The 10 best restaurants in La Plagne
In terms of culinary quality – but not necessarily price – the majority of restaurants in La Plagne hog the middle ground. There are some exceptions, such as the Union restaurant in Plagne Montalbert run by the British, Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard, and Le 360 on the slopes in Plagne Montalbert with wall-to-wall glass windows at 1,970m, accessed via the Montalbert gondola. For views, try the snack bar with terrace overlooking the Vanoise glaciers, opening for 2023/24 at the top of the new Glacier gondola.
All 11 resort villages have restaurants offering typical mountain fare; Plagne Centre and Plagne Bellecôte have more burger bar style options aimed at a younger crowd. A little more upmarket is Joya, which opened in 2022/23 in La Plagne Centre, where burgers come gourmet-style, alongside fondues, salads and fresh juices.
The more interesting mountain restaurants are generally to be found in and above the outlying villages, such as Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montchavin-Les Coches.
For further La Plagne inspiration, see our guides to the resort's best accommodation and après ski.
In resort
Le Schuss
While one wouldn't necessarily expect to choose somewhere in the severe-looking Plagne Aime 2000 base building for an evening out, Le Schuss is an exception. It serves traditional French cuisine as well as international classics such as burgers and ribs. The wooden surroundings are warm and colourful and there's also a terrace for lunchtime.
Price: ££
Contact: 00 33 479 09 05 28; facebook.com
Pépé & Cie
A pink restaurant at the foot of the slopes in Plagne Centre, Pépé & Cie is open from 10am to 10pm, serving pizza and other family-friendly dishes, as well as salads, and meat cooked in its wood-fired oven.
Price: ££
Contact: pepeetcie.jimdosite.com
Hotel Carlina
The gastronomically adventurous restaurant in the four-star, slopeside Hotel Carlina in Belle Plagne is run by chef Thibault Schach, who provides a varied menu with locally sourced ingredients. As well as being a good dinner spot, the restaurant is also open at lunchtime and has a south-facing terrace – ideal when the weather's fine.
Price: £££
Contact: carlina-belleplagne.com
Le Matafan
With a lovely rustic interior and big sunny terrace in Belle Plagne, Le Matafan is popular for lunch and dinner. Starters may include charcuterie boards of local meats and cheeses, salmon tartare on cucumber and avocado or cauliflower and ginger soup. With Savoyards specialities, steaks, burgers and fish dishes as mains.
Price: ££
Contact: lematafan.fr
Union
Former London-based chef, Phil Howard, along with La Plagne local Martin Cuchet offer fine dining in an intimate and cosy setting at Union in Montalbert. Expect starters such as beetroot-cured salmon or cashew nut hummus, followed by breast of duck with roasted root vegetables or fillet of cod with celeriac puree. Desserts are mainly British favourites including treacle tart and rice pudding.
Price: £££
Contact: unionmontalbert.com
Cocoon Grill
For something different, book one of the small round Finnish-style chalets at Hotel le Cocoon (the hotel is closed, but the restaurant remains open) in Plagne 1800. The chef cooks meals over a Scandinavian kota grill in the centre of the chalet. Available for groups of six to 21, a set menu is offered, which must be booked in advance.
Price: £££
Contact: hotel-lecocoon.fr
On the mountain
Restaurant Le Hors Piste
Next to the main piste in Belle Plagne, Restaurant Le Hors Piste is a simple pizzeria that also serves excellent soups and salads at reasonable prices.
Price: £
Contact: 00 33 479 55 16 33; la-plagne.com
Chez Pat Du Sauget
Conveniently located close to the Vanoise Express, in the Montchavin area, Chez Pat Du Sauget is a restaurant in an old chalet. It has a pleasant sun terrace and a rustic interior of rough walls and wooden beams. The kitchen serves tasty local dishes for lunch and dinner and it's possible to stay the night in one of the five bedrooms.
Price: ££
Contact: le-sauget.com
Le Chalet des Verdons Sud
Above Champagny, Le Chalet des Verdons Sud is a large wooden chalet serving traditional cuisine and has a huge central log fire. South-facing above Champagny, it has magnificent views across to Courchevel from its terrace. It also has a simple snack bar beneath the main building.
Price: £££
Contact: 00 33 6 44 36 56 57; la-plagne.com
Le 360
Every table has a view in this striking, glass cube restaurant at 1,970m, accessed via the Montalbert gondola. Le 360 comprises a self-service restaurant on the ground floor or table service on the upper level. The menu includes lighter pastas and salads as well as meatier specialities.
Contact: le360-laplagne.fr
Price: £££
