Restaurants

Disappointing overall for a resort of this standard

Val d'Isere has a vast range of over 50 restaurants but, as in many French resorts, they tend to offer similar menus of Savoyarde cuisine - fondues, raclette, tartiflette, etc. Pizzas and pasta are widely available but truly innovative cuisine is hard to come by.

La Taverne d'Alsace was rebuilt about 15 years ago but, at three times its original size, it still has lots of cosy corners in which to drink Alsatian beer or wines or indulge in that region's hearty cooking. The railway carriage shaped Bar Jacques, run by Tom Mongellaz, is a good place for a quiet drink or a fairly simple dinner with a good bottle of Beaujolais. Casa Scara is a popular, tiny restaurant with an Italian menu, tucked away in the old village.

Situated on the edge of the piste, the Grande Ourse has a good atmosphere and serves traditional French cuisine. It was taken over not long ago by Jean and Lise, the son and daughter-in-law of the previous owner. (The other brother, Pierre continues to run the Perdrix.) La Luge, a basement restaurant (belonging to the Hotel Blizzard) with a discreet entrance on the main street is one of Val's hidden gems.

Whether you want oysters, lobster, fillet steak or pizza, you will find them all - and much more besides - at that most crucial of Val d'Isere institutions, the Perdrix Blanche, which also has a popular little bar. In recent years, however, standards of cooking and service have been somewhat unpredictable and its future is uncertain. Pierre Paul Jacques are the three new restaurant/bars situated in the refurbished Latitudes hotel and run by Luc Reversade of La Fruitiere with, as always, a quirky take on presentation. Sur La Montagne is a relaxed, friendly place run by the charming Terrinini sisters and popular with the locals. Head for La Belle Etoile if you are looking for cuisine with an Asian influence and enjoy Sushi.

Another recent newcomer is the charming L'Atelier d'Edmond situated in Le Fornet - or try La Table de l'Ours at the Hotel Barmes de l'Ours which has won a much-coveted Michelin star. The less expensive, Rotisserie restaurant in the same hotel has had good reports.

Sadly, the popular Chalet du Cret is now closed and has been converted into a private chalet.

Nightlife

Young, fun but little that is stylish

Dick's Tea Bar, the legendary Val d'Isereinstitution, looks set for even bigger things this coming season with even more surprises. Entrepreneurs Seb Hall and Alex Fateh have reinvested this summer and introduced a brand new comfy apres-ski bar, open from 4pm. As the afternoon turns into night, the bar opens up to the larger nightclub area allowing ski bums and nighttime aficionados to dance, as nature intended especially as Dicks stays open until five in the morning.

Dick's and Val d'Isere have gone hand in hand having grown up together for nearly forty years. Dicks spirit derives from a fun chaotic atmosphere where body shots on the bar are inevitable and chalet-girls dancing on tables lives on from year to year!

New Apres-ski Bar:

Those who spent their ski youth partying in Dicks during the 80s and 90s will appreciate the earlier opening times. The new interior is second to none with large comfy sofas, log piles, stone arches and LCD fire screens making you feel right at home. The bar now offers homemade hot chocolate, malt wine and hot butter rum along with their extensive range of beers, wines and spirits. Live DJs are accompanied with music acts on a daily basis and all information for upcoming events is regularly updated on the Dicks Tea Bar website. Dicks apres bar is the perfect follow up to an afternoons skiing or dancing at La Folie Douce!

The Nightclub:

The apres-ski bar turn nightclub features a brand new DJ booth, dance floor tables as well as an exceptional VIP area over looking the dance floor. A chauffer service to and from the chalets for those wanting VIP service is available on request. All VIPs are met at the door by the front of house and introduced to their hostess for the evening that will lead them to their table. There will be a full table service with an array of drink choices, from Champagne and Spirits to the infamous Ski-Boot Cocktail!

Of the hotel bars open to the public, by far the finest is the Blizzard bar, presided over by the suave tartan-clad French barman David, whos the sort of guy who can remember what kind of gin you like from one season to the next. The bar of the Savoyarde has lately been extended and redecorated. Its lounge-style atmosphere makes it a good venue for aperitifs and late-night drinks. There is also a very small dancefloor. The Tsanteleina has a new bar trying to rival its neighbour, the Blizzard and Jack is the bar of the Aigle des Neiges with a very French take on music, perhaps not to everyone's taste. It also serves imaginative tapas. The Club 21 disco/nightclub is now closed, but Bananas is a basic fun, good-value drinking place for the young, presided over by beaming ski instructor Ricky Girault and his cool manager Hammid. The Pacific Bar is a cavernous underground space that is very popular with young Brits, but be warned that this establishment and others in Val require to see proof of age before allowing admission. The legal age for drinking in France is 18.

Other popular spots with the young are Le Petit Danois or Victor's as well as the Saloon Bar at the Hotel Brussels. The Moris Pub can have good live music - check the listings. Two other late night spots are Le Graal or the newer, MBC Bar and Club , next to Dick's.

Non Skiers

Not skiing - Not great

Most people in Val dIsere live to ski, so if you do not ski or board you will inevitably feel somewhat out of place. Activities for non-skiers are pretty much limited to walking or snowshoeing and there are many prettier resorts for keen winter walkers. There are a few agreeable cafes in which to while away the skiing hours, but a better option is perhaps to meet up with skiing friends for lunch either somewhere around the Front de Neige or at one of the mountain restaurants accessible to pedestrians. Another option might be to take the bus over to Tignes and meet your friends for lunch there.