From chip butty’s to superfood salads, coffees to hot chocolates, Tignes and Val d’Isere has something to suit every taste and budget and keep you energized for the rest of your day on the slopes! Let us know where your favorite place to stop is by commenting below.
The Healthy Option
Arctic Juice Cafe – Val D’Isere
If you have been hitting the Apres too hard, or enjoying the amazing Chardons’ breakfasts, afternoon teas and dinner a little too much, then you might be in need of a little health kick whilst you are out on the slopes. We can vouch for the fact that this cafe will give you the healthy energy boost you need.
The Arctic Juice cafe has two locations in Val D’Isere, both are equally as good (it simply depends on what part of town you are in), and is perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Once you step inside you will question whether you have walked in off a trendy London high street and not a traditional ski resort. There are an array of coffee’s and milks available to suit your dietary needs – I would recommend going rogue and asking for a dirty chai latte (chai latte with a coffee shot) which will curb both your sugar and caffeine cravings. Having visited far too many times during the last ski season I opted for anything avocado related if I was hungry. If I wasn’t that hungry then the acai or alternative smoothie bowls tasted delicious (and were very Instagram photo friendly!). If you fancy trying a little bit of everything then you can opt for a small salad bowl alongside a smoothie or clean juice. The staff are super friendly, and each have their own favourite dishes to recommend to you. Both cafes have outside seating areas and accept card payments.
If you are skiing to Val D’Isere from Tignes Le Lac then there are red and black run options. If you are not yet ready for the red/black then you can take the gondola straight down. Piste maps will help you navigate your way around but be sure to ask one of your hosts to map a route out for you so that you can get there safely.
To take a further look and potentially drool over what they offer then check out their Instagram page: @arcticjuicecafe.
Perfect Lunch Spots
Sherpa – Tignes Le Lac
The Sherpa is the French equivalent of a mini supermarket and many are dotted around each ski resort so that you can purchase water or any extra snacks. However, the bigger Sherpa in Tignes Le Lac has a small takeaway cafe which offers cheap and easy, tasty food such as toasties, fries, sandwiches and cakes. You can sit outside in the sunshine and watch the world go by whilst refuelling. I would recommend the cheesecake which was originally recommended to me by a veteran skier who has been skiing in and around this resort for over 10 years and still claims that the Sherpa cheesecake is the best you will find!
Tignes Cuisine – Tignes Le Lac
Also in Tignes Le Lac is Tignes Cuisine. This is particularly popular to nip to during a long Apres session in Loop Bar (next door) or for those who want big portions of food to fuel them through the rest of the day. It is an Asian-style eatery offering fresh noodles and burritos so is different to the traditional food being offered. It does have vegetarian options but it is better tailored to those who eat meat. Again, most of the seating area is outside overlooking the infamous black run ‘Trolles’, which brings skiers into Lac from Val D’Isere and Val Claret. It is a sun-worshippers dream spot so make sure you are wearing plenty of suncream to avoid burning and take your sunglasses!
Loop Bar – Tignes Le Lac
Loop Bar is more renowned for its Apres scene however the food should not go unnoticed. The Loop vegetarian burger is a firm favourite amongst chalet hosts, alongside the fries and meaty burgers. It is a popular place to meet other skiers and usually has promotional offers on food at certain times/days. Albeit not the healthiest choice, their menu will most definitely line your stomach in advance of the Apres session to follow.
La Cantine – Le Lavachet
La Cantine also known as toastie heaven, is unsurprisingly most famous for its large and reasonably priced sourdough toasties. The plain cheese toastie is a home comfort for any vegetarian and there are lots of meaty extras too. They also host curry evenings and have other food options available, which are usually advertised on their social media pages along with daily specials. Do not underestimate the size of the toasties, trust me when I say that you are not being overcharged for the quantity and quality of the food you receive. This cafe is located in Lavachet, which is a small village next to Tignes Le Lac, if you are planning a visit to the Tignes Spirit clothing shop then you should allow yourself an extra hour to indulge in this small cosy cheesy sanctuary.
To take a further look check out their Instagram page: @lacantine_tignes.
Box cafe bar – Le Lavachet
Box cafe is also located in Le Lavachet, across from the Tignes Spirit shop. In the daytime it offers brunch and lunch. The box then transforms into a lively bar in the evening. The cooked breakfasts available are perfect for a hangover cure and aren’t actually too unhealthy – for example you can have avocado on your vegetarian cooked breakfast. Other options include avocado on toast with poached eggs or waffles with eggs and bacon. You can sit on high stools and tables whilst discussing what runs you are going to attempt that day before hopping onto the free shuttle bus back to Tignes Le Lac or by skiing across the green slope to grab the ‘Chaudannes’ chair lift. If you are going to give brunch a try then be sure to check their Facebook or Instagram page to find out what days/times brunch is available. Their Instagram is active therefore you will be able to see what the food looks like before ordering: @box_cafe_bar.
The Corner – Val Claret
This one has recently won the Ski Club of Great Britain 2019 approved restaurant award and is located next to the ‘Tufs’ chairlift in Val Claret. The cafe promotes coffee, juices, brunch and chip butties. There is limited indoor seating as most of the tables are outside, however in the daytime the cafe is in a prime location for the sun so you do not need to worry about your muscles ceasing up in the cold. The cafe itself is owned and managed by English people, hence the reason why it boasts sausage rolls, pies, chips (including cheesy chips) and chip butties. It is reasonably priced and will offer you a cheeky break from the French cuisine offered elsewhere. Should you be too full to ski any further you can easily ski around the corner to get the free shuttle bus back to Lac, alternatively you can hop on the Tufs lift and either head to Val D’Isere or back to Lac via Trolles.
As with the best cafes in the area this one is also Instagram and Facebook friendly: @thecornertignes.
Aspen – Val Claret
Also located in Val Claret (but closer to ‘Lanches’ chairlift not ‘Tufs’) is this American-style diner. If you speak to any chalet host/staff they will tell you that this cafe has the best milkshakes in France and potentially the whole of Europe. Plus the famour Aspen burgers are huge! It is probably one of the unhealthiest options but makes a great change to the French-style cafes and is fun for children as it has a happy quirky vibe inside. There is plenty of indoor seating but also outdoor seating available if the sun is shining. This side of the mountain gets the sun in the morning but it will get a little colder in the afternoon shade.
Le Kiosk – Val Claret
Le Kiosk is next to Aspen but is in the forecourt, it is a small ‘kiosk’ with outdoor seating only. It offers quick and easy cheap food which is perfect if you want to spend more time on the slopes. The paninis are simple yet filling and there are meal deal options such as burgers and fries. It is not the most varied menu so if you’re a fussy eater or a vegan/vegetarian then this probably isn’t the place for you but you can still get a can, a beer or a coffee. It is one of the best spots for watching speed skiers and if that doesn’t thrill you then you can nip into the clothing shops that are dotted around the court.
Hot chocolates and coffee
The Corner – Val Claret
As above, the Corner is also perfect for a hearty mug of hot chocolate with cream and large marshmallows. The cafe recently notified its followers on Facebook that the whole team had undergone further coffee training on their state of the art coffee machine using beans from the Small Batch Coffee Roasters. The coffee was perfect in 2018/19 but with further training it will be even better for the 2019/20 season.
Le Panoramic, Grande Motte
At the top of Grande Motte there is a cafe/take-out eatery in which you can get luxurious hot chocolates with extra cream and deliciousness. The top of Grande Motte is a truly picturesque area, where you can take in the mountain ranges as far as the eye can see. You can also take a selfie with the Grande Motte’s own camera by using your ski pass; the camera is located in the best selfie location. This hot chocolate stop is a great place to gather your thoughts, reflect on your skiing and perhaps nip to the toilet too!
La Bouida – Tignes Les Brevieres
La Bouida is Tignes Les Brevieres firm favourite for drinking hot chocolates whilst watching some skiers coming down the black ‘Sache’ run and others taking their first lessons on the nursery slope. Les Brevieres is perfect place to stop for lunch or a hot drink with its beautiful tree-lined slopes and slightly warmer temperatures than the exposed areas higher up the mountain. The staff at Bouida are super friendly and will allow you to eat or drink to your hearts content. Bouida also has outdoor heathers for those colder days and a good amount of indoor seating for when there is a blizzard happening outside.
Crepes!
A La Creperie Brefonne – Tignes Le Lac
When people visit a French ski resort there’s always that desire to sample the local pancakes at some point during the holiday. This creperie in Tignes Le Lac is one of the best places to satisfy this craving. They have an endless amount of sweet options available but also really tasty savoury pancake options (you could even have one of each!). If other members of your party do not want a pancake then you can also get sandwiches, toasties and fries. There is both indoor and outdoor seating; inside it has a really cosy atmosphere and outside you can watch skiers attempt to come down Trolles.
Of course there are so many more cafes in the Espace Killy, which are probably just as good as the ones recommended here but these are tried, tested and loved by all so will give you a good foundation. They are all easily accessible to those that cannot ski or those that are beginner skiers; this will ensure that everybody gets their food fix minus any accidents!
We will soon be adding a blog on the best places to dine in the evening (we obviously have to test them all out first!) so watch this space.
Let us know your favourite eating and drinking spots in the Espace Killy by commenting below!