Dining

You won’t have any problem getting excellent food—there are eight Michelin-rated and 11 Gault Millau-listed restaurants.

La Ferme de mon Père (45021 01 01) is one of France’s top restaurants set in a very rustic farm atmosphere. It is a pilgrimage made by those who worship great cooking. As you eat, you can feast on the exquisite food while observing the farm animals through the glass floor. Expect to pay €150–€210 for the privilege of attending Chef Marc Veyrat’s banquet around the flickering fireplace. He is a world-renowned cook and remains the only man to have won three star awards for his two restaurants. In the summer, he directs at his place in Annecy, and in the winter he resides in Megève.

Flocons de Sel (450 21 49 99) is an upscale restaurant with a menu that covers cuisine from all over France. It has gained a great reputation, rating one star in the Michelin Guide. Clients drive from hours away to dine there. Reservations are highly recommended.

Chalet du Mont d’Arbois (450 21 25 03; photo above) belongs to Baron Rothschild. Enjoy Michelin two-fork meals in a country atmosphere created by heavy beams and soaring, stuccoed arches. The chalet claims one of the best wine cellars in Megève. A meal will cost €40–€60.

On first appearance Jaques Megean (450 21 26 82) resembles an American diner with its low hanging dim lights over booths. But don’t be fooled; this new restaurant is known to serve some of the best truffles in the region.

Le Prieure (450 21 01 79) is nestled between the church and the priory on the main square. This spot is as cozy a dining atmosphere as it gets.

Les Fermes de Marie (450 93 03 10) serves fine French meals and cheese specialties in a French country atmosphere.

Le Cintra ((450 21 02 60) has a seafood bar in a lively ambiance.

St. Nicolas (450 21 41 79) is a restaurant in the basement of the Hotel Au Coin du Feu. Giant wooden cupboards, armoires and stone basement arches provide a real country touch. The chef serves up Savoyard country specialties. Expect to pay €40.

Fer à Cheval Restaurant (450 21 30 39; photo left) in the hotel of the same name also has a very rustic country feel. Country cooking with a Savoyard gourmet flair will cost about €35–€40 per person for dinner.

Les Drets (450 21 31 78), better known as “Chez Lou-Lou,” gets a lot of repeat customers who claim they re-turn because of the owners. Driving there is easiest. It’s on the road to Cote 2000 just before you get to the altiport (a small area on the mountain with runway and lot for pilots who have their own small planes. Pilots must have special training to use the altiport), but you can also get there from the slopes if you’re willing to take a short walk. It is open only for lunch, which starts at €15.

For local mountain specialties of fondue, raclette and pela (a regional country dish of pan-fried potatoes and bacon covered with melted cheese and served in the pan with a selection of mountain-dried beef and sausages), make sure to visit the following two small restaurants all within a one-minute walk of each other.

Le Chamois (450 21 25 01), next to the church and old town tower, specializes in cheese fondue at about €15.50 per person. Unlike most restaurants, Le Chamois will serve a single guest who arrives with a fondue craving.

Les Marronniers (450 21 22 01) is a tiny rustic cafe at the opposite end of the building that houses Le Chamois. Wooden walls are lined with hundreds of colorful old pastel coffee pots. Ra-clette is served the old-fashioned way—scraped off with a knife–for about €18. They also serve crêpes, gallettes (thick pan-cakes), and omelettes.

For eating on the mountain we have recommendations for each area. The best overall is L’Alpette between Rochebrune and Cote 2000 (450 21 03 69). La Petite Coterie in Le Bettex (450 93 14 40) is also excel-lent. Both will be crowded in high season, so you should make reservations. On the top of Mont d’Arbois, choose from refined dining at Ideal 1850 (450 21 31 26) with its south-facing terrace or try the Igloo self-service (450 93 53 36) next to the upper station of the Princesse lift. On top of Mont Joux, the new Espace Mont Joux (450 58 99 67) has great views of Mont Blanc, and La Cote 2000 (450 21 31 84) near the altiport. Super Megève (450 21 22 05) at the top of Rochebrune has a 360-degree view and a big terrace for lunches in the sun.

Across the valley on the Jaillet Massif, try La P’tite Ravine (450 21 38 67). It’s right on the slopes and has a cozy, familiar atmosphere.

Head to La Ferme de Chateluy (06 09 30 54 15), a restored historic farm where the toilet is literally in the woodshed, and the salads and desserts are top-notch. It is off the Chateluy blue run from the top of the Bettex gondola. Follow the little sign to the left of the blue run—a tiny path leads directly to the restaurant.

Also notable for its straight-on view of Mont Blanc, Au Petit Montagnard (450 93 25 09) offers a tomato fondue specialty and can be found on L’Olympic piste, just above St. Nicholas village.

Near the bottom of the ladies' Olympic downhill course and on the cross-country trails, the Cote 2000 (450 21 31 84) offers local specialties in a Savoyard chalet. The sun terrace attracts numerous loungers quite simply because it's one of the best.

For the best bread for miles, head to "Le Refuge du Boulanger", where the bread is made before your eyes. If you're out late one night, drop by and you may get some "pain au chocolat" fresh from the oven.