MÈGEVE, FRANCE
Nestled in the French Alps, the small town of Mègeve is an ideal destination for winter holidays. The town is primarily built as a ski resort, with lodge-style chalets, snow parks, and cross-mountain trails, but most facilities are easily accessible to pedestrians as well via cable cars & ski lifts. Mègeve has a charming winter-wonderland feel with cobble-stone streets, horse carriages, and beautiful mountain views; and it offers a perfect balance of leisure and activity to please.
TO STAY
One of the best stays in Mégeve for many reasons. This five-star luxury hotel enjoys an ideal location in the heart of town and just minutes away from the Chamois ski lift. Designed as a hunting-lodge, Le Lodge Park is at once cosy and charming with wood-cabin walls, fur-lined interiors and warm fireplaces; a perfect winter refuge. With a few dining options and a luxury spa facility, there's enough to keep guests entertained throughout the stay. It's not a ski-in-ski-out hotel, but it is an ideal choice for both a leisure and active holiday.
FOOD & DINING
Perhaps Mégeve's most scenic mountaintop restaurant, Idéal 1850 offers one of the most elegant aprés-ski experiences. Sitting at an altitude of 1,850m on Mont D'Arbois, the restaurant enjoys sweeping views of Mont Blanc and a stunning backdrop of snowy landscapes. Take a terrace table and enjoy lunch to a postcard-perfect view. As a Four Seasons restaurant, you can expect an equally impressive menu of Alpine specialties like tartiflette and cheese fondue, the famous Rothschild burger, and homemade chouqettes to finish. The restaurant is easily accessible to skiers and pedestrians alike for an enjoyable midday experience. Open only for lunch, make sure to book in advance and ask for a table outside.
Located at Le Lodge Park, this is one of Mégeve's best steak restaurants. The menu focuses on prime cuts of steak smoked and grilled to perfection with several entrees to share, a variety of side dishes, and a few fish and chicken options as well. The warm lodge-style interiors make for a perfectly cosy evening. Open for dinner only.
Located at the five-star luxury hotel of the same name, Restaurant Les Fermes de Marie is nestled in the heart of the main chalet; serving traditional mountain cuisine in a rustic-chic setting. With a focus on local specialties, seasonal ingredients and family-style dining, Les Fermes de Marie offers a delightful dining experience for lunch and dinner. Just a short walk from the town centre.
This luxury hotel, just minutes from the town centre, offers two restaurants to explore: La Table for a Michelin-star experience, a multi-course set menu, and sophisticated plating. For casual but refined dining, Le Bistro is an enjoyable choice for lunch or dinner with a more traditional Alpine menu.
Located at Hotel Mont Blanc, Le Relais is a pleasant choice for lunch or dinner in the town centre. Cosy, rustic interiors and a comforting menu of French-Alpine cuisine with plenty of choices for soups and salads, cheese fondue and hearty meat dishes. Stop by the hotel's cosy Bar Les Enfants Terribles for an aperitif or a cosy nightcap after dinner. They also have a mountaintop restaurant called Le Relais Des Fermes at an altitude of 1,300m for a scenic midday break or après-ski.
For fondue and raclette, Le Chamois is an excellent choice. The menu offers a variety of fondue and raclette with accompanying sides, as well as a selection of hot dishes like tartiflette, steak plancha and burgers to please all tastes. It's a small and intimate bistro with modern-Alpine interiors, open for lunch and dinner. Just around the corner from the town centre.
A gourmet culinary experience in an elegant farmhouse setting. La Ferme De Mon Père is a delectable take on regional cuisine with a focus on quality ingredients, refined simplicity, and home-style cooking. The menu is small but not limited in variety, with a balance of meat and vegetable dishes. Located a little further out from town and open only for dinner.
A casual but elegant bistro along the promenade for lunch or dinner in town. The menu serves typical Alpine specialties, but the highlight here really is their famous Mousse au Chocolat served in a large sharing dish - rich, dark, and decadent. There are more exciting dining options in Mégeve but it's a quick and convenient choice if you don't have other plans.
THINGS TO DO
TOWN CENTRE
The heart and centre of Mégeve town is by the Saint Jean Baptiste Church, where a small and charming square branches out into smaller side streets. This is an ideal starting point to wander the town on foot, with boutique shops and cafés on every corner. It's a small town to explore in an hour or two and almost everything is within walking distance.
MOUNTAIN VISITS
Mégeve gives full access to skiers and pedestrians alike to enjoy its beautiful scenery. There are several téléphériques/cable car stations to take you up the mountains whether you want to ski, dine, or simply enjoy the view. Some of the more popular stations are Chamois, Rocharbois, Rochebrune and Mont D'Arbois.
MOUNTAINTOP DINING & APRÉS-SKI
This is an essential experience in any ski-resort and one of the most enjoyable pastimes. Mégeve has several mountaintop restaurants and aprés-ski hotspots to try, and there's something for every taste. For mountaintop dining and afternoon drinks, the elegant Idéal 1850 is an excellent choice; whereas Le Relais Des Fermes is more casual and laidback. For a more lively atmosphere, La Folie Douce is a popular aprés-ski party destination with young crowds, loud music and often tabletop dancing. Most places are easily accessible via ski slopes or cable cars.
TRAVELING TIPS
1. Hotels fill out fairly quickly at peak winter season, so book everything in advance. Staying in the town centre is also much more convenient for moving around, and you can choose a ski-in-ski-out hotel if you prefer. For a more secluded stay, there are a few mountainside resorts to explore (like the Four Seasons Mont D'Arbois).
2. Plan according to the weather, especially if your holiday revolves around winter sports. Christmas is a wonderful time to visit Mégeve for the holiday atmosphere and it's when slopes are just beginning to open if there's enough snow. January to March is peak ski season and also the busiest time to visit, so book in advance.
3. For skiers and winter sport enthusiasts, don't worry about having full gear. There are plenty of rental shops around town, and most ski-hotels will offer equipment as well.
4. Map out the stations and ski lifts you plan on visiting, and plan your mountaintop dining/aprés ski break by location. Mégeve is fairly easy to navigate, but it helps to have a map on hand.
5. Check closing times beforehand. Most mountaintop restaurants close by 3 pm, rental shops and cable stations by 5 or 6 pm. If you do miss the last lift back, call your hotel for a taxi or car to the closest station.