Portes du Soleil
I recently spent a week in The Alps celebrating my Dad’s 60th birthday. He part owns a barn that is slowly being renovated from cow shed to chalet and it’s very much our happy place, both in winter and summer. We certainly have our favourite spots to eat / drink / play, so I thought I’d consolidate them here - my Portes du Soleil recommendations for breakfast / coffee spots, lunches on the slopes, après-ski vibes and La Chapelle-d’Abondance dinners, plus a few activity ideas for a snowy day.
Breakfast and Coffee
Le Grenier à Pain (Châtel) - Pick up a chocolate almond croissant on the way to the slopes and thank me later
Cookie Cafe (Mossettes) - The only spot for barista coffee worth sippin, in my opinion
Chez BaBeth (Plaine Dranse) - An incredibly kitsch grotto, filled to the rafters with teddies. A unique spot to warm up in on a snowy day
Ristorante La Leiche (Linga) - Tackle the top of Linga (always icy) and reward yourself with a delicious hot chocolate and plenty of cream halfway down. Warm your toes by their open fire
Mountain Lunches
The Goat Village (Lindarets) - A cluster of restaurants all vying for the accolade of best goat’s cheese salad. Opt for Le Petit Lindaret for the food or La Terrasse for the vibes
Les Trappeurs (Avoriaz) - Nothing better than sitting with an Aperol on their sunny terrace
L’Abricotine (Montriond) - A classic, cosy Alpine restaurant with a solid selection of tartiflettes
Après-Ski
La Folie Douce (Avoriaz) - The obvious choice for magnums of rosé and dancing on the tables to DJ sets
Chez Crepy (Plaine Dranse) - An alternative if you’re staying on the other side of the valley. A circular tented bar with a more intimate feel and slightly questionable German dance music
Le Fer Rogue (La Chapelle-d’Abondance) - A micro brewery with plenty of mismatched seating, sports matches playing over the projector and board games piled high on tables. Happy hour is between 6pm and 7pm
Dinner
Le Fêto (La Chapelle-d’Abondance) - An adorable private hut with a fire at its centre, ready to keep your fondue warm. Connect your music to their speaker and have a little cheesy party
La Baratte (La Chapelle-d’Abondance) - Nestled beneath Les Gentianettes Hotel, a refined brasserie with many of the same Savoyarde dishes. Spot the jambon room as you enter, or the wine cellar as you leave
Jackie’s - Another classic French fine dining restaurant. Perhaps a little cold in feel, but the food makes up for that and then some. Request to sit upstairs
Activities
Spa day - A trip to the Alps is incomplete without a spa day. Visit Châtel’s relatively new spa, complete with sauna, steam room, open air pool and treatment room (but not the best offering for that all important spa snooze). Or take your pick of the hotel spas in the village
Fantasticable - Soar across the valley on an overhead zip wipe if you dare…
Alpine walk - Or, for those less adrenaline led, I don’t think much can beat an afternoon walk along the river
With huge thanks to my family who I pestered every chairlift for their ‘top three’. Maybe I’ll do a summer list too - with their expertise, of course…
