Mountain Restaurant Le Benetton

This is an enormous restaurant on the wide blue and green pistes that overlook the snowy basin of the Les Saisies ski area (the biggest resort in the Espace Diamant). It was an oasis below that beckoned a hungry team making their first hike across the high mountain slopes from Praz down into Les Saisies .

So, the pricey menu was not enough to put us off taking advantage of the massive sun terrace overlooking the busy tracks, especially given the beautiful weather that was starting to whittle away at the white on the lower slopes in middle of an unseasonable warm March.

There’s a striking absence of anything on the menu but a substantial main course sure to send all but the most alert into a post lunch doze and empty the wallet. However, the staff were not so snooty to make a fuss about bringing two plates to split a delicious chicken with pepper sauce and frites. And it easily fed both to bursting but still allowed us to retain just enough vitality to make the return trip to Praz. We’ll definitely be back.

Mountain Restaurant Le Petit Tétras

Named after a local celebrated, protected bird that looks like a tiny turkey – if the homage in fairy-lights on the roundabout in town is to be believed – the Petit Tétras is set in a charming old farmhouse right in heart of the Praz ski-area.

While there is seating outside, including deck-chairs for a last vin-chaud before the last run home, inside this ultra-cosy restaurant is the place to be on a cold winters day (it’s also open in Summer). The menu is mainly traditional but they always have interesting specials and are proud of the local provenance of their produce.

We’ve had more mid-morning coffees and end of day beers than meals here but, when we have eaten, the food has been really good.

Like Le Serasson, it’s near the top of the main Cret du Midi chair lift but when you come off, head immediately to the left.

Mountain Restaurant Le Serasson

Le Serasson is one of the two mountain restaurants immediately in the Praz ski area, and open during the Winter and Summer seasons.  It is the most prominent, as you pass almost over it to the left of the main Cret du Midi lift. And any ski trip beyond Praz will take you on the narrow path behind it.

Great for a mid-morning coffee, lunch or last beer of the day, Le Serrasson has ample seating inside with great panoramic views over Mont Blanc. But if the weather allows, try and grab some space on the terrace to really enjoy the views.

Les Sapins

Always a warm welcome, no visit to our apartment goes without a trip to Les Sapins, whether its a lunch in the sun on the terrace watching the skiiers decend into Praz or a cosy evening inside.

Les Sapins is a stalwart of the hamlet of Praz-sur-Arly, one of a handful of great restaurants right on our doorstep. 

The place is very family friendly and  despite feeling very traditional Savoyard, it’s menu is pretty progressive with some interesting additions – even a vegetarian tartiflette – alongside the local favourites. I recommend the hamburger and the duck or, for an event, try the Pierre – where you can cook a variety of meats yourself on a hot griddle at your table. Fondue is top-notch too.

Pizz’Mountain

While it has a little seating inside and out, most get pizza takeout from family-run Pizz’ Mountain. And what amazing pizza it is. Believe it or not, my kids reckon this is the best pizza in the World! Not in Town, or in France, but the World.

Their pizza’s are made-to-order, ultra thin and the local reblochon cheese joins more traditional pizza ingredients to make these super-yummy. There is a massive variety available on the menus but my advice is to go safe and familiar, some of the more unusual toppings are VERY unusual.

This is often the source of our first meal, when we arrive late with no time to shop. But beware, it can get very busy in season – Winter and Summer – and there can be a long wait and they’ve even run out of dough by 9pm!

Mountain Restaurant La Montagnette

Perhaps it was the beautiful setting after a dump of snow turned the gentle track at the top of the ski into Flumet from Praz into a Winter wonderland (see here). Or maybe it was the home-made raspberry liqueur we took to warm us up alongside a coffee (and smuggled Twix) but this place totally charmed the pants off us.

Even before we have had the the chance to sample the food, we can’t wait to return to this little chalet in this pocket of pine forest with it’s nooks and gingham table cloths, nestling at the junction of the Dahu and Bellette pistes.

It’s just what you’d imagine the perfect, unspoilt Alpine piste-stop would be but is hard to find in the big resorts. Great service and inexpensive