Each year we make the pilgrimage to the Three Valleys in the French Alps using skiing as the excuse for a week of eating and drinking ourselves silly. If you don't come home half a stone heavier and questioning if you have a drinking problem, you’re doing it wrong. See our round up below of where to eat, drink, party and sleep in our favourite place on earth.
Sleep
Fahrenheit Seven - Val Thorens
This iconic wood clad property is positioned in a prime location with ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes of Europe's highest resort. The interiors have a modern take on a vintage 70’s theme with retro film prints hanging on the walls. The extra large beds are exactly where you want to be post aprés, styled with worn leather headboards and moody blue walls. Bluebird days woke us from the bedroom (weather guarantee not included), featuring scenes of mountain peaks and passing ski lifts before we headed downstairs to fuel up on flakey French pastries for a day on the slopes. The real star of the show is the hotel's large outdoor terrace bar & restaurant. Hosting regular aprés parties sponsored by brands like Aperol, this spot has uninterrupted views of the snow-capped mountains and is the perfect afternoon sun trap. Fahrenheit Seven is also located in Courchevel 1650 at the base of the slope and only a short stroll to the ski lifts.
Eat
La Soucoupe - Courchevel
This romantic rustic mountain restaurant is not a place to dine on a budget, it is however officially our favourite restaurant in the world. Where cosy wooden interiors make way to wrap-around windows overlooking the slopes. Where premium cuts are brought to your table as you browse the menu. Where you watch your chosen cut of meat being grilled on the open fire in front of you. The outdoor terrace is perfect for sipping in the sun or you can lounge in leather armchairs and relax by the fire on white-out snow days.
Roc Seven - Les Menuires
If you’re lucky enough for a bluebird day, head straight to Roc Seven in Les Menuires. This Italian-inspired restaurant serves up elevated mountain food, think milanese, spag bol and charcuterie boards with a bar carved into snow banks, ready for aprés. We come each year for the incredible views but stay for the party. DJs and live singers perform with epic backdrops and come 3pm, plates are cleared from the tables and replaced with people up dancing. Donning a Roc Seven straw hat and Aperol in hand, it's a guaranteed good time.
Le Clos Bernard - Meribél
The journey to find this traditional French restaurant takes you off the beaten track and feels like a true adventure, following handmade signs down small, snowy, winding tracks before you stumble across an opening in the trees, unveiling this hidden gem. A horse-drawn carriage brings up pedestrians from the town below and gives the illusion that you’ve stepped into a scene from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Post-lunch feast, you can park yourself on a deck chair surrounding the open fire and enjoy a tipple before cruising back down into Meribél town.
Le Bo A Mil - Meribél Village
Hidden within an old wine cellar under exposed brick arches this homely restaurant serves regional cuisine and is a favourite of ours for a low-key dinner of pizza and tartiflette.
Drink
Folie Douce - Meribél/Val Thorens
We’d be shocked if you’ve not heard of this iconic mountain club, known for their live singers, DJs and table dancing it’s the best spot for a booze-fuelled afternoon. From 5pm the slopes back to resort resemble something from Saving Private Ryan, with collisions left right and centre it’s a lot more entertaining than your usual commute home.
Rond Point - Meribél
This bar is conveniently located en route from the Folie and is the place to go if you’re not ready to finish your evening early with live music and a bustling atmosphere. They have a slide down to the toilets to avoid stair-based tumbles in the ski boots you’ve worn all day.
360 - Val Thorens
This unmissable aprés bar is nestled within the mountains where you start the afternoon lounging on deck chairs with beach club tunes in the background. Finish your evening dancing on tables before navigating your way back down the slopes.
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