved as early as 11.30am. You have been warned!  Jean-Claude and Kiki offer excellent food with good service at reasonable prices and their children’s menu has several choices.

Chalet des 2 Lacs  (+33 (0)4 79 00 28 54)
Conveniently situated at the top of the 2 Lacs chair in VT where there is a choice of red or green pistes for after lunch skiing.  The wide and easy green takes you back to Val Thorens centre, or if you have children, you can take a detour through the Espace Juniors, which has lots of information about the flora and fauna of the region.   This pretty, chalet-style restaurant has a huge sundeck with great views and serves generous portions of good quality food at reasonable prices.  It is not possible to reserve, so get there early or you will queue for a table!  Just to the side, there is snack bar which is also very popular with skiers and boarders who are in a hurry or on a tighter budget.

Le Caribou 
Formerly known as Le Genepi, Le Caribou is high up on the Moraine sector in VT, just a little way down from the top of the Moraine chair.  With its central log fire surrounded by tables and long benches, this is a great spot for holing up in bad weather and serves vin chaud to knock your socks off!!

Chalet de la Marine (+33 (0)4 79 00 01 86)
The easiest route to the Chalet de la Marine is to take the Cascades chairlift from the centre of Val Thorens turning right onto the Dalles blue piste at the top. The restaurant is 100m down on the right. Stay on the top side or you will have to walk back up the slope from the self-service section below (new in 2007/08 – see under ‘cheap and cheerful’). If that sounds too easy and you want to do a great red before lunch, then take the Peclet Funitel and the Beranger piste which descends below the lift. This is a favourite run which always has good snow and is invariably under used. But beware, you need to take the left exit track half way down to reach the Dalles piste and the restaurant, otherwise it’s back to the Cascades chair.

The charming restaurant serves lovely food and has views over Val Thorens and the Belleville Valley.  It has a beautiful interior with lots of ancient stone and wood and a log burning fire. The menu is in French or English and there is plenty of choice from salads, main courses (€23 to €33), pasta dishes (around 20€), traditional Savoyard dishes such as Tartiflette or Tartichevre (€17 and €19) and the best Osso Bucco in the Three Valleys!  Children are catered for with steack haché (burger to us) or sausage and a choice of chips, veg or pasta, plus a desert from the large selection at the table for 14€.  Bottle of wine is around 20€ and upwards. 

Chalet Plein Sud  (+33 (0)4 79 00 04 27)
This restaurant is found directly below the top of the Plein Sud chair.  At first glance, it looks as if it’s a self-serve only with a huge sun deck, but if you look a bit closer there is a small entrance to the right of the main door which leads to a smaller private sun terrace on the side. Inside, there is seating for about 30 people and about the same can be accommodated on the terrace.     The menu is not huge, several starters, several fish and several meat dishes, with the main courses generally costing around 16€.  A particular favourite here is the Gambas - year on year, these are consistently good and for my money, the best I have eaten anywhere.  For €16.80 you get 6 large prawns with a timbale of rice and julienne vegetables accompanied by a delicious sauce.  I can also recommend the duck or the lamb and the house wine is very drinkable.  Although there is no children’s menu as such, we did get a reduction on the adult price which was very much appreciated.  Meal for two with wine and coffees around 65€

Le Galoubet (+33 (0)4 79 00 00 48)
Situated in the centre of Val Thorens by the top of the Retour double drag, just above the moto-neige scooter hire.  Le Galoubet has an enormous sundeck and with the amount of people who go there, you might think the service is going to be a bit on the slow side – but not at all.  However, even with all that space, it is still advisable to book.  They offer a good choice of well-presented food and combined with the excellent service, this is one not to miss!

Hotel-Restaurant L’Ours Blanc  (+33 (0)4 79 00 61 66)
From the base of the Mont de la Chambre chair in Les Menuires, ski down underneath the Doron chair staying close to the buildings of Reberty 2000 on the left.  Just below the Chalet 2000 is a sign to the Ours Blanc which takes you down a narrow track to the edge of its enormous sun terrace, complete with fabulous panoramic views up to Val Thorens and across to Lac du Lou and La Masse.  Inside, there are a few tables available for non-residents in the rustic and cosy bar area, but outside there is seating for around 200 more!  Margaret and Pascal provide a great menu including freshly made pizzas, meat dishes and local specialities.  There is even a lobster tank if you really want to push the boat out!  One of my favourites is the “Plat Skieur” at around 13€ which consists of a delicious quarter piece of pizza, salad and charcuterie.  Unfortunately, there is no children’s option, but where there’s pizza…...

L’Oxalys (+33 (0)4 79 00 12 00) Michelin Star
You will find L’Oxalys at the entrance to Val Thorens when arriving from the blue Pluviometre piste or the low route from the Montaulever drag out of Les Menuires.  Alternatively, if skiing down the Plein Sud, ski straight on at the first bridge signposted ‘Le Cairn’. The hotel and restaurant is just over the next bridge below the Club Med. 

Jean Sulpice is the chef here and the sommelier is his wife Magali.  Although you can obviously spend mega amounts here, there is a menu called La Lauze for 48€, and it is well worth it just for that special treat.  I shall say no more … except, if you can, go!

L’Étoile  (+33 (0)4 79 00 75 58)
Conveniently situated at the top of the Montagnettes chair in Les Menuires, this restaurant is lovely and cosy inside, decorated in Savoyard style with lots of wood, cow bells and dried flowers etc.  Even the waiters all wear traditional Savoyard waistcoats topped off with a large, floppy beret!  When the weather is fine, there is plenty of room on the sundeck too.  The menu here consists of traditional dishes and specialities such as Ragout de Mamie.  Expect to pay around €50 for two with wine

La Bouitte – TWO Michelin stars (+33 (0)4 79 08 96 77)
Superb restaurant run by father and son in St Marcel, a small village just above St Martin.  It can be reached either by skiing off-piste from the Pelozet piste, or further down from the Biolley piste (which is now signposted).  If there is a lack of snow, a quick telephone call will secure a lift from St Martin village.  Return on skis, taxi or helicopter, which may not actually be that expensive, when compared with the bill for your meal with wine!

Le Chalet du Caron (+33 (0)4 79 00 01 71)
Located on the Cairn piste, just across from the base station of the Cairn and Caron gondolas, the Chalet du Caron has a large dining area inside and an even bigger one outside.  It is a self-service restaurant and always busy, so it's advisable to eat early to avoid queuing.  Chips or soup start at 5€, with Plat du Jour at 12€.  Steaks, pasta dishes and local dishes are all available, as well as that all-time British favourite – ham, egg and chips. For children, there is a choice of 3 main courses, juice and a yoghourt for 10€, and deserts are around 3-4€.

Chalet de la Marine Self-Serve (+33 (0)4 79 00 01 86)
Following the Dalles blue piste from the top of the Cascades chair in VT, the self-service part of the Chalet de la Marine is situated on the lower deck of the building.  This was a new addition to the upstairs restaurant (see below) in 2007/08 after refurbishment of the kitchens.  This restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices.    An enormous plate of chicken and chips for 10€ or a salad niçoise for 9€ were just two of the options, and the surroundings were old savoyarde with a nautical theme. The music blasting out over the terrace can be a little loud at times but if don’t mind that, this is a great place to visit.

Chalet Plein Sud Self-Serve  (+33 (0)4 79 00 04 27)
This restaurant is to be found directly below the top of the Plein Sud chair.  It is a hugely popular self-service restaurant with a huge sun-deck.  Food is great and reasonably priced, but if you need that bit more space – don’t forget the small restaurant round the side with waiter service, (see below – Great food, bit more expensive)

L’Oisans  (+33 (0)4 79 00 69 20)
In La Croisette area in the centre of Les Menuires (base of Menuires and Montagnettes chairs) is L’Oisans self-service restaurant.  This is a great little spot that serves good food inside or out and wine by the pichet at a reasonable price.  L’Oisans is always busy and is also an excellent place for families. 

Les 3V  (+33(0)4 79 00 74 04
Les 3V is a small and very friendly self-serve restaurant near the bottom of the blue Piste des Vallons on La Masse.  Cooked dishes are brought out to the table after ordering and a small salad and 25cl wine is 11€.  A meal for 3 with wine is around 50€.

Les Sonnailles  (+33(0)4 79 00 74 28)
This restaurant is towards the end of the Boulevard Cumin, the track which runs in the bottom of the Valley from Val Thorens down to Les Menuires.  In cold and icy weather, this track can be skied without having to pole, but in warmer weather when there is slush about, it can be hard work!!  Les Sonnailles is a lovely little restaurant with a sunny terrace and a lovely view of the Plan de l’Eau and the Boismint sector of Val Thorens above.   It is also very good value with the Plat du jour at 11€, and as an added bonus, there are swings and a Wendy house for the children to have fun. Les Sonnailles is also open in the summer too.

Corbeleys  (+33(0)4 79 08 95 31)
Situated at the foot of the St Martin chair, this small family-run restaurant has a south-facing sun-deck with views South up the Belleville Valley.  Martine and Bruno offer a typically Savoyard menu which includes diots (local mountain sausage) and a variation of tartiflette called La Pela.  Plat du Jour is around 12€ and is consistently good, as is the house wine.

L’Alpage (Les Menuires, on-mountain)  (+33 (0)4 79 00 75 16)
L’Alpages is situated high above Les Menuires and reached via the red pistes Quatre Vents and Alpages, from the top of Bruyeres II.  This cosy, chalet-style restaurant has loads of wood and Savoyard atmosphere and great food at reasonable prices.  From here, you can ski directly into Val Thorens or back to Les Menuires.
 
La Ferme de la Choumette (St Martin on piste)  (+33 (0)4 79 40 00 42)
This restaurant is a working farm situated just before the bridge on the approach to St Martin-de-Belleville.  It has a terrific sundeck which still catches the sun late into the day.  The restaurant inside has a huge glass window through which you can see all the animals below.  It is beautifully finished and in 2008, beers were only 2.30€ - Well worth a trip!  The ski instructors from Meribel and Courchevel certainly seem to think so.

La Voute (St Martin village)  (+33 (0)4 79 08 91 48)
Great pizzeria in the village square opposite the church in St Martin, just 30m from the bottom of the piste.  This restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices.  Children are well catered for with a choice of main courses and many different ice-cream flavours.

Eterlou (St Martin on piste)  (+33 (0)4 79 08 94 07)
Village restaurant with sundeck at the foot of the village draglift in St Martin.  Serves good food at a reasonable price, and has a choice for the children too.  Very popular.

Ferme-Auberge Chantacoucou (Le Chatelard village)  (+33 (0)4 79 08 91 95)
This restaurant is part of a working farm and it opened for the first time during winter 2007/08.  It is a great stop for skiers discovering the Vallée des Encombres on the itinerary route from the Lac Noir chair on La Masse, and a lift back to St Martin is included if required, otherwise it is about a 30min walk back to St Martin.  The restaurant is open by reservation only, and the menu is set.  Josette and Bernard have been given an award by the Farmer’s Union because they serve over 50% of their own produce.  Inside, there is a wonderful log fire, and the décor is absolutely charming.  For 20€, the menu includes an aperitif, entrée, main course, trio of local cheeses and desert.  A bottle of Gamay is 12€. There is no children’s menu, but they are given the same meal for 10€.... and then they can go and look at the cows and their calves afterwards.  In previous seasons, it was possible to be picked up from St Martin but check first.

Transhumance (Béranger village) (+33 (0)4 79 08 94 03)
This restaurant is reached by skiing off-piste from the top of the Olympic Express chair (in the Meribel valley) towards the tiny hamlet of Béranger in the Belleville valley. A guide might be advisable. Lunch is by reservation only and the menu is set, ie you get whatever is being cooked that day.  Fabulous food in remote setting with panoramic views up the Belleville valley and towards Valley des Encombres.  Transport can be provided back to St Martin.