Fine Dining In Val D’isère

Val d’Isère is overflowing with brilliant restaurants. Many of the best eateries in the Savoy region of south-eastern France lie in this area, famous among other things for its great beauty and Olympic ski pedigree. When passing through on business or for a short holiday, visitors agonise over the large choice of high-quality restaurants. With that in mind, for sophisticated diners with limited time, here are three of the finest establishments in the valley.

Le Grande Ourse

In 1936, when Le Grande Ourse first opened, there was only one ski lift in Val d’Isère. Much has changed since then, but the commitment at this restaurant to traditional French cuisine made with quality local ingredients has remained resolute. Diners enjoy a great view over the valley from Le Grande Ourse’s sunny terrace which sits, just as it always has, right next to the same original ski lift. The highlight of the menu is oven baked scallops and pumpkin risotto which melts in the mouth and is complimented perfectly by a sharp white wine. To book a place at Le Grande Ourse, you can pop in and see them on Rue Des Lessieres or call +33 4 79 06 00 19.

La Peau de Vache

The delicious burgers are the star of La Peau de Vache’s menu. All the usual burgers are on offer and are bigger, juicier and better than any you’ve had before. Freshly sourced ingredients give the food a directness and force that you cannot ignore. The mustard is extra mustardy and the cheese extra cheesy. Half-way up the mountainside on the L’Olympique lift, La Peau de Vache is a more spectacular dining experience than those found lower down in the town. Perfect for enjoying with a large group of friends, you can book a table at La Peau de Vache by calling +33 4 79 06 11 29.

La Table De l’Ours

The most expensive of all the restaurants in Val d’Isère, La Table de l’Ours has a Michelin star and sits in the five star hotel Les Barmers de l’Ours. Beautifully decorated in vanished wood and warmed by the heat of an open fire, this restaurant is the perfect antidote to the cold mountain air. The style of food is modern with dishes that offer a new take on classic French recipes. The selection of French wine here is as full bodied as the wine itself, with hundreds of bottles to choose from the extensive cellar. Located on Montée de Bellevarde, the hotel restaurant is right next to the Bellevarde ski lift and can be booked online or by calling +33 4 79 41 37 00.

How to Get There

Getting to Val d'Isère is simple. Major airlines easyJet and British Airways fly direct to Geneva with a travel time of only 1½ hours from London airports. Take a pre-booked Geneva Airport taxi straight to the resort once you hit the tarmac and you will be looking at a very respectable journey time. Shuttle Direct offers a quick, low-cost service which will get you from the airport to the restaurants in complete comfort. Book a Geneva airport taxi in advance for a fixed fee and Shuttle Direct will take any skis or snowboards along for free.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable Geneva airport taxi, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.