The must-try restaurants for a great summer in the Alps

The French territory abounds in different climates and geographies. Summer and its heat are often synonymous with escapes to the sea and its white sand or pebble beaches. At the same time, the mountains, omnipresent in winter, take a back seat when they lose their white veil. Epicureans have a veritable culinary playground to explore. Here are our must-try Alpine restaurants, between lakeside and altitude.

In Veyrier-du-Lac, La Table de Yoann Conte

It's impossible to make a selection of Alpine must-tries without mentioning our Chef of the Year 2024, Yoann Conte. Our route begins on the shores of Lake Annecy with La Maison Bleue, a top-quality hotel. What makes this place so famous is above all La Table de Yoann Conte (5 toques). In this warmly atmospheric setting, quite symptomatic of the region, the chef serves a sensitive cuisine. The menu features four dishes: Arbre de vie : racines paysannes, Sur le chemin..., Parcours de vie ! and L'ultime synthèse. In his establishment, the Veyrier-du-Lac resident wants every guest to be able to personalize their experience. To achieve this, he offers a made-to-measure menu adapted to the desires and needs of his customers.

• Read the Gault&Millau review of La Table de Yoann Conte (19/20)
• 13 vieille Route des Pensières, 74290 Veyrier du Lac

Fou d'images

In Megève, Flocons de Sel

Located just a stone's throw above the resort,Emmanuel Renaut 's restaurant needs no introduction. Over the years, its wooden setting has become a landmark of French gastronomy. Together with his wife Kristine, the 5-toque chef offers Flocons de Sel an atmosphere and cuisine as close to nature as possible. The chalet in which the restaurant is housed offers a breathtaking view of the Haute-Savoie mountains through its bay windows. On the plate, the terroir is reflected in two menus, a "Promenade au Leutaz" and a "Randonnée aux saveurs du printemps". To complete the experience, Flocons de Sel also offers hotel accommodation to welcome the curious for one or more nights. Please note that the restaurant will be closed from September 1, 2024 due to renovations, and will not reopen until spring 2025.

• Read the Gault&Millau review of Flocons de Sel (19.5/20)
• 1775 Route du Leutaz, 74120 Megève

In Annecy, Saba

Also not far from the lake is the Saba restaurant of 109 2024, Clément Torres. Unlike many of his colleagues, the chef wasn't destined to become a chef as a child. He discovered this path in Australia while working as a sailing instructor. After ten years learning the ropes, he launched his career with the support of the Gault&Millau Jeune Talent Endowment. In terms of cuisine, the offer is lightly influenced by Japan. Looking for new discoveries? Here you'll find two completely blind menus, in five and seven courses, to immerse you in an immersive experience. None of the menus exceeds 70 euros, so you can enjoy a gastronomic voyage on a more affordable budget.

• Read the Gault&Millau review of Saba (13.5/20)
• 21 Faubourg Sainte-Claire, 74000 Annecy

Mae Braud - Justine Torres

In Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, La Bouitte - René & Maxime Meilleur

Just a stone's throw from Les Menuires and the Val Thorens resort lies the magnificent family-run La Bouitte. This Relais & Châteaux is first and foremost a restaurant, owned by father and son René and Maxime Meilleur. Now holders of four toques, their gastronomic story began with a meal at Paul Bocuse's, which transformed the father's desires and cuisine. The menu is made up of four menus, with regional influences, ranging from 210 to 440 euros per person. Unusually, a special menu is available for young guests under the age of 10, at 85 euros. The chalet, located at an altitude of 1,500 metres, exudes an air of mountain walking. A case in point is "la promenade dans les cailloux" (a stroll through the pebbles), featuring pan-fried fleshy snails, quignon en persillade (a parsley dish) and a nettle velouté.

• Read the Gault&Millau review of La Bouitte (17/20)
• Hameau de Saint Marcel, 159 Route du Crey, 73440 Les Belleville

Matthieu Cellard

In Lucinges, L'Auberge de Lucinges

In the hills above Geneva, on the shores of Lake Geneva, you'll find L'Auberge de Lucinges, named after the town of the same name. The establishment is the playground of our 109 edition 2024, Benjamin Breton. The chef's cuisine and dishes are obviously partly dictated by the lake and surrounding mountains. From spring char to summer venison, these products are synonymous with an attachment to the land. In addition to his attachment to his dishes, the chef's guiding principle is respect for the living. He honors each of his producers on the restaurant's website.

• Read the Gault&Millau review of L'Auberge de Lucinges (14,5/20)
• 67 place de l'Église, 74380 Lucinges