Restaurant Reviews in Chamonix

Anyone who knows me well is fully aware that I need no excuse to go to Chambre Neuf. During the winter months it became my second home with its famous après ski and great cocktails during happy hour. Now that it is summer, the evenings are lighter and ideally I am supposed to be outside doing all things active, rather than drinking into the evening. I realised I needed a new pretext to visit Chambre regularly. So naturally I was delighted when offered the opportunity to visit my favourite establishment in Chamonix to try their new menu.

One thing that is obligatory to try when in Chamonix is a fondue. A big bubbling pot of melted cheese that is guaranteed to burn the roof off your mouth, send you into the deepest food coma you've ever had and cause you to put on at least a stone overnight.

With two American friends in town, who were specifically requesting a 'Chamonix cheese-fest', it seemed appropriate enough to head to Le Monchu - as 'Le Monchu' is the local dialect word for 'Tourist'. Coined in the 1800s it is a corruption of the word Monsieur and can still be heard in conversation amongst Chamoniards. Set just off the main (tourist) sqaure, just next to the Casino de Chamonix, Le Monchu is a very reasonably-priced Savoyarde restaurant, offering all the usual suspects (Fondue, Pierrade, Raclette etc) and a few specialities as well.

Now it may seem strange to many people on holiday, especially the Brits and Americans, that France are not a nation known for their good breakfast! At least, not the way we like it...a long lazy brunch over eggs benedict and pancakes, or a full English breakfast.

For years Chambre Neuf have very successfully followed the formula of not trying to fix something if it doesn't appear to be broken. However, they have more recently decided that you can add shiny new things entirely separately: 'English-style' fish 'n' chips served out the front of après-ski; DJ and theme nights in the bar in the later hours; and this weekend saw the launch of their new Sunday Brunch which will run year-round and - in the words of new Head Chef Stefan - "brings a touch of England, Sweden and France to your plate". In Chamonix of all places - fancy that.

The 10€ Lunch Break at Monkey was too good to pass up! Meeting my friend on my lunch hour, just as he came down from a quick ski up the midi, meant that it was not only a perfect location but a great deal too!

A crisp sunny day at the very start of winter. With the snow falling all of yesterday, today was definitely a good day to get a lovely warm lunch in one of Chamonix's central restaurants!

It was a very snowy Sunday morning and, after a long Saturday on the slopes, we were in dire need of some substantial nourishment to replenish our energy and prepare us for an afternoon of riding powder. So we decided to head to Monkey Bar & Restaurant and try out their new Brunch Phonics concept.

Living in France is great for many reasons, the food definitely being one of them. But, sometimes, you just want a little taste of home and Sunday roast at Le Vert feels like it could easily become a regular treat.

Alpine cuisine usually involves lots of melted cheese, dried meats, heavy cream, pungent garlic - but sushi?! If you’re looking for something a bit different from the usual gut-busting Savoyard experience then a night out at Satsuki will hit the spot.

You’d expect a Savoyard bistro on the main street of Avenue Ravanel le Rouge to be packed solid on a Saturday night , with a thick, gruyere-reeking atmosphere when you step through its doors. But Chez Constant, tucked away towards the end of the main street, is small and pleasantly cosy, not crammed with as many tourists as they can get in….and has a ‘modern’ Savoyard feel; wood everywhere, fur and cow print pillows and old family photos.

Most people know Chambre Neuf for it's apres-ski, which is largely regarded as the best apres-ski in the Chamonix valley. With a live band playing every afternoon and hundreds of people dancing on the tables you would be forgiven for overlooking Chambre Neuf as a great place for lunch.

The newest restaurant on the Chamonix scene is the charming Bizes (French slang for kisses), tucked away in a quiet corner in the town centre.

I should start this review by being honest, Monkey is probably one of my favourite places in Chamonix. Therefore, when I was asked to try their new menu I was more than happy to comply!

"Why haven't we come here every Tuesday of the season?" my partner said when we finished our taco feast. "Fair point", I thought – not only was the food delicious but, with the three for two deal, they were also a bargain.

There’s no shortage of places to get a decent pizza in Chamonix, from cheap takeaways to fine restaurants. One place that kind of sits happily in the middle is the Pizzeria des Moulins, a tiny little restaurant with a casual vibe that appears to be doing a roaring trade every night of the week.