At 1,050 meters above sea level
At the foot of the Mercantour passes, you’ll find Mickaëlle Chabat, Louis-Philippe Riel (ex-6 Paul Bert) and Alexis Bijaoui (ex-Garance in Paris and Dan Barber in New York) at their Auberge de la Roche, which swept the Fooding awards by winning both the Best Stylish Bedroom and the Best Restaurant awards of 2022! Seated comfortably in front of the freestone fireplace or on the terrace, we dined on plant-forward cuisine sourced directly from their permaculture garden, along with beautiful whole cuts of meat or fish, whose well-prepared sauces and juices get sponged up with homemade bread… Plenty to lift your spirits without suffering from vertigo.
At 1,200 meters above sea level
Marachasel? Bless you! In this village of the Aubrac region clinging to a volcanic peak, the Auberge de la Tourre will terroir-ize you: cheeky charcuterie platters, trout rillettes, beef fondue prepared with local beef fat, aligot, farm-fresh cheese platters… It’s the perfect spot for filling up after some cross-country skiing in Nasbinals, a few kilometers from the inn.
At 1,250 meters above sea level
In the heart of the Pyrenees, less than 30 minutes from Peyragudes and 45 minutes from Superbagnères, Anne Moussay and Juan Ignacio de Benedetto have set up El Almacèn, a bric-a-brac restaurant where the Argentine chef indulges in his favorite sport: charcoal grilling! On the menu, you’ll find lively local treats: dazzling celeriac, delightful trout steak, massive lamb saddle… In short, there’s really no excuse for skipping this place when you’re in the area!
At 1,300 meters above sea level
Do you swear by Savoyard ski resorts? Nestled into a corner of the La Clusaz ski resort is the Chalet des Joux, which has everything you might need when it comes time to remove your skis at lunchtime: an incredible terrace, a friendly welcome from the owner, natural wines, and all the winter classics, prepared impeccably! Come take a closer look: classic Swiss fondue, knack sausages made with real casing, flambéed grilled meats prepared before your eyes… Something to get the blood in your cheeks flowing!
At 1,450 meters above sea level
High up in the Belledonne massif, L’Aubergerie is the stronghold of Thomas Sibille, a former shepherd/cheesemaker who now works as a restaurateur. You’ll find him cooking up meals for post-ski sessions or pre-sledding snacks: incredible fondue made with sheep’s milk tomme cheese and black trumpet mushrooms; extremely tender alpine lamb chops; or even a decadent croziflette – which is like tartiflette but made with crozets, those small squares of Alpine buckwheat pasta… Gobble it all up with an incredible view of the surrounding mountains!
At 1,720 meters above sea level
The years go by, but the discreet Refuge de Porcherey remains the very best spot in the Évasion Mont Blanc ski resort – accessible via the Piste des Marmottes trail or on snowshoes from Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce. Why, you ask? Thanks to owner Hervé Jacquemoud, who appeases hungry riders with unfussy dishes: pot-au-feu, sautéed veal with gratin duaphinois potatoes, rabbit thigh and crozets with vegetables… Not to mention the gigantic homemade tarts that are displayed on the credenza!
At 1,754 meters above sea level
Overlooking Megève, on the edge of the slopes, Le Forestier is nothing other than a sublime century-old chalet, which once belonged to the Office National des Forêts. Now it’s Emmanuel Renaut (Flocons de Sel, Flocons Village) and Nano Fanara (La Sauvageonne) who run things, serving big, heartwarming dishes: good, old-fashioned potato and Beaufort quiche; a wild Alpine game terrine; a classic croûte au fromage: tartiflette made with beautifully elastic Reblochon cheese…. You’ll want to devour the menu faster than you can get down the slopes!
At 2,550 meters above sea level
Where can you grab a bite to eat way high up in the Val d’Isère ski resort, with incredible views of the Massifs de la Haute Tarentaise? At the restaurant of the Refuge de Solaise, France’s highest altitude hotel, located 2,550 meters above sea level! On what plates, you’ll find everything you need to satisfy your hunger pangs: Beaufort lasagna, cod steaks, lamb tagine, risotto… Access it by skis or by cable car from the resort, made even more dizzying around sunset!