Winter in the French Alps: Where to Eat and Stay According to Our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors

1. Megève: For Sophisticated Stays

The Rothschilds initially envisioned the tiny farming hamlet of Megève, near the Mont Blanc, becoming a swanky ski town that could rival Switzerland’s St. Moritz. A century later, it’s obtained — and maintained — a status as the if-you-know-you-know locale in the French Alps.

More about quiet luxury and less about the glitz than some of its louder neighbors (although the fashion is still among the most stylish on France’s slopes), lauded French hoteliers have laid claim to (or are from) the village. For instance, the Sibuet family, behind One MICHELIN Key Les Fermes de Marie, a boutique beauty constructed from a collection of old chalets that have maintained their rustic feel with stone- and timber-clad walls, tartan curtains and wall coverings.

It would be easy to spend your entire stay in Megève without stepping foot on the slopes. Think plush spas (Japanese baths and Finnish saunas included) and an impressive concentration of gastronomic and beautifully executed Savoyard fare, from Three-MICHELIN-Starred traditional bistro Le Prieuré, on the main square, to plant-focused fine dining One-Star La Table de l’Alpaga and One-Star Vous, whose intimate kitchen-facing counter seats just 14 lucky diners at a time.

2. Val Thorens: For a Family-Friendly Escape

Among the handful of main towns forming Les Trois Vallées — the largest interconnected ski domain in the world, roughly the size of five of the United States’ largest ski resorts — Val Thorens has become one of Europe’s friendliest for families. That’s thanks to the fact that more than half the slopes are greens and blues, and there are double ziplining, dogsledding and snowtubing trails too.

At one of the latest additions, Caron 3200, you can have a drink at the wine bar while looking out over 360-degree panoramic views of more than a thousand peaks. At Scandi-chic One-Key Altapura, nestled along the slopes, you’ll have direct access to the Plein Sud chairlift — and the Skibar terrace deckchairs offer some of the best views après-ski. Nearby, One-Star Les Explorateurs at Hôtel Pashmina is one of our Inspectors’ top picks for its inventive approach to high-quality alpine cuisine, which extends to the standout desserts that take a cue from seasonal ingredients sourced from — and inspired by — the surrounding mountains.

3. Tignes: For High-Altitude Skiing

The nearly 12,000-foot Grande Motte glacier, the highest point of the area, is, unsurprisingly, one of the main draws to Tignes. With almost 200 miles of ski slopes catering to all levels, Tignes is not only one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, but the high-altitude locale also guarantees snow all season long — a huge plus when European winters are more unpredictable than ever.

One of the most sumptuous stays in Tignes’ five villages is One-MICHELIN-Key Maison Bouvier – Les Suites in Val Claret, considered the first five-star hotel in the ski resort (and conveniently located near the slopes). The family-owned hotel also houses two of the area’s most acclaimed restaurants. At Ursus (One MICHELIN Star), Chef Clément Bouvier, son of the hotel’s founders, who cut his teeth working under greats like Jean-François Piège, pays homage to Savoie with ingredients sourced during his hikes through the forest. His sister Emma and her husband, Chef Hugo Colombo, helm the kitchen at farmhouse-inspired La Table de Jeanne, where highlights are of the hearty mountain variety — think fondue and raclette, plus Grandma Jeanne’s famous steak tartare.

4. Courchevel: For a See-and-Be-Seen-Setting — and Sensational Shopping

Courchevel’s five villages offer a taste of something for everyone. For glitz and glamour, Courchevel 1850 is your place — the charming, cobbled streets are an alpine version of Rodeo Drive clad with designer boutiques like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. The hotels are just as elevated, with one A-lister after another. It’s hard to play favorites when options include L’Apogée Courchevel (Two Keys) and Aman Le Melezin (Two Keys), Cheval Blanc Courchevel (Three Keys), and Hotel Barrière Les Neiges, which has just gotten its own offshoot of Loulou Paris.

Courchevel and its surroundings also claim the highest concentration of Starred restaurants in the Alps, including locally loved spots like One-Star Le Farçon in La Tania, one of the more accessible options with its rustic-chic interiors and laid-back atmosphere — skiers can even glide in right from the slopes. Two-Star Baumanière 1850 in Courchevel 1850 packs in plenty of alpine charm (it’s in a chalet, after all) with Chef Thomas Prod’homme’s plates that weave in the best local ingredients the winter season has to offer with influences from his time training in Provence. At elegant Le Sarkara (Two Stars) you’ll have valley views on one side and a crackling fireplace on the other as you dine on Pastry Chef Sébastien Vauxion’s perfectly prepped pâtisseries disguised as haute vegetarian fare.

5. Val d’Isère: For an Over-the-Top Après-Ski Scene

Val d’Isère has long been the favorite for serious skiers thanks to World Cup piste Face de Bellevarde, but it’s also where well-heeled travelers go to escape the crowds (and flash) of Verbier. The slopeside revelry is just as iconic, though, thanks to après-ski hotspot La Folie Douce, where world-class cabaret performances are paired alongside French mountainside staples.

For the best of both worlds on and off the slopes, you’ll want to call Airelles Val d’Isère your base: It’s ski-in, ski-out — the ski room valets are an alpine equivalent to butler service — with morning croissants and hot chocolates by celebrity Pastry Chef Cédric Grolet, and its piano bar Le Piaf is the place to pass the evening when you don’t want après-ski to end just yet. When you’re ready to venture out for dinner, the views are as impressive as the One-Starred cuisine at La Table de l’Ours, perched on the edge of the Olympic ski run.

6. Chamonix: For Sky-High Peaks & Glaciers Galore

Sandwiched between Switzerland and Italy, Chamonix is Western Europe’s base camp for adventure, whether that’s heli-skiing from the Italian side of Mont Blanc in Courmayeur or trekking across the Mer de Glace (“sea of ice”), France’s largest glacier, punctuated by plunging crevasses.

The beauty of somewhere like Chamonix is that mountaineering options are practically endless — and for those who’d rather soak up the views sans skis, you’ll feel just as accomplished summiting the 12,300-foot Aiguille du Midi (the famous “needle” on one of the highest peaks in Chamonix) by cable car to the 360-degree views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps.

From Belle Époque charmer La Folie Douce, you’ll be steps from the ski lift, and for travelers who consider dining the true adventure here, near two Inspector favorites: Albert 1er, a local One-Star institution for more than a century, and Auberge du Bois Prin, whose terrace view is a true showstopper.

7. Méribel: For Spectacular Alpine Scenery

Unparalleled skiing is guaranteed: This spot is smack-dab in the center of Les Trois Vallées, after all, with more than 85% of the ski area above 5,900 feet. Traditional timber-and-stone chalets add to the alpine charm, but the snow-covered fir forests make this village one of the most picturesque in the Alps. Here, slowing down and soaking up the scenery is encouraged — and what better way than on the back of a horse-drawn sleigh or in an outdoor jacuzzi? One of the most stylish stays on the slopes is ski-in, ski-out Le Coucou, a modernized take on a typical wooden chalet, complete with an indoor-outdoor pool perched amongst the peaks, and Bar des Pistes, where you can admire skiers speeding down the Belvédère.

Start the evening with drinks on the ground floor of La Coursive des Alpes, a converted cinema with a restaurant unfolding in the mezzanine; you can’t go wrong with the house special sweetbreads or seven-hour confit of beef à la royale. Or take a seat at L’Ekrin by Laurent Azoulay, the sole spot with a MICHELIN Star in Méribel, where the eponymous chef marries the best of his native Provence and his adopted home in Savoie.

Hero Image: The dazzling mountain views from a room at Le Coucou hotel in Méribel in the French Alps.

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