There’s nothing quite like settling down for a delicious, well-earned meal after a full day on the slopes. Our friends at Snomad, the ski resort review site, have compiled this official list of the best ski resorts for foodies, using their ‘Best Resorts for Eating Out’ league table to offer insight into which resorts have the best restaurants in the Alps!
These are the 6 best ski resorts for eating out in Europe according to skiers:
1. Livigno, Italy
It’s not all that surprising that the top foodie ski destination is in Italy. What more could you want than pasta, pizza and piste? Wedged in a scenic valley in Lombardy’s Alta Valtellina, Livigno is just a stone’s throw from Switzerland and offers two ski areas which rise up either side of the town. There are over 115km of pistes and an impressive selection of restaurants to enjoy.
Both its proximity to Switzerland and its history as a dairy farming haven mean that the cheese on offer in Livigno is the stuff of dreams – to this day, it is home to one of Europe’s highest dairies, the Latteria di Livigno.
For lunchtime pit stops, there’s a selection of cuisines available from the slopeside hut restaurants, with pizza being the staple at Carosello 3000 (at the top of gondola 12), while Tea Borch brings a more refined, American Steakhouse kind of vibe. Down in the town, you’ll really be spoilt for choice as there are over 100 restaurants. However, Focolare and La Piöda are known for great Italian cuisine and seafood. Go to Bait Dal Ghet for authentic Italian pizza and stay for the delicious, well-portioned desserts – but be aware you will have to queue in the street as it is incredibly popular and they don’t take reservations – rest assured it is worth it!
For a fine dining experience, the Michelin-recommended restaurant Al Persef focuses on locally sourced ingredients and has an extensive menu of excellent wines.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.8/5
2. Saint Gervais, France
A quaint thermal spa town with a history rooted firmly in mountaineering, Saint Gervais sits in the foothills of Mont Blanc and grants skiers access to the huge Mont Blanc ski area as well as a mouthwatering selection of restaurants.
Across the mountain, you’ll find the usual self-service cafes and quaint chalet-style restaurants such as Le Gouet and Le Tremplin de la Croix, which both also have spacious sun terraces. Down in the resort, restaurants offer mostly French or Italian cuisine and a choice of five Michelin-recommended restaurants for a luxury experience. Le Serac is a luxurious, airy affair where a choice of meat or fish menu is influenced by the seasons. Alternatively, La Ferme de Cupelin is helmed by an impressive kitchen team. For the traditional Savoyard experience of cosy wood-clad interiors and rich fondue, Le Galeta is a favourite.
While there’s not an endless list of restaurants to choose from like some more commercial or well-known resorts, the eating-out-ethos in Saint Gervais is definitely quality over quantity.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.67/5
3. Sölden, Austria
Sölden is one of Austria’s most popular ski resorts and for good reason – it’s home to over 144km of slopes and the ‘BIG 3’ peaks of Gaislachkogl (3,048m), Tiefenbachkogl (3,250m) and Schwarze Schneide (3,340m). There is plenty of variation in terrain and a lively après ski scene that promises an authentic Austrian experience. It was also the filming location for the Spectre James Bond movie, giving it a seductive level of glamour.
As well as the terrain, the dining choices on offer in Sölden are massive. On the mountain, there are casual huts, gourmet restaurants and umbrella bars all offering stunning spots to refuel at. Most of them have spacious sun terraces, but Wirsthaus Giggijoch is known for warming Austrian dishes and a select menu of local wines. Brand new for the 2024/25 winter season, Restaurant Schwarzkogl is a hotly-anticipated mountain restaurant set to offer both à la carte and self-service dining with panoramic views of the Rettenbach Glacier.
To enjoy something really spectacular though, Ice Q at the Gaislachkogl top station (which is also accessible for pedestrians) is a stunning space designed quite literally to look like an ice cube perched on the top of a mountain. Used as one of the filming locations for Spectre, it also offers a very special ‘Summit Dinner’ 5-course evening sitting once a week. Needless to say, you need to book ahead. Where else can you say you’ve dined like an international super spy?
Back down at the resort level, La Fondue is the go-to restaurant for a quintessential fondue experience, with molten Swiss cheeses served alongside charcuteries, while Pfandl is known for its cosy wood-clad interior and meaty meals accompanied by great beer.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.67/5
4. Morzine, France
Forming a key part of the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine is a much-beloved blend of authentic alpine village and bustling holiday resort. Wedged between Les Gets and Avoriaz at 1,000m, there’s a total of 278 pistes to explore which climb up to 2466m, including the formidable Swiss Wall, known for being one of the steepest, most challenging downhill runs in the world.
Thanks to its proximity to the Swiss border, Morzine is known for its warming, rich cuisine and excellent restaurants – molten cheese is a common theme, and no stay here would be complete without sampling Savoyard fondue or wood-fired raclette, both of which are specialities of La Chamade in the centre of town. For fine dining, L’Avalanche and L’Atelier offer decadent plats in intimate surroundings – think braised beef cheek, stuffed mushrooms and an extensive wine menu. For a unique experience, The Farmhouse offers a communal dining experience around a huge wooden table with a canape & champagne welcome before authentic dishes are enjoyed by candlelight.
On the mountain, Le Yeti is a popular restaurant for fun, casual lunches and convenient proximity to après hot spot, La Folie Douce.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.52/5
5. Zell am See, Austria
Zell am See is best known for its stunning lake views and easy access to the varied terrain of three different mountains. Schmittenhöhe is the dominating peak, boasting seriously breathtaking panoramas that overlook the town below. Around 100km south of Salzburg, Zell am See gained prominence during the 19th Century when it became a popular winter and summer holiday resort for European aristocracy. Today, it is the seat of the Porsche family, which operates the local airport and makes it possible for the numerous lakefront hotels to be populated by wealthy travellers from all over the world. They also own the Schloss Prielau Hotel, home to the prestigious Mayer’s Restaurant.
The dining scene here is punctuated by traditional, decadent fare influenced by Austria, Italy and Germany. Restaurant Erlhof has a great reputation for sensational steak dishes served with stunning views, while Speisenmeisterei offers a choice of meat or fish tasting menus accompanied by carefully selected wines. For restorative soups, stews and pasta dishes on the hill, head to Schmiedhof Alm at the top of the Sonnalm Gondola.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.56/5
6. Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
An upmarket resort with a reputation for holding various sporting events, Italy’s Madonna di Campiglio sits in the scenic Val Rendena and is flanked on either side by gladed slopes, consisting of larch and fir. The village sits at 1,550m and has 57 ski lifts that provide easy and seamless access up to 2,600m. There’s a mixture of slopes to suit everyone and a wide selection of restaurants for all kinds of foodies too!
Madonna di Campiglio is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants, which gives you an idea of just how good the food scene is. Many of the restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Dolomieu and Stube Hermitage are intimate affairs in ‘stube-style’ environments, which are traditional wood-lined rooms heated by a stove unique to the German-speaking areas of Italy.
On the mountain, Chalet Spinale (or Chalet Fiat) is a firm favourite offering both self-service and table service at 2,100m – don’t forget to book if you want the a la carte experience – you can reach it using the Spinale Chairlift. In resort, Ristorante Alfiero is a historic family-run establishment serving traditional Italian and Mediterranean fare – think indulgent risottos, hearty steaks and seafood ravioli.
Snomad Community Eating Out Rating: 4.5/5
Snomad has ranked hundreds of ski resorts, compiling 20 different ski resort league tables, including the best for families, value for money, après-ski, powder snow and many more, all based on over 80,000 skier ratings. Check out their site for more rankings!