La Plagne - restaurants, apres-ski and nightlife

La Plagne isn’t a party-til-dawn resort, although you’ll find bars and pubs in most villages. 

Plagne Centre is the busiest village for après-ski, with the lively Luna Bar being popular for early evening drinks – and with the action heating up later in the evening for theme parties and disco. There’s also the Igloo Igloo Bar, which serves cocktails and has live music and DJ nights. The faux-ice interior is evidently warmer than it looks...

Plagne 1800 has the popular La Mine bar, which hosts live music. Alternatively, for a bar with a more traditional feel, try La Tête Inn in Belle Plagne.

There’s also Bowling La Plagne, a ten-pin bowling alley in Plagne Centre which also screens sports events, and has other games plus a bar.

In the town

All the villages have a selection of decent restaurants, and you won’t have much trouble finding somewhere for dinner. 

The family-friendly Le Loup Blanc in Plagne 1800 serves food all day in a traditional-style dining area with a warming fire. On the menu you’ll find local specialities and steaks, plus Asian-influenced dishes.

For a gastronomic experience, the 4-star Hotel Carlina in Belle-Plagne serves an à la carte menu, with the chef preparing a beautifully presented selection of original dishes.

In one of the oldest farms in Montchavin, La Ferme de César serves generous portions of traditional mountain dishes including raclettes, fondues and reblochonades, as well as pizzas.

Chefs at Union restaurant, La Plagne MontalbertPhoto: Pierre Augier

Mountain restaurants

At high altitude you should have no problem finding hearty food, though be prepared to spend a little more on your lunch than in the villages lower down the mountain. In Aime-la-Plagne the family-friendly Au Bon Vieux Temps restaurant has a snug, rustic interior and a large terrace for sunny days. It serves local Savoyard dishes, and if you want, you can take a shuttle bus and dine there in the evening, too. 

At Belle Plagne, the Restaurant Le Hors-Piste is situated right beside the slopes and serves pizzas, soups and salads to eat there or take away. Le Chalet de la Roche, at the foot of the La Roche chairlift and next to a car park (making it handy for non-skiing friends and with access for disabled diners), has a cosy Savoyard interior and a large sunny terrace where you can enjoy a plat du jour for around 13 euros. The menu includes French standards like steak and chips plus fresh pasta and some tempting desserts.

If you're a packed-lunch skier, there's a new picnic room at the top of Roche de Mio (2,800m), which is perfect in less-than-ideal conditions.

Down in Champagny, Le Chalet des Verdons Sud, at the foot of the pistes, is full of charm inside and offers mountain views from the terrace. Look out for delicious local specialities on the menu such as tarte au Beaufort or croustade aux morilles (something for vegetarians), and don’t forget a small glass of Génépi before you leave - if you can tear yourself away.