Eating out in Tignes used to be a rather sad affair and the best advice was to head to Val d’Isere but recent years have seen a major turnaround in the restaurants both on and off the mountain. Foodies visiting Tignes will not be disappointed – the choice ranges from the new high-end Ursus, with its shiny new Michelin star to rustic, locally produced products in try Savoyard style
On the mountain, if you’re looking for a quick, well-priced option head for the Aspen Coffee Shop at the bottom of the Grande Motte, in Val Claret where you can get hearty portions of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and omelettes – including the substantial farmer’s omelette.
Or for something truly local head for Lo Soli which means “barn” in the local Tignard dialect It is on L’Aiguille Percée next to the Chaudannes chairlift and has a blazing log fire on snowy days and impressive views from the terrace when it’s warmer. It serves typical Savoyard fare including local cheesy dishes as well as hearty steaks and burgers.
But if you’re looking for the ‘full works’ at lunchtime head for the waiter-service restaurant in Le Panoramic at 3,032m at the top of the Grande Motte funicular. Comfortably full of sheepskin rugs – over the chairs and even used as curtains, this is altitude fine dining – try the hot creamy cheese in a box cooked on the wood fire, with boiled potatoes and lettuce, or an XXL burger with grilled foie gras, pickled onions, bacon, tomato, and lettuce, served with homemade chips.
Or try the sister restaurant next door, the Cantine de Bouvier – a lovely self-service which is offering roasted meats, pasta, pizza, and a selection of homemade desserts at a shared refectory-style table
In the resort, you have everything on offer from Tex-Mex, to pizza, burgers and fine dining, Try a retro diner in Val Claret with an American/Tex-Mex menu, Daffy’s Cafe serves everything from nachos, burritos, and fajitas to tapas, chicken wings, ribs, steaks, and burgers, plus classic desserts and milkshakes.
Or head to L’Armailly next to the Sache cable car in Tignes Les Brévières, there’s pickled raw beef with Parmesan as a starter, char fish fillet with white wine sauce as a main, and tarte tatin with cinnamon ice cream to finish. For a special occasion head for Ursus where there are just 12 tables set in a magical ‘forest setting’ in Hotel Les Suites.
For a more regional experience head for La Ferme des 3 Capucines, a lovely restaurant in an old Savoyard farm building that serves great food using local ingredients and traditional recipes with a modern twist. A lot of their produce comes from their own farm on-site.
The main bars and après-ski venues are in the Val Claret and Le Lac areas of the resort. The Loop Bar in Le Lac has DJs & live music at the end of the ski day and the Val Claret Le Grizzly and the more sophisticated Le Whitney Bar are great places to relax after a day on the slopes. If you still have the energy after a day on the mountain, you’ll be pleased to know that there are 3 nightclubs in Tignes that will happily keep you occupied ’til the early hours of the morning.