Chef's day off requires that our guests brave the bustling metropolis that is Méribel to make their own dinner plans. And, although this may bring on pangs of insecurity about one's dinner plans and concerns about the standard vis-à-vis the The Chalet Company's standards, fear not: our unbiased, spam-free guide to restaurants in Méribel should see you through the night without an empty stomach!

Burgers

If you are looking for something circular and meaty, then Chez Bif (in the centre of Mottaret) serves up the now-legendary Le Mountain: a burger in a baguette that's smothered in gherkins and Raclette cheese - it's bigger than it is tasty and it's unbelievably tasty!

The location is a bit difficult to find as the stall goes under various, changeable, guises - and asking someone will send you in the wrong direction - but the treasured snack bar can be found immediately opposite the Sherpa supermarket among the main buildings at the bottom of the runs. Remember you should be in the Mottaret area, not central Méribel, and just past the restaurants and hotels that crowd above the riverside green run that goes back into central Méribel. Look out for young snowboarders manhandling burgers that look bigger than a man's head. Order one and a refreshing beverage to intimidate it down and you will get change from €20. Can't say that very often in the Alps!

Jacks Bar also serves an infamous contender known in the trade as the 'Bad Boy'. To cut to the chase, it's basically a massive, homemade burger, topped with jalapenos, bacon and real cheddar: great for aficionados of spice but a bit pricier than the Mountain Burger at €26.

Posh Nosh

Gastronomic types may like La Coursive des Alpes Restaurant (main course around €35) If you are a foodie, you will love this place - the menu reads like a Masterchef grand final, in the same kind of tastily abstract way. Sample main course: “Confit beef « 7 hours » with foie gras roasted, mashed potatoes and parsnip roasted”.

We have yet to try Méribel's first Michelin-starred restaurant, l'Ekrin, at the newly opened five-star hotel Le Kaila but we've heard it's great and the menu looks impressive. It seems to be going down well enough on Tripadvisor too, with one guest commenting that it's “probably the best international restaurant in Méribel… if you're looking for a special evening, it's worth a visit” (signature menu €180).

Steak & Cheese

Carnivores should check out La Galette in Meribel centre. “Wood-grilled meat for the energy and home-made desserts for the gluttony” is how the restaurant sells itself and we will match that with our own recommendation that “one should not just regard the meat as a fuel for energy but also as a source of immense gastronomic pleasure” (The Chalet Company, July 2024).

If you're looking for a more authentic alpine experience then La Fromagerie in Méribel centre is where France's oldest man has been chopping up large slabs of cheese for fondue and raclette for more than 50 years. Apparently he was only there to stand-in for a friend for one week during a gap year in 1842 but one thing led to another and he's still there. Don't ask him about it though as he does have a tendency to go on…! Great experience though and wonderful food.

Those with cruder tastes should also note that Lilie does an accomplished steak tartare for only €26.

Vegetarian

France in general is a bit of a culinary desert for those who shun meat or fish - and at the time of writing there are no dedicated vegetarian restaurants in Méribel. But you can still find some thoroughly decent vegetarian food at several of Méribel's other restaurants. Probably the best bet is Aux Petits Oignons, which serves up a fusion of traditional French and world cuisine. If you skip past the Kangaroo fillets then you'll find at least a couple of tasty vegetarian dishes and if you stay at our Chalet Evergreen then the restaurant's right at the end of the road!

Prices are reasonable - with most mains around €20 - €30

Noteworthy Options

Le Rond Point has two meal options - swanky restaurant upstairs or snack bar downstairs. Both are very good for what they do but the restaurant's incredible views at sun down are worth seeing.

Other notable mangeries include La Terrasse du Village in Méribel-Village. The downstairs dining area offers a wide array of delicious food or pop upstairs to Miao Miao for a custom takeaway hotdog. Tsaretta Spice in Morel, which is the only dedicated Indian kitchen in Méribel (main course around €25) and chef Phillipe Roux at the Hotel Allodis. We've not heard of him either but using the '(chef name) at (restaurant name)' format kinda makes the place sound high-end and therefore justifies the outrageous prices.

Enjoy! And if you're looking for a place to stay in Meribel then you could do no better than take a look at our catered ski chalets…