Food · Chamonix · France
What to eat in Chamonix
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Chamonix, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Fondue savoyarde, Tartiflette and Raclette. Refuges and mountain restaurants such as those at Lac Blanc, Plan de l'Aiguille and on the ski slopes serve omelettes, tartiflette and bilberry tart on terraces facing the glaciers. Book restaurants for dinner in February school holidays, at Christmas and in August, when the valley is at its fullest.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Fondue savoyarde
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Service is included in restaurant bills.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish · Vegetarian
1.Fondue savoyarde
A pot of melted Savoie cheeses such as Beaufort, Comté and Emmental with white wine and garlic, eaten with cubes of bread on long forks. Tradition says whoever drops their bread pays the next round.
Where: Traditional restaurants in the centre and mountain restaurants on the slopes; usually a minimum of two people.
Dish
2.Tartiflette
A baked dish of potatoes, lardons, onions and cream topped with a whole Reblochon cheese, which melts into a rich crust. It is the default lunch after a morning's skiing.
Where: Almost every restaurant and mountain hut menu in winter.
Dish
3.Raclette
Half a wheel of raclette cheese melted under a heater and scraped over boiled potatoes, served with charcuterie, gherkins and pickled onions.
Where: Savoyard restaurants in the centre; some cheese shops rent raclette sets for apartments.
Dish
4.Croziflette
A variation on tartiflette made with crozets, small square buckwheat or wheat pasta from Savoie, baked with Reblochon, cream and lardons.
Where: Restaurants serving Savoyard dishes; packets of crozets sell in local delis.
Dish
5.Diots au vin blanc (Diots)
Savoie pork sausages slowly cooked in white wine with onions, often served with polenta or crozets.
Where: Traditional restaurants and the delis and butchers of the centre.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Beaufort and Reblochon
The two great cheeses of the Savoie mountains: firm, nutty Beaufort from high summer pastures and soft, washed-rind Reblochon. Tomme de Savoie and Abondance are the other local staples.
Where: Cheese shops in the centre will cut and vacuum-pack pieces for travel.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Tarte aux myrtilles
A tart piled with small wild bilberries, picked on the mountain slopes in late summer; it turns teeth and tongues purple.
Where: Bakeries and mountain hut terraces, especially in August and September.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Génépi
A herbal liqueur made from artemisia plants that grow at high altitude, traditionally drunk as a digestif after a heavy cheese meal.
Where: Bars and restaurants across the valley; bottles from local distillers make good souvenirs.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Vin chaud
Mulled red wine with orange and spices, served steaming in mugs at après-ski bars and on the slopes.
Where: Après-ski terraces at the foot of the lifts and bars in the centre in winter.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Gâteau de Savoie
A very light, tall sponge cake made with whipped egg whites, a regional speciality with a history going back to the court of the Counts of Savoy.
Where: Bakeries and pâtisseries in the centre.
Food experiences
Lunch in a mountain hut
Refuges and mountain restaurants such as those at Lac Blanc, Plan de l'Aiguille and on the ski slopes serve omelettes, tartiflette and bilberry tart on terraces facing the glaciers.
Cheese night
An evening of fondue or raclette in a traditional wood-panelled Savoyard restaurant is the classic Chamonix dinner, best after a cold day outdoors.
Après-ski
From about 4pm in winter, the bars at the foot of the lifts and in the centre fill with skiers drinking vin chaud and local beer as the light fades on the peaks.
Market morning
The weekly market in the centre, usually on Saturday mornings, sells Savoie cheeses, charcuterie, honey and local produce for picnics.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Fondue savoyarde, Beaufort and Reblochon, Tarte aux myrtilles, Génépi, Vin chaud and Gâteau de Savoie. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book restaurants for dinner in February school holidays, at Christmas and in August, when the valley is at its fullest.
- Lunch on the mountain is often better value than dinner in town, and the views are the point.
- Cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette are usually priced per person with a minimum of two.
- Tap water is free and very good; ask for a carafe d'eau.
- Many restaurants close for a few weeks in May and November, between the seasons.
Tipping
Service is included in restaurant bills. Leaving a few euros for good service is common, and ski instructors and mountain guides appreciate a tip at the end of a successful day or course.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / good day |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much |
| Un forfait, s'il vous plaît | A lift pass, please |
| Une carafe d'eau | A jug of tap water |
| Où est le départ du sentier ? | Where does the trail start? |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Chamonix famous for?
Fondue savoyarde, Tartiflette, Raclette and Croziflette. A pot of melted Savoie cheeses such as Beaufort, Comté and Emmental with white wine and garlic, eaten with cubes of bread on long forks.
+Is Chamonix good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Fondue savoyarde, Beaufort and Reblochon and Tarte aux myrtilles.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Chamonix?
Service is included in restaurant bills. Leaving a few euros for good service is common, and ski instructors and mountain guides appreciate a tip at the end of a successful day or course.