Les Arcs, Bourg St. Maurice Dining

Les Arcs, Bourg St. Maurice, France

Dining
Here the focus is on the functional—just like the architecture. When we asked locals about the restaurants the response was usually a puzzled look and a smile, after ponderous thought. Here what we think are Les Arcs’ best:

In Arc 1600 try Chez Fernand (0479 07 78 14) with fondue and other specialties created by the owner; and nearby La Rive (0479 07 70 50). Also try Au Petit Loup (0479 07 74 50) and Le Cairn (0479 07 79 85) serving Savoyard specialities.

In Arc 1800: The Hotel du Golf main restaurant (0479 41 43 43) is the nicest restaurant in Les Arcs. The atmosphere is modern elegance. Meals cost around €38–€40 a person before considering wine.

Le Chalet Bouvier (0479 04 14 68) has good food and good atmosphere.

La Marmite (0479 07 44 28) is a small, cozy, friendly place with a €17–€20 menu and child’s menu for €7.

Le Plante d’Baton (0479 07 45 13), is a very traditional French-looking restaurant with meals for €15–€21 and a child’s meal for €7.

SOS Pizza (0479 07 51 65) makes great, inexpensive pizza for takeout only. It is a hop downstairs from the tourism office. Casa Mia (0479 070575) and Gargantus (0479 07 44 99) also make good pizza.

In Arc 1950: La Casa (0479 07 56 48) serves a collection of pizzas, salads and dried ham inside and on their patio. Hemingway’s (0479 04 25 51) is a good across-the-board eatery with an outdoor dining area as well. La Cantina (0479 04 04 85) is the Mexican/Spanish place in the Ramada SAS Hotel. Chez Anne (0479 06 43 11) serves Savoyard specialties. Le Chalet de Luigi (0479 00 15 36) serves northern Italian specialties. Les Belles Pinte (0479 07 35 42) is an Irish pub with pub fare.

In Arc 2000: Chez Eux (0479 07 34 36) serves fine fon-due and raclette as well as great semi-gastro food. Red Rock Café (0479 07 10 58) serves good burgers. And El Latino Loco (0479 07 79 49) is OK. Little else can be heartily recommended.

For a special lunch on the mountain don’t miss Belliou La Fumée (0479 07 29 13), named after a Jack London story, in the valley of Arc 2000. This unique family-run restaurant was built in the 15th century by King Victor Emmanuel of Italy as a bear-hunting lodge. Omelets cooked over an open fire are served in the pan, and other regional specialties are prepared and served with care. Or after a long ski down to the bottom of the Villaroger lift, visit La Ferme with excellent mountainside food.

Le Chalet de L’Arc (0479 04 15 40) serves up atmosphere. This chalet on the slopes compliments its menu with its own freshly baked bread. You can go by ski or foot.

La Creche (0479 07 55 47), at the top of the Transarc Gondola, serves inexpen-sive cafeteria-style grilled food downstairs with a sit-down restaurant upstairs. The restaurant menu runs €16–€22.

Since many of the best restaurants are in far-flung places surrounding Les Arcs, visit L’Ancolie (479 07 93 20), reported to be a beautiful little restaurant in Peisey.