The 3 best Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Chamonix, France

At one of Chamonix's most luxurious spots, the Heliopic Hotel & Spa, you'll discover the Restaurant Akashon. Since 2020, it has proudly held the prestigious Bib Gourmand award from Michelin. Its proximity to the Aiguille du Midi cable car ensures a steady stream of guests who love to hit the slopes right after breakfast without the hassle of transportation. The restaurant features a sleek and somewhat minimalist interior with dark gray tones, spruced up with unexpected design elements like the delicate golden hood above the central island in the dining area, and, of course, the awe-inspiring views from panoramic windows of the magnificent Alps.

Under the guidance of Chef Julien Binet, the kitchen works its magic with top-notch French cuisine. All dishes are crafted on-site from raw ingredients supplied by local farms adhering to organic standards. To savor the full finesse of the chef's creations, start with mint crispy lobsters, which, paired with vichyssoise soup, not only look stunning but also introduce new flavor sensations. Michelin critics rave about dishes like fried gnocchi with a duxelle of herbs and mushrooms, sourced from Paris, or roasted free-range guinea fowl supreme with rutabaga and parsnip puree. For dessert, indulge in a Mont Blanc-style pineapple and chestnut meringue box with a melting sorbet and a robust coffee.

Despite the restaurant's high reputation, prices here are remarkably reasonable. For example, the gourmet menu with 6 courses will set you back €60, with an additional €35 for a wine pairing of 4 glasses, including champagne. There's also a kids' menu consisting of 3 courses and a beverage for €16. The most indulgent option is the tasting menu with 7 courses, priced at €75, excluding wine pairing.

In the Val d'Arly ski area, just a little west of Chamonix, life is bustling, especially during the popular winter months. But here, the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed than in the immediate vicinity of Mont Blanc. The resort village of Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe is the ideal place to enjoy every moment of your vacation at a leisurely tempo, and the La Ferme de Victorine restaurant perfectly embodies this hedonistic philosophy.

This establishment, honored with the Bib Gourmand award in 2023, is situated within an authentic chalet. Inside, you'll discover a charming rustic style reminiscent of your grandparents' farmhouse. Interestingly, it was Chef James Ansanay-Alex's grandmother who opened the first grocery store in this house back in 1923, and it gradually transformed over the years. Wooden walls adorned with antique utensils and homemade preserves available for purchase immediately calm down the enthusiastic skiers and tourists who have just arrived after their mountain descents. Candlelit tables, benches covered in pure white sheepskins, and the incredible aromas drifting from the chef's kitchen, where everything is prepared using locally sourced ingredients (he even maintains his own cows in the backyard), complete the scene.

From the à la carte menu, consider trying one of Savoyard fondues crafted from farm-fresh cheeses, snails from Domaine des Orchis in parsley sauce, or slow-cooked veal, so tender that you'll marvel at how succulent meat can be. We bet you’ll miss it when you go back to the bustling, dusty city. For dessert, our recommendation is hazelnut dacquoise with raspberry praline, or financier, a small French almond cake with mountain honey and poached pears.

Menu à la ferme (3 courses) – €36, menu au cœur des saisons (3 or 4 courses) – €46–51, menu confiance (5-course chef's choice) – €70, kids' menu €18.

Just a short ski descent from Chamonix village, you'll discover Saint-Gervais-les-Bains – another paradise for year-round outdoor enthusiasts. Here, the setting is idyllic, partly because major tour operators don't package all-inclusive deals for this destination. Most accommodations and spas available for booking are located in cozy chalets owned by independent hoteliers. Despite being the third-largest ski resort in France, offering around 445 km of pistes, Saint-Gervais is less crowded during the winter months compared to its famous neighbor.

One exceptional place to dine and spend a night is La Ferme de Cupelin, situated in the upper part of the village with a view of the Mont Blanc massif. This chalet is over 150 years old, but careful renovation and family management have given the rooms and restaurant a stylish, magazine-worthy look. Natural materials like stone and wood, thoughtfully chosen textiles, and lush green plants dominate the interior.

Settle by the crackling wood-burning fireplace and enjoy the incredible cuisine crafted for you by Romain Desgranges, the chef who earned this spot the prestigious Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin, as well as awards from Gault et Millau and the Guide Hubert. Sample delicately smoked trout with Corsican grapefruit, homemade foie gras with brioche, a plate of Alpine cheeses, or venison with puff pastry confit and apple chutney. However, we recommend choosing one of the menus offering a ‘promenade’ to Mont-Joly, the market, the farm, or the garden, all guided by the chef and his team. Such a gastronomic adventure is well-thought-out, balanced, and incredibly delicious.

You have a choice of 4 menus, ranging from €35 to €70, depending on the variety and quantity of dishes. The kids' menu, featuring 3 courses, is priced at €27.

Haute-Savoie, where you'll find Chamonix and other charming alpine villages, strikes us as an ideal destination, especially during the winter. So, bundle up, grab your ski gear, and get ready to enjoy thrilling mountain descents and the excellent cuisine of this beautiful region.