Best restaurants when skiing in Europe?
A ski trip wouldn’t be complete without the proper equipment, and good food is just as much a part of the après-ski culture as drinks and entertainment. Since skiing is frequently associated with luxury and wealth, the restaurants in and around resorts tend to reflect this.
Additionally, St Anton Resorts are renowned not only for their après ski but also for their outstanding restaurants. You can choose from a wide range of restaurants and cafés serving anything from traditional alpine cuisine to international gourmet treats. St. Anton’s culinary selections won’t let you down, whether you’re in the mood for substantial comfort cuisine or fancy dining experiences.
As a result, you will find fine dining in some of the top European luxury ski chalets than anywhere else in the world.
Restaurant Hospiz Alm in St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
St. Anton is also known as the “world capital of après-ski”. St. Anton in Arlberg is the biggest resort in Austria and has the largest ski area. It has 94 cable cars, ski lifts, and a 200 km area of snow slopes covered by a single lift pass. Hospiz Alm restaurant, a posh take on the traditional Austrian luxury ski chalets, is well-known for its extensive wine cellar offering easy access to the slopes and proximity to the resort’s most popular runs, including the no. 64 piste. Our favourite restaurant feature is the original rauchkuchl, which was once used for cooking food over an open fire. The restaurant is located in a former farmhouse.
The Japanese Restaurant in Switzerland's Andermatt
It is some 28 km (17 mi) south of Altdorf and has a Resort Altitude of 1,444 m. It supposes that all Swiss cuisine consisted of fondue and raclette. Be sure to reconsider. A fantastic selection of Japanese beers is available at the Michelin-starred Japanese Restaurant at the five-star, ski-in, ski-out Chedi Andermatt luxury ski chalets. It also has a sushi and sashimi bar and Europe’s largest collection of rice wines. The best part? A butler will gladly carry your skis to the closest lift if you are staying at the hotel, which is a short stroll from the restaurant and some of the resort’s best slopes.
Stube Hermitage in Italy's Madonna di Campiglio
The Stube Hermitage was the first restaurant in Madonna di Campiglio to receive a Michelin star in 2008. The ski region surrounding Madonna features 57 lifts and 150 kilometres (93 miles) of ski trails. The hotel is 1.5 kilometres from the town centre and features a classic chalet architecture. However, Chef Giovanni D’Alitta is unlikely to take it easy since the small ski town now has three Michelin-starred eateries. A wood-panelled, antique-filled retreat tucked inside a hotel dating back to the 1900s, this is one of the cosiest restaurants in the Dolomites. The menu is both simple and sophisticated.
The Explorateurs in France's Val Thorens
Val Thorens is the highest valley in the ski area and home to the highest ski resorts in Europe. Val Thorens has over 300 km of pistes and is considered as the best ski area out of three valleys, and three valleys have a combined ski run of 600 km. Les Explorateurs, the highest Michelin-starred luxury ski chalets in France, is located in the Hôtel Pashmina. It opened in 2016, and a year later, it received its first star. French cuisine is honoured on the menu. The interior design was motivated by early mountaineering expeditions, as evidenced by the images of illustrious explorers atop various peaks, the compasses etched into the windows, and the assortment of vintage climbing equipment.
Three Valleys, France's St. Martin De Belleville
The Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is part of the Three Valleys ski area, which also includes resorts like Les Menuires, Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel, and La Tania. The area contains 600 kilometres of marked courses and 200 ski lifts in total. This exquisite restaurant and hotel, owned and operated by the Meilleur family for more than 40 years, is located in the small Savoie village of St Marcel, in a quiet area of the Three Valleys. In what was once a raclette and fondue luxury ski chalets, chef-owners René and Marie-Louise, along with their children Sophie and Maxime, now serve Savoyard specialities to those who go out of their way to find this hidden gem. The 15 rooms with luxury amenities at the chalet hotel have helped it achieve five-star Relais & Châteaux status.
Val Thorens
In terms of overall skiing experience and cuisine, Val Thorens takes joint first place, scoring highly across the board. This resort offers an excellent combination of top-notch skiing opportunities and a culinary scene that is sure to delight food enthusiasts. From cosy mountain huts serving local specialities to upscale restaurants offering refined gastronomy, Val Thorens has something for every palate.
Skiing and Dining Delights
In the end, nothing tastes better than digging into one of your favourite meals or treating yourself to trying a new dish after a busy day on the slopes. When one imagines a ski resort dinner, images of hearty foods like pizza, Wiener schnitzel, and tartiflette immediately come to mind.
In the Alps, looking further for Haute Cuisine is unnecessary. The best places to ski and eat have been selected, and we’ve revealed the culinary highlights from all over the mountains.
