Restaurant Reviews in Val Thorens — 17 of Our Favourites

Skiing this early in the season is always very exciting and there was certainly a feeling of beginning of winter enthusiasm in Val Thorens this weekend. It does however mean relatively short days, with the sun starting to disappear from a lot of the pistes at around 3.30pm. The area below the Peclet glacier clings onto the sunshine for the longest though, so we headed to Funitel Peclet for the last couple of runs of the day.

Coming off the lift, we clocked the unbelievable view and the excellently placed restaurant and came to a unanimous decision to do a run and then come straight back up for a vin chaud.

The pistes from here are fantastic! The red run down on the skiers left side is a lovely long, wide piste with some great mellow sections for big sweeping turns. We opted to do this one first and save the blue tete ronde on the right for a post-wine return to resort.

As last lifts approached, there was still a fairly sizeable queue for the Peclet with lots of people heading up to the best view point for the sunset. We still managed to get a great seat on the terrace of the Aiguilles de Peclet though and were soon sipping excellent vin chauds and hot chocolates, which came with equal amounts of Chantilly and hot chocolate…! Watching the stunning panoramic in front of us turn pink and reflecting on a great day on the mountain was a really special ski holiday moment. Lots of others were doing exactly the same too, from ski tourers skinning up for some late powder turns above us to groups enjoying the view from every possibly spot around us.

Eventually it was time to head down the hill though before we completely lost the light, so we started down the blue run. This starts with a cat track which is a little slow for snowboarders, but worth the effort as it then opens into another wide motorway piste all the way back to Val Thorens. Hard to beat with few people left on the mountain at the end of the day and beautiful dusky light.

We enjoyed this spot and the restaurant so much, that we choose to head back up the Peclet the following morning for a coffee stop. It was a little chillier this time, so we wandered indoors to look for a table. The welcome that we received was unlike any service that I have ever experienced in a ski resort! The owner was incredibly friendly, greeting us at the door and helping us to find a table. Although the restaurant was busy with people eating lunch, he had no problem with us just sitting for a drink and even came over after a little while to check that everything was alright.

The food that people were enjoying on surrounding tables looked fantastic too, with mountain classics such as spaghetti bolognese, generously topped tartiflettes and burgers appearing to go down a treat. The various slices of tart that diners had lined up for dessert looked delicious too (and were enormous!).

I would certainly recommend spending some time in this part of the Val Thorens ski area, for lovely cruisy pistes, a fabulous lunch spot or an unforgettable sunset.

The restaurant is open from first thing in the morning for petit dejeuner [breakfast] which is served until 10am. For 12 euros you can enjoy a croissant on the terrace with a jus d’orange, hot beverage of your choice and ‘tartine’ which is basically jam and bread, tasty!

There are two main deckchair areas depending at what time you arrive to catch the sun. In the morning the deckchairs slightly hidden to the left are the best choice. The seating here is sectioned off into groups of three and four which is a refreshing change so you are not sandwiched next to your neighbour as with a lot of mountain sun terraces. This area also has plenty of space for little ones to run around and play whilst you lie back and relax your ski legs.

The waiters are pretty dapper with a shirt and tie combo which is not a regular sight in the mountains. The menu is not massively extensive, with pizzas being the main dish and the most expensive pizza I think I have seen listed at 30 euros! There are also croque monsieurs, sandwiches, lasagna, tartiflette and steak, so a bit of everything covered for a ski snack.

If you are just having a family drink stop then it could be a bit pricey with a café au lait at 4,10 euros and a demi/half beer at 4 euros, although if you are staying in the mountains you do become immune to these prices. They also serve crepes and waffles if you need that sugar fix either mid-ski or at the end of the day (priced 5 euros – 8,50 euros).

The restaurant, being non-stop, continues for après with a nice cocktail menu (10 euros) and then into the evening. La Maison has a smart and modern interior decor and is within walking distance of a lot of accommodation in resort. All in all, worth a stop-off whether it’s for just a drink, snack or meal, they have got it covered.

It is unique among 3 Valley restaurants for two reasons; it’s a genuine traditional shepherd’s chalet and it is located nowhere near a piste. The out-of-the-way location is both a drawback and its main appeal as a place found only by those in the know.

Having rung the owner for directions, we set out into the unknown feeling highly intrepid. Leaving the Montaulever piste in Les Menuires, we traversed off-piste for a good five minutes, taking our skis off to cross the main road, before the chalet finally came into view. The setting is charming with views over the whole valley and we were greeted by an adorable St Bernard puppy called Happy. The restaurant is small and cosy, the interior prettily decorated with old Savoy photos and items, with hand-written sayings dotted about the walls.

It is tiny, with only five tables indoors and a larger outdoor dining terrace. Eric, the owner, couldn’t have been friendlier. He explained that the chalet was built in the 1870s as a ‘montagnette’, a shepherd’s summer home and has been in his family for generations. He named the place after his grandfather Nicolas, who used the chalet to look after his cows and goats and to make local Tomme cheese. He introduced us to his team and taught us a few Savoy dialect words and generally made us feel as if we were his honoured guests.

The food is local, traditional and made with ingredients sourced in the valley. Savoy cuisine is hearty, unpretentious and simple, so after our tartiflettes, duck with tagliatelle and pork with pasta, we were all too full to sample the tempting-looking cheeses or desserts. Eric’s home-made genepi was all we could manage instead, and this gave us courage for a slightly wobbly descent back onto the Boulevard Cumin piste below.

If you fancy an authentic Savoy lunch (or dinner) then it’s worth making an effort to find this place. The best way to find it is to take a guide or, if you are confident finding your way off-piste, then ask Eric for directions. If you really don’t want to ski off-piste, then you can get to it instead by walking uphill for ten minutes from the Boulevard Cumin. Remember to book – tel 06.09.45.28.35. You may well find me there, snuggled up in one of the sheepskins-lined chairs on the terrace, enjoying an afternoon away from it all…

How to get there:

• By car: A43 freeway to Albertville. Exit at Albertville, take the road to Moutiers (26km) then exit n°40 towards Belleville Valley. Then after Les Menuires and the third hairpin is Chez Pépé Nicolas. Parking nearby.
• By shuttle: Departing from the bus station of the resort, free shuttle every 20 minutes.
• By ski: In case of good snow conditions, access to the restaurant is done off-piste skiing (for good skiers). On Mont de la Chambre area, from the trail Plan du bouquet. Reminder: Off-piste skiing requires special skills or appropriate supervision ...

‘La Marmite’ in the Bruyeres area of Les Menuires has just opened this winter and is well worth stopping by. They have done a great job of the interior with some really nice touches, a delicate splash of colour and some lovely attention to detail with the table setting. It has a feel of a high-end restaurant without the prices to match, making this place even more of a refreshing find.

The restaurant is open from 8am for breakfast, a mid-morning coffee stop, lunch on the terrace, an apres-ski drink and then into the cosy restaurant for the evening service. As with most mountain restaurants they are open seven days a week. Located just opposite the swimming pool and spa in Les Bruyeres the restaurant is really easy to find.

The menu has a combination of local specialities along with the staple menu standards such as a homemade burger and steaks. They also offer some lovely sharing platters and I opted for the Camembert which if I’m honest, not much sharing went on. Another member of our party ordered the ravioli starter with truffle sauce which was rich but delicious (I obviously had to sample that too!)

For the main courses, steak with peppercorn sauce was a popular choice for three of our party, a great cut of meat with a lovely sauce served separately and fries to accompany. The fourth member of the group ordered the homemade burger and we had a table of clean plates at the end which says it all. Whilst I personally passed on dessert, someone else ordered the homemade fresh blueberry tart which was delicious. We were also asked to sample a new dessert on the menu which was a fruit salad with a twist, with lots of cinnamon a touch of liquor and tasted very much like a chilled vin chaud, yummy.

To wash down their delicious menu La Marmite have a really varied wine menu and they offered some fantastic suggestions to accompany our choices. We started with a kir royale for aperitif followed by a cote du ventoux which went perfectly with the main courses. We were all delighted (and fairly easily pleased) with the cute little teapots that our fruit teas were served in after the meal too, again just these nice touches making this restaurant stand apart from others in Les Menuires.

We will definitely be returning this season as it is really great to find such a comfortable restaurant with professional yet relaxed staff making you feel very much at home. Oh and one final thing, there is no marmite on the menu - ‘La Marmite’ in French is translated as the not so cool sounding ‘the pot’!

When she's not reporting for us, Gemma runs My Mountain Boutique. 

‘Zabonneige’ is part of Alp Hotel however they have changed names over the years and this season they have also changed their menu. The main change being that they have largely closed the kitchen which is only available now for hotel guests in the evening. They do however now offer a lunchtime “picnic basket” instead which I find to be a really refreshing idea.

The picnic basket is priced at 35 euros and you will receive enough provisions for four people including items such as cheese, bread, saucisson and paté, so for less than 9 euros each you can have a great picnic with fresh and local produce. Otherwise it would also make a nice snack for larger groups and perhaps a good option for families with fussy eaters.

Another bonus for this approach is that normally when trying to find a terrace in a restaurant at lunchtime can be challenging if you just want a beverage, whereas here it is welcomed. The staff at Zabonneige are really friendly and they serve good quality coffee and the hot chocolates are a definite recommend with cream, meringue and toffees all thrown in there!

As the restaurant is located in St Martin at 1,400m it is a great spot for a morning stop-off in March as temperatures tend to be warmer and the terrace is nicely sheltered to top up your tan. They have a combination of tables and director style chairs along with deckchairs if you have weary ski legs. Indoors they also have a nice sofa area which is good if you have little ones in your group.

This is one of those places that is right in front of you but you might still miss it, so just to re-cap; when you get to the bottom of the run into St Martin de Belleville next to the bubble (St Martin 1) then just look left and you will see Zabonneige tucked behind the piou piou building, head over and give it a try this winter.   

The business started off as mainly a farm restaurant opening in the summer months and a couple of years ago, much to many skiers delight, opened their doors for the Winter months too.

Previously the restaurant could only be accessed during the day either by car, on foot or via off piste when conditions allowed. This season however a new piste has been created “La Chasse” which has had a delayed opening due to weather conditions but this week is now ouvert!

If you are arriving from Courchevel or Meribel you will need to take the ‘Cote Brune’ lift followed by the piste ‘Mont de la Chambre’ then ‘Plan du Bouquet’ and then onto ‘La Chasse’. From Val Thorens just take the ‘Plein Sud’ lift then onto the ‘Pluviometre’ piste, followed by ‘Boulevard des Escahuds’ and then ‘La Chasse’ and voila, you will arrive.

The restaurant at nighttime provides a real mountain experience as you need to walk up in the dark but don’t let that put you off, it’s all part of the evening. The car park is easily located and afterwards there is a snowy track leading up to the restaurant with torches to light the way. It only takes around five minutes to walk and afterwards you see the welcome sight of a warmly lit restaurant ready to welcome you in.

The restaurant has been expanded in the past year and there are two sections to the recently refurbished building, the cave and La Laiterie. The décor is really nicely done with lovely touches throughout to create a modern mountain refuge. There is everything from milk bottle light fixtures to hay bale seating and cushions. There was a large group booked into the main part of the restaurant the evening we arrived and so we sat in La Laiterie which was bright and had large windows to watch the blizzard whirling outside, as we sipped our vin rouge and tucked into fondue!

The staff are really friendly offering recommendations from the menu for food and beverages. We started with the house kir which went down very nicely indeed. The menu itself is quite limited with a few starter options along with some main platters to choose from. Our group all opted for platters and the tomme de savoie option included a quarter of a lump of cheese! Luckily they were very accommodating with an amazing grasp of English offering to wrap up our platter leftovers in a ‘doggy bag’ to take home to enjoy the next day.

Having sampled the homemade terrine for starter which was nicely accompanied with fruit bread, (although we could have done with a little bit more for the size of the potion), I followed this with the Beaufort fondue which was certainly not lacking in bread and yumminess. The rest of the group had steak and the pot au feu which might not have been to everyone’s tastes with marrow bone sticking out, but our French foodie was pretty happy with his choice. The main courses are all priced around 20 euros + and for four people dining for two courses with wine it worked out at around 50 euros per person which is pretty reasonable for a meal in Belleville.

There was no pressure to leave the table at the end of the meal and when we were ready to head home we were presented with a flame-lit torch to help us find out way back down the snowy path to the car, a real adventure!

Chez Pepe is a family business and they also have restaurants further down the valley in St Martin de Belleville, Jardin Josephine and Le Montegnard. Each restaurant with their own unique style and whilst each offers a similar menu with local dishes each one is individual.

I stopped in for lunch, tempted by the large outdoor seating area filled with deck chairs and a broad choice on the menu. There's a good selection on offer, and the family on the table next to me were pleased to tell me they'd been here 4 days running and that the desserts were very tasty!

I chose the grilled salmon with green beans which you could also have with either fries, pasta or gratin. Free bread came with the meal and the accompanying wine list was a well chosen selection. The portion of food was really ample, with lots of haricots and salad, and the salmon was good.

This is a great meeting place because of its location, and it was really popular with families and groups who were sat all around me. There's a nice atmosphere and although it's a busy place for lunch, there's plenty of room between tables.

Starters cost between 5-10 euros, main dishes between 1-25 euros and the 3 course menu was 32 euros including coffee. The plat du jour varies, but on the day I was there it was 13.90 euros, so quite reasonable compared other nearby restaurants.

I'd recommend you come here for either a quick bite or a lazy lunch, and then take in the sun on the terrace. After that it's up to you whether or not you can get up to hit the pistes again!

Just follow the main road through Chatelard and continue following the signs until you arrive at the farm which is surprisingly easy to spot with blue outdoor lights that can be seen from the other side of the valley.

The restaurant is attached to the farm and the delight here is that the majority of the menu is produced on site. When ‘fait maison’ was introduced in France last year this place certainly did not need to worry.

The only option at Chantacoucou is the set menu which is so reasonably priced at 24 euros. The starter tends to be charcuterie and salad and at the top of the restaurant two windows reveal where the meats are dried and prepared. The main course options this Saturday were either steak or tripe. In our group of six (five of whom were French) two opted for the tripe and were very impressed. I played safe as ever with the steak which was served with the most delicious crozets – small square savoie pasta with a delicious cheesy creamy sauce. Just a heads up, I asked for my steak medium and it was more like a UK rare but was still delicious.

If you are not stuffed already there are still two more courses to come. So you have eaten meat from the farm now what next? Cheese of course. We were served a delicious plate with two types of cheese to sample and then there is a choice of five or six desserts to finish you off! I had a lovely pistachio and raspberry tart, others in the group sampled the homemade chocolate mousse and fromage blanc. I would suggest that trousers with an elastic waistband are a good outfit choice for Chantacoucou!

The restaurant only seats around 40 people and it is really popular so you really need to make sure you book. Every time I have eaten there the restaurant has always been full. As a family run restaurant there is Mrs Souchal in the kitchen and Mr Souchal serving in the restaurant. Bear this in mind, if you want a quick turnaround and vast menu then this is not the place for you. They have one sitting for dinner generally so if you are happy to while away your evening in the cosy restaurant with roaring fire eating delicious homemade produce then reserve your table now.

Inside it's very cosy, modern without being too sterile, and with plenty of seating for groups or families. The service is fast and friendly, and not over-intrusive.

I opted for a pizza, and my eyes were drawn to the house special Le Tivoli.. which promised lashing of dry cured ham, roasted cherry tomatoes, rocket & parmesan. I wasn't disappointed & I have to say it was the best pizza I've had in a long time. The base was just the right tichkness (or thin-ness depending on how you look at it) and there was so much topping it looked great, plus people on the next table were eyeing it up as they sat down..always a good sign!

Suffice to say I ended up sharing it with a friend as it was too much for me to eat in one sitting. It was well worth the 15.50€ price tag, which might be more than you'll pay for a pizza in one of the pack-em-in front de neige restaurants, but you just wouldn't get the same quality.

If you don't fancy a pizza they also serve the skiers favourite tartiflette, which looked pretty good too.

Le Tivoli

If that's not entertaining enough, then there is an air bag in front of the restaurant, tempting lots of skiers and boarders to try out some daring freestyle moves. Consequently, on good weather days, the majority of their cliental choose to seat themselves on the sunny terrace for their meals, where they can sit back and enjoy the action whilst soaking up the sun. However, if you prefer to sit inside, the stylish interior is very inviting with stone walls and a warm log fire.

The restaurant has an extensive menu offering a good range meat and fish dishes and pizzas. I opted for the Lamb ribs with gravy, served with roasted new potatoes and salad. It was excellent! Perfectly cooked pink ribs, full of flavour and good crispy, salty new roasted all served nice and hot. The perfect way to warm yourself up after a chilly morning on the mountain.

Although the Face West Cafe is in the higher price range of the restaurants on the Front de Neige, it is worth every penny. It is hard to rival the quality of the food or the service. There were plenty of staff on hand to attend to us. I would strongly recommend you take the time to stop off at this mountain restaurant.

The menu here is fantastic, a really great selection and at reasonable prices. It is great to be able to go for lunch and eat really fresh produce rather than the usual cheese/cream combo that features on a lot of menus here. My favourite is the Caesar salad (around 15 euros) and do not be deceived by the word ‘salad’ to think that it is light - it is massive! The same goes for the mozzarella and tomato salad which I sampled on my last visit that comes with a full piece of buffalo mozzarella along with tomatoes or all colours and sorts, really nicely dressed.

They also have soups, ghoulash, omelettes, prawn wraps, burgers, lamb shank, duck, bbq spare ribs, noodles and a cote de boeuf for two if you fancy a challenge. A really varied menu with plenty to choose from.

Despite this vast choice, the main reason for my more healthy main course options are that La Ferme are the café gourmand masters! If you have never sampled a café gourmand which basically translates as a ‘greedy coffee’ then you are missing out. It is nestled in there with all the other desserts so may be overlooked. What you get for around 8 euros is a coffee along with three or four ‘mini’ desserts. The mini is not so small and is a great way to finish a meal.

The terrace is really nicely laid out with wooden tables and chairs rather than the usual plastic furniture which features on some mountain terraces. The tables are also nicely spaced so you are not nudging elbows with your neighbour. I have always found the staff here really friendly, professional and you are never waiting long for drinks or food to be served.

Just at the other side there is also the Igloo bar and restaurant which I understand is under the same management – the receipt is marked as La Ferme and the waitresses have La Ferme gilets, I have watched enough Miss Marple in my time to pick up these detective skills! This is a slightly different menu mainly specializing in pizzas but is still a nice terrace and good service. Of the two for lunch I would prefer La Ferme however for an afternoon wine or two the Igloo Bar was perfect. There was also a large group who had opted for a late lunch and seems a good value option for some ski re-fuelling.

As you ski from Les Menuires down to Reberty you cannot miss the huge terrace and archway which is normally laden with a thick layer of snow. So stop off when you are next passing their way.

Located on the run down towards town and the ‘Access Pistes’ elevator (ski past the Rond Point and stay right, keep an eye out for the blue umbrellas), the Helios serves a simple lunch menu of sweet and savoury Crepes. I popped in today to check it out.

I arrived at the restaurant having not booked a table and was told that there would be an hour-long wait. While the impending wait was long, I took the popularity as a good sign and took a seat outside to watch the skiers whizzing past on the steep slope beside the terrace. To my delight, upon sitting down I noticed that my whole body began to feel warm, which was very strange for such a cold day. It turned out that the table I was sitting at doubled up as a wood burning stove designed to keep people, food and drink toasty and warm. I ordered a hot chocolate with cream and enjoyed the heat.

After 40 minutes a table became free. I was invited inside by a young English waiter who bore a striking resemblance to Neil Patrick-Harris (it’s all about the details). The lunchtime crepe menu is very affordable so I was surprised to be led into a fancy looking room filled with large wooden tables surrounded by plush chairs – certainly not your typical creperie.

The lunchtime menu consists of a few salads, several classic savoury pancakes or ‘galettes’, Savoyard galettes and the amusingly translated ‘from elsewhere galettes’. There are also several sweet crepe options for dessert.

I decided to go for the ‘Formula’ that consists of any one Galette, any one Crepe for dessert and a glass of cider (a lovely touch I must say) all for a very reasonable €17.

I opted for the ‘Tartiflette galette’. I’ve not had many savoury crepes before and certainly not one filled with tartiflette. It was superb, with creamy sauce, salty lardons and thinly sliced potatoes all covered in delicious melted reblochon cheese – a great choice.

For dessert I went for the Apple with Salted Caramel Sauce crepe - another great choice. Filled with soft, piping-hot apple slices and generously covered in salted caramel, it didn’t disappoint.

What I really loved about lunch at the Helios was that they have a small, well thought out menu, which means they can concentrate on cooking it really really well – and that is exactly what they did.

Nestled in the main square of Moutiers the restaurant could be a great stop on your way up or down the valley and gives a chance to soak up some non-ski resort flavours.
Stopping in on the 3 star hotel overnight during interseason, we spotted the restaurant and were immediately tempted to check out the menu.
The menu is not overwhelmed with choice, which can be a blessing, and with a long day behind us we made the easy choice of a rumpsteak served with a soupçon of ratatouille and home-cut fries, along with a 'Manu' special Ligure pizza - the pizza was topped with home-made pistou and tangy parmesan.
Served with a few pichets of red wine by the friendly, chirpy staff we soon felt like we could happily return to this restaurant.
Desset du jour was a homemade, coconut infused, tart which was the perfect way to finish off a great meal in a great restaurant.

After working up an appetite on the slopes we were ready for a big lunch. Someone had mentioned a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese and others had been dreaming of tartiflette since the plane touched down at Geneva airport, even the thought of it now is making me hungry!

We passed the Chalets du Thorens Restaurant and decided to take advantage of its sunny situation for a long lazy lunch. There are quite a few seating options; outside on the veranda, indoors in the warm chalet style interior or in a see-through covered outdoor area which looks like it will be ideal for all weather conditions on the mountain! We opted for this so that we could enjoy the sunshine and the views but still be warm if the temperature dropped.

The staff were attentive straight away and brought us menus and took our drinks order. As a group of 6 it was great to be in a place where we didn't feel too cramped and there were several other larger groups in the same space but it certainly didn't feel too busy. I am sure in high season this would be a choice spot so it may be worth booking in advance, especially on busier holiday weekends!

The menu selection did not disappoint either. Between us we managed to cover the spag bol, tartiflette, patifeltte (tartiflette but with pasta!), a hearty salad and the obligatory vin chaud. Mountain restaurants are notoriously meat heavy with their dishes, so the vegetarian option is normally a salad, and a bit disappointing as people are digging into wintry warm dishes around you. However the Salade Paysanne was a pleasant surprise as it came heaped with cheese, egg, croutons, tomato and a delicious sauce...all served in an edible bowl! The tartiflette also went down very well, coming in it's own individual pan, making the obligatory scraping of the caramalised edges of the pan possible!

The full a la carte menu is actually normally more extensive but they had a slightly shortened one for this opening weekend. Even better for the veggie's amongst us with pizza and sushi on offer! In addition to the table service there is also a self service area for a quicker lunch stop.

I can certainly see myself coming back to this restaurant, even if it is just for a morning coffee in the sun, it really is the perfect spot on the mountain to enjoy a quick rest stop or a long lazy lunch!

As I am based further down the Belleville Valley a trip up to Val Thorens is always a refreshing night out and great sign of life as opposed to the lower villages. Also over the past few years, Val Thorens now have an awful lot on offer and I’m looking forward to checking out all the new places. So here’s a quick run down of a few places I visited during the opening weekend.

The first bar we visited for an aperitif on Saturday evening was ‘Au Perchoir Bar’ which has gone under an impressive renovation for this season. The bar is based in the ‘Le Portillo’ hotel on Place Peclet. Tucked away at the back of the hotel, the bar has been really well renovated with a true alpine style and lots of cosy seating to enjoy a bottle of rouge whilst the snow falls outside.

From there we moved on to Café Peclet which is a well established restaurant in Val Thorens. As it was the weekend of the Andros Trophee and with limited bars and restaurants open we made reservations, which was a wise choice made by the VT locals we were dining with as the place was ram jammed. It seems at any point it is probably best however to reserve a table as the restaurant itself isn’t huge. The menu is mainly local specialties with fondues, raclettes and steak tartare. As I am still not quite ready to adopt the raw mince platter, I played safe and opted for the steak and frites and pretty good it was too. The potions are a good size, the staff are really friendly and the menu is reasonably priced. Also I found that it was a nice touch was that at the end of the meal they offer a mini bottle of genepi to digest and digest some more for the genepi lovers! It seems the guys on the table next to us were welcoming this addition to the meal following a massive raclette cheese challenge.

The following day and further down the valley is a place we skied to for a lunch break, Ninkasi in Les Menuires. This is a franchise which started off in Lyon and has been taken on by two local guys who hung up their ski instructor jackets to start the restaurant. It is based right in the base of Les Menuires near the Croisette to the right side next to the piste leading to La Masse. The décor is really refreshing for a piste side restaurant and they have a nice big terrace which is good for groups meeting up.

The restaurant inside is on the small side so if it’s a bad weather day make sure you head there early. They mainly specialize in burgers and salads with some fish and chips thrown in there too. They are a craft brewery so have a good variety of beers on offer along with some flavoured vodkas worth giving a try. I found that the prices are on the higher side for a burger restaurant however pretty much standard mountain restaurant prices.  If you are staying in Les Menuires it’s a good spot for an après drink or two and they also offer tapas and snacks.

I think that next on my list has got to be a stop off at Hotel Tango who on a Thursday lunchtime has an all you can eat and drink event with an outdoor barbeque on their terrace for just 19 euros if pre-booked! Well get me booked in…

The hotel has two restaurants indoors and a large terrace dining area outside, where we headed for lunch on a sunny, crisp day on opening weekend for the winter 2016-17 season.

My friend was going to try out the new 'Sprunch' offer, which is a combination of spa treatment and buffet brunch although since we were here early in the season they hadn't started the brunch yet (this will be available later in December) so we were offered the lunch menu instead.

The Spa & Brunch offer includes a 30, 60 or 90 minute spa treatment with access to the indoor pool, sauna, steam room and the indoor or outdoor jacuzzi (the latter of which is on the terrace, accessed by a glass spiral staircase). Prices start from €95.

The menu, although quite small, had enough options for us to choose from and it took us no time at all to choose our three dishes. I opted for the Caesar salad with king prawns, Steak tartare and the Café gourmand to finish, whilst my friend ordered the Salmon caviar, Tartiflette and Chocolate & caramel pudding.

The prawns in my salad were delicious, with a hint of smokiness which was balanced nicely with the creamy caesar sauce and the steak tartare came with the obligatory egg yolk and a nice selection of chopped shallots, olives and cornichons.

We both enjoyed the caviar starter, when it's this tasty it's impossible not to share!

The tartiflette was deliciously creamy and the portion size was great, especially good if you've been skiing hard all morning from first lifts!

I'm not much of a fan of chocolate puddings, so instead I opted for the Café gourmand, which was a delight for the eyes when it arrived. The sweet biscuity treats, meringue with a wild fruit cream and jam filled cake bites didn't last very long!

As we'd taken a few hours to dine the sun had started to go behind the clouds and temperatures started to drop, but thanks to our waiter, we were quickly given lovely woollen blankets to wrap ourselves up in as we finished our coffees.

My friend headed off for her spa treatment and I went off to get a bit more skiing in before the lifts closed.

The restaurant is open to non residents and can be accessed either via the 'Croissant' piste that runs along side it or by coming up the road at the front of the hotel and through the main reception, but be warned if you're driving up the road can get a little icy and you may need snow chains. However the hotel do offer valet parking too.