Chamonix Restaurants

  1. Annapurna

    Named after the 8000m-plus Himalayan mountain first summited by French Alpine climbers in 1950, Indian Annapurna does not disappoint. Cuisine is authentic, delicious and hot. All the regulars are here - biryani, tandoori etc - as well as more unusual dishes like curried lobster tail.

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  2. L'Impossible

    Impossibly irresistible, the Impossible is a barn dating back to 1754 near the Aiguille du Midi cable car that has been transformed into a rustic but modern eating space - lots of wood, wicker, warm lighting, gilded gold frames and glass chandeliers. Quail stuffed with foie gras, garlic butter-oozing snails or pineapple carpaccio with ginger and mango sorbet are quintessential French dishes cooked with a twist at this ode to Sylvain Saudan (b 1936), extreme-skiing pioneer and self-proclaimed 'skier of the impossible'.

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  3. La Calèche

    One of many restaurants around place Balmat aimed squarely at undiscerning holidaymakers (a folk group sings every Tuesday evening), La Calèche appeals nonetheless. Decor is rustic, with several forests worth of wood on the walls and cheese by the dairy load. Traditional Alpine dishes like fondue and raclette are musts.

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  4. La Crèmerie du Glacier

    In 1926 Georges Ravanel started selling drinks to hikers from a little wooden hut at the foot of the Argentière's glacier. In the 1950s his son added home-made tarts and croûtes aux fromages (chunky slices of toasted bread topped with melted cheese) to the repertoire, and by the 1980s when the next son took charge of the business La Crèmerie - at a heady height of 1300m in Argentière - was known far and wide for its cheesy croûtes (around €5 to around €10 50), fondue and other Savoyard staples. It still is today. Ski to it with the red Pierre à Ric piste in Les Grands Montets.

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  5. Le 3842

    Simple summit dining, drinking or snacking at the top of the Aiguille du Midi in what claims to be Europe's highest café. It certainly feels like it.

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  7. Le Bistrot

    Mickie, as the Bistro's young champion chef is known, cooks up fine French food which - alongside a stunning wine cellar - will bowl over the most discerning of food and wine lovers.

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  8. Le Panier des Quatre Saisons

    A firm favourite, the Basket of Four Seasons cooks up a veritable feast of season-driven, quintessentially French dishes. Reservations recommended.

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  9. Le Panoramic

    Lunch on local cheese, cured meat and an incredible view of Mont Blanc in the company of a vin chaud (hot mulled wine) at this terrace restaurant next to Le Brévent cable-car station (2500m).

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  10. Le Sanjon

    Colourfully painted portraits of fair maidens and lasses in Savoy fields around 1830 decorate the dark wood exterior of this picturesque chalet where the fare is cheesy, very cheesy.

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  11. Munchie

    Think fusion at this trendy hang-out with great pan-Asian food. Mains include blackened salmon sashimi, sushi, Thai blue crab soup and a couple of imaginative vegetarian dishes.

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  13. No Escape

    Antipasti, tapas and only the gourmet best - ravioli à la truffe (black truffle), king prawns, scallops etc - make the menu at this minimalist lounge-bar a change from the norm.

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