Eating & Drinking in Val d’isère
02.
Eating on the mountain
For some people, lunch is every bit as important as the skiing. For others it's simply a quick refuelling stop before heading straight back onto the slopes. The good news is that Val d'Isère caters brilliantly for both.
If, like many of our visitors, lunch is one of the highlights of your ski day, you'll be spoilt for choice on the slopes of Val d'Isère. Our mountain restaurants are a very long way from the fast-food joints that are still common in many North American ski resorts!
Whether you're looking for fine dining, a spectacular terrace or simply somewhere to sit in the sunshine with friends, you'll find plenty of choice. Restaurants such as La Fruitière above La Daille and the Signal in Le Fornet have built reputations that extend well beyond the resort itself, while over in neighbouring Tignes, Michelin-starred chef Jean-Michel Bouvier's aptly named Panoramic restaurant sits at the top of the Grande Motte with views to match the food.
For something a little simpler—but still delicious—there's the excellent Triffolet halfway down towards La Daille, with its wonderful sunny terrace, or the Eidelweiss sitting above Le Fornet. Or how about a barbecue or fondue at Plage de l'Ouillette beside the lake at the top of Solaise? It's hard to think of many better places to enjoy lunch on a sunny spring day.
If you're determined to maximise your skiing, there are plenty of quicker options too. Most mountain restaurants have a reasonably priced snack bar or self-service restaurant attached, but we nearly always end up at Les Marmottes on the La Daille side or its sister restaurant, Cascade, over in Le Fornet for good, honest food at sensible prices.
Top Tip:
The French take their lunch seriously. Between midday and 2.00 pm it's almost a religion—even on a ski holiday. If you can keep your hunger at bay, take advantage of this. Ski while everyone else is eating, then enjoy a late lunch when the slopes have busied up again and the restaurants have quietened down.
Another option people often overlook is eating back in the village rather than halfway up the mountain.
Restaurants beside the snow front often offer equally good food at noticeably lower prices than their mountain equivalents, and they're much easier for any non-skiers in your group to reach. Meeting up in the village for lunch can be a great way to spend part of the day together before everyone heads back off in different directions.
Finally, don't underestimate just how popular mountain terraces become when the sun is shining. If there's somewhere in particular you'd like to eat, it's well worth booking ahead.
