Mad Dog Ski: Ski Resort guidebooks for Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland

Top restaurants for groups

Eating out as a groupWhether you want long tables filled with fondues, raclettes and other Alpine sharing specialities or to take over a restaurant for a night of regional cuisine and frivolity, these are our favourite places for dining with lots of people. Don’t miss the torchlit skiing or night sledging that is thrown in for free…

Adray Télébar, Meribel
Near the bottom of the Doron piste, +33 (0)4 79 08 60 26.
Close to a number of lifts (Adret and Rhodos 1 or walk across the piste from the Rond Point), groups can easily meet here after a day exploring the Méribel valley. Helpings are generous and the menu varied enough to please everyone: asparagus with blue cheese, pasta with Reblochon cheese, delicious veal and some of the best chips on the mountain. Prices are mid-range to expensive, but it’s worth a treat.

Alpage, Verbier
Rte de Verbier Station, next to the Farm Club, +41 (0)27 771 6121.
Alpage has a homely mountain feel, with red flowers adorning the restaurant, and serves mid-range, traditional food with a modern take; roast lamb and bouillabaisse are two of the dishes.  Its flexibility makes it good for groups; unusually for Verbier they don’t insist on a 7pm or 9pm arrival time so you can book when suits you. They welcome groups of up to 20. After supper head next door to the Farm Club for some dancing.

Au Vieux Verbier, Verbier
Rue de Médran, next to the Médran lifts, +41 (0)27 771 1668.
Big enough to absorb lots of you (it can seat up to 150 people) and conveniently located right by the resort’s main lifts, this restaurant is still friendly enough to feel personal. It’s open from early (stop in for breakfast) through to midnight so you can eat at a time to suit everyone’s schedule. Good kids’ menu.

Le Bel Air, Courchevel 1650
Take the Ariondaz or Bel Air lifts, + 33 (0)4 79 08 00 93.
Balanced above the village of 1650, the friendly Bel Air is close to a number of pistes and just at the top of the Ariondaz gondola, so it’s easy for non-skiers to get to too. With three sunny terraces, the whole group can top up their tan. Book ahead as it’s very popular.

La Pignatta, Tignes
Val Claret centre, next to Saint Jacques, +33 (0)4 79 06 32 97.
The long wooden tables make this family-run Italian restaurant ideal for groups. Carnivores will be happy with the first-class steaks, vegetarians equally happy with the pizza, pasta and creative salads.

Maison Vieille, Courmayeur
Take the Maison Vieille lift, +39 (0)337 230979.
Jolly mountain restaurant with great food, from antipasti – try the cured mountain goat with warm local cheese – to delicious pasta (especially the trio of pasta for two people, €10 per person) and polenta. In the evenings, the restaurant runs meals with torchlit skiing or sledge races to get you home. Mid-range prices.

Montjola, St Anton
Gastigweg 29, about 10 minutes’ walk from the roundabout at the western end of the village, +43 (0)5446 2302.
Whilst riding high on its reputation as the best fondue restaurant in St Anton, Montjola still takes a lot of care. With an old-fashioned feel and pleasantly faded décor, groups can relax in one of the cosy corners. Fantastic fondue from €23-29.

Onkel Willy’s Hütte, Schladming
Next to run 7a on the Planai – pedestrians follow signs from the gondola or walk from top station, +43 (0)3687 23105.
This old Austrian treasure has a fantastic terrace and prompt service, adept at dealing with groups. Try the Planai Gröstle or Haus Toast (griddled pork medallions on toast with cheese). Reasonable prices.

Restaurant du Pont, Zermatt
Oberdorfstrasse 7, just past the church (heading away from the train station), +41 (0)27 967 4343.
Avoid arguments over the bill by eating on a budget – this simple wooden shack-like restaurant has atmosphere and charm and serves homemade rösti and a variety of fondues.

Rodelalm, St Anton
Above the village; take Nassereinbahn to Gampen, +(0)699 1085 8855.
Get your competitive spirit going with a toboggan race, then stop off for supper at this lovely old Alm. Complete with a warming central fire, the atmosphere is fantastically welcoming and the pig’s trotters delicious.