Chamonix has a wide range of restaurants to suits all tastes, types and size of groups. Read our guide on all the best spots to eat below.
Share this page
French Cuisine
La Maison Carrier is a classy, traditional French restaurant run by the 4 Star Albert Premier Hotel. Expect smart service and rich, elegantly presented food. Whilst vegetarians are catered for, it’s the meat that takes centre stage here, with steak, lamb, pork and foie gras being well represented on the menu. The wine list includes some of the very best French wines as well as more modest regional ones, in addition to wine from local vineyards in the Aosta Valley in Italy and the Le Valais region of Switzerland.
The Hameau de Albert Premier hotel is also home to the two Michelin star Albert Premier restaurant. The menu centres on fresh local produce and makes the most of the abundance of herbs and vegetables grown in the hotel’s own vegetable garden. The wine cellar counts no less than 20 000 bottles, comprised of the 950 appellations presented on the wine list. Whilst you might expect the Albert Premier to be a traditional formal dining experience, it is actually very accessible and extremely welcoming. The staff are charming, the service impeccable, and the surroundings tranquil but not austere. Whether you choose to blow the budget on the à la carte or stick to the amazingly priced set menus, you are sure to experience one of the finest meals to be had in the Chamonix valley.
At the other end of town, on the outskirts of Chamonix Sud, lies L’Impossible restaurant, beside the Jekyll bar. This has recently changed hands and we haven't had chance to sample the new fare yet, but early reports seem positive and the emphasis on organic food and inventive recipes sounds promising. We'll keep you posted as soon as we've been!
Right in the centre of town, beside the Post Office, you will find L’Atmosphere and Le National, both high quality establishments specialising in French cuisine. Popularity amongst the locals is always a good indication of the quality of a restaurant and these two have no shortage of local clientele. Le National has a wonderful terrace from which to take in the bustle of Rue Paccard whilst enjoying one of their generously proportioned speciality dishes; whilst L’Atmosphere enjoys an intimate ambience and a fantastic location overlooking the river. Make sure you book early to guarantee one of these sought after tables. Definitely located at the higher end of the price scale but has consistently excellent food and service.
If you want a more peaceful location with unrivalled views of Mont Blanc then L’Auberge du Bois Prin is where you should head. Nestling high above Chamonix in the winding mountain lanes of Les Moussoux, the Bois Prin is a delightfully quaint 4 star hotel, renowned gastronomic restaurant and a real hidden gem! The chef/gardener, Dennis Carrier, spends his time bustling between the hotel’s extensive vegetable garden and the kitchen, where his delicious and inventive cuisine makes a meal here an experience to remember. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant also has a beautiful terrace with unsurpassable views across to the Mont Blanc chain. Excellent food, charming service and a table with a view – the Bois Prin has it all!
Located a couple of kilometres from Chamonix, in Les Praz, La Cabane restaurant is set in a cosy log cabin, and serves modern French cuisine and Savoyarde favourites. Whilst holding fast to its rustic origins with cow skins adorning the floor around the open fire, there are numerous modern, stylish fixtures and features to draw the eye. Skylight windows have been incorporated in the grass-covered roof (eco-friendly insulation) so that the interior is bathed with natural light. The food here is excellent and as well as the à la carte options, they offer a number of very good value menus including a midday option with a choice of 2 main courses and 2 desserts for €19 per person. It’s well worth taking a woodland stroll up the river to Le Praz and reward your efforts with lunch or dinner at La Cabane.
Les Praz is also home to the cosy bar and top class restaurant of the Hotel Eden. Serving a wonderful combination of contemporary and classic French cuisine, this restaurant has earned acclaim from numerous gourmet restaurant guides including France's famous 'Guide Michelin'. If you are staying in Chamonix, the hotel provides a free taxi service for those dining in the restaurant. Children are very welcome and there’s even a special fixed price menu just for them.
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.
Fusion & Asian cuisine
If you’re looking for an alternative to the rich Savoyarde food prevalent in Chamonix, you will be pleased to hear that there are a number of very good Asian restaurants in town. Satsuki is the local Japanese, serving a variety of Japanese dishes in a simply-designed and bright dining area. Sake and ice-cold Japanese beer are available to complement the excellent sushi, sashimi and noodle dishes. Don’t forget to check out the ultra-modern, authentic Japanese bathrooms during your dinner!
Le Munchie (Munchies) is a very cool restaurant on the Rue de Moulins that serves excellent quality Asian-fusion food. Run by Scandinavians, the fresh and funky bar and dining area attracts a cosmopolitan crowd. Although service can be a little on the slow side here, the food is always worth the wait. Perennially popular, booking in advance is a must. Alternatively, Alan Peru is a relatively new fusion restaurant and noodle bar in Chamonix Sud. With its high tables and bar stools, the dining area has been designed to create a chic and relaxed place to enjoy very tasty Asian inspired food and big bowls of noodles.
If your craving is for curry, then why not try one of Chamonix’ two Indian restaurants - Annapurna (Ave Ravanel le Rouge) and Tigre Tigre (Ave Michel Croz). Annapurna is a small, family-run, curry house and probably the more authentic of the two, which is reflected in its slightly higher prices. However, all the food is homemade and freshly prepared and the menu is a veritable paradise for vegetarians! There are a few tables outside which are nice when the weather if fine and the views of Mont Blanc are spectacular. Tigre Tigre is a more contemporary Indian, with a cocktail bar, and an extensive menu featuring all your favourite curries. Portions here are certainly “tiger sized” and the staff are friendly and helpful if you need any advice narrowing down you’re your choice from the huge range of dishes available.
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.
Gastropubs & Burger Bars
The Micro Brasserie de Chamonix (aka the 'MBC') is a lively micro brewery with a bar and restaurant, run by four Canadians. The menu offers pub-food classics such as nachos, fajitas and a wide range of burgers, and is served in the saloon style bar area. The food is great, and the massive portions will satisfy any appetite! The popularity of the MBC means you are strongly advised to book a table in advance for dinner. Snacks are served from 4pm onwards and the main menu is available from 7-11pm.
The Vagabond is a perennial favourite for locals, seasonaires and the guests who stay in the adjoining hostel. The bar caters for a lively, friendly crowd and serves home-cooked and freshly prepared bar snacks and meals (winter only) in relaxed and cosy surroundings from 5:30pm until 9:30pm.
If you’re not quite sure what you fancy then seek out Le Caveau, located in an atmospheric basement opposite the cinema and serving a range of international cuisine. Every taste is catered for here from Swedish meatballs to Mexican to Savoyarde, but it is most renowned for its pizzas and their garlic bread is the best in town!
If you're in a hurry then don't forget to check out the take away options below.
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.
Italian Restaurants
Another locals favourite is Casa Valerio, a lively and popular Italian restaurant. The classic pasta/pizza combination for main course comes highly recommended, however “Casa”, as it's commonly known, does offer a selection of fresh fish and meat dishes - all of course in the Italian style. Situated on Rue de Lyret, Casa Valerio is just a short walk from the centre square. Open from 12 noon till 2 am, it’s one of the few places you can eat in Chamonix after 10:00 pm.
Although more of a wine bar than a restaurant Le Lapin Agile offers a daily menu of Italian focused cuisine. Run by an Italian couple from Milan, with a 'slow-food' approach, the food here is usually tasty and changes regualarly following the season's market-produce. Their coffee is also done Italian style and, in our opinion, probably the best in town, as is their vin-chaud and hot-chocolate.
With a fine location smack, bang in the centre of town, Le Bartavel’s large, sunny terrace is always choc-a-block with tourists. Pizza’s are very good here and they also have a range of tasty pasta dishes, salads and some meat and fish options. Although the interior can be a little cramped, it was extended a couple of years ago to include a bright conservatory area if it’s too cold to sit outside.
There are also a number of take out pizza options in Chamonix, see below for more details.
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.
Local Speciality Restaurants
La Caleche enjoys a fabulous location right in the heart of Chamonix town centre. Also known as La Maison des Specialties, it offers a huge array of meaty and cheesy treats for a truly authentic Savoyarde experience. Spread over 3 floors and seating 350 people, La Caleche is worth a visit for the interior décor and ambiance alone. It is an ideal choice for groups but there are so many nooks and crannies that it also suits if you are after a more intimate evening. And if you’re there on a Tuesday then you’re in for an extra special treat as a local folk group come to play and perform traditional dances for diners – costumes, accordions and all!
Next to the Casino on Place Blamat, Le Monchu is another great option for regional specialities. Although it’s a large restaurant, the owners have created a charming ambience with the use of natural wood and authentic touches throughout. Reasonably priced and with a large terrace, it’s one of the few places that serves raclette with a real coal brazier on your table.
If you prefer a cosier environment, the tiny Le Bivouac (Galerie Blanc Neige) is a relaxed French restaurant serving generous portions of Savoyarde specialties. Also take a look at La Bergerie on Ave Michel Croz. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other speciality restaurants in town, but very much worth it. With a roaring fire on the go all winter, it is a wonderful place to cosy up with someone special over a fondue.
Further up the valley, Hotel Lancher's Rendezvous in Les Praz de Chamonix, is open year-round for lunch as well as dinner. Focusing mainly on local Savoyarde classics, the traditional French cuisine reflects both seasonal and local produce, including fondues and raclette.
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.
Take Away
Sometimes eating out is just too much effort or maybe you just want a quick bite on the run. Well, the choice in town is still varied and plentiful. If you fancy pizza on the sofa then Casa Valerio also offers a take-away service and Pizza Salsa, on Ave Michel Croz, is another great take out pizza option in the town centre. If you are in Chamonix Sud then Pizza Hop in (opp. Bus station) is great for super fast, friendly service and Pizza Paradisio (round the back of South Bar) has a good range of tasty options; both serve a “Geante” pizza so big, you’ll have trouble getting them through your front door!!
Poco Loco and Midnight Express are two take-away joints in the centre of town and essential stop offs on the way home after an evening on the sauce! Both offer burgers with a wide range of toppings, and veggie sandwiches. Whilst Midnight is an out and out take-away, you can sit inside at Poco Loco and enjoy a beer while you’re waiting. Belouga is a similar take-away establishment at the bottom end of town, just up from Zero G bike shop. Burgers are the main focus here, accompanied by a wide range of tasty sauces. It also has the added bonus of selling delicious brownies!
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page.
If you are looking for catering for a large function, an intimate dinner party or a private chef for the duration of your stay in Chamonix you can find listings of all local caterers on our Chefs, Caterers & Delis page.
Child-Friendly Restaurants
There aren’t many restaurants in France where children are not welcome; it is a much more common sight to see children dining out with their parents than in the UK.
Most restaurants in Chamonix offer a children’s menu; they tend to be in the region of 7-10€ and usually consist of omelette/ham/burger/chicken with chips/salad or a pasta option such as spaghetti bolognaise. Those that don’t are usually happy to rustle up a smaller portion, or simplified version, of something that is on the main menu. You could try one of the regional dishes that the whole table shares such as raclette or fondue – the children can then eat as much or as little as they like. Alpine food is not particularly fussy or strongly flavoured and most children would love the idea of dipping bread into a fondue or grilling their own meat on a pierrade!
Our top child-friendly recommendations in Chamonix are:
- Casa Valerio – no children’s menu as such but you can’t go wrong with pizza and pasta and the bustling atmosphere means that you don’t have to worry about your children being a bit noisy!
- Bartavel – another pizza/pasta joint right in the centre of town with an informal ambience and friendly staff; small children’s menu. Valentino’s, just a couple of doors along is also a good option along the same lines.
- La Calèche – a reasonable children’s menu priced at €10.50 and if you go on a Tuesday night folk singers and accordion players will add to the fun!
- Avenue Aiguille du Midi – if you head to the bridge that crosses over the river at the bottom end of town you will find a row of four restaurants along a raised deck on the Avenue Aiguille du Midi. They all serve a variety of omelettes, crêpes, salads, pastas and local dishes and are very informal and friendly. They all offer a children’s menu.
- La Carlina – the staff are very friendly and make a fuss over the children. As well as offering a children’s menu they are usually happy to prepare something special on request. If you sit outside you can keep an eye on the children while they play on the statue of Dr Michel-Gabriel Paccard (not an official climbing frame but all the other kids seem to do it...!)
- Satsuki – even if the idea of sushi has your kids wrinkling their noses in disgust they can still enjoy the children’s special of grilled chicken skewers, prawns, rice, salad and dessert (€12) while you tuck into some traditional Japanese cuisine (and the high-tech toilets will have them enthralled!).
Although they don’t have specific children’s menus we have taken little ones into both Alan Peru and Munchies and were well-looked after in both restaurants. The staff were happy to make up a special dish for them and we were not made to feel like it was any trouble. We recommend that you let staff know in advance though, just in case you arrive on a night when they are super-busy and deviations from the menu are the last thing they need!
Details of all these restaurants can be found on our Restaurants listings page, visit our Reviews section to find out which ones we have tried and tested.