Best place for coffee
La Toviere
Tignes; tel. +33 (0)4 79 06 35 05; http://restaurant-tignes2700.com
This panoramic restaurant and bar is at the top of the Aeroski gondola from
Tignes and the top of the Tommeuses chairlift from Val d’Isere. A vin chaud
costs €3, a beer €3.20 and a hot chocolate with whipped cream is €4.80. The
waffles offer a good sugar hit for €3, plus there’s a tasty selection of
self-service dishes and live DJs on the terrace from 2.30pm when the weather
allows.
Lunch on the mountain
Lo Soli
L'Aiguille Percée, between Tignes le Lac and Tignes les BoissesL’Alpage, at
the top of the Chaudannes chairlift; tel. +33 (0) 479 06 98 63; http://restaurant-tignes.com
Lo Soli offers home-cooked a la carte meals from €6.50 for starters and €12
for main courses – that’s if you go for soup or pasta. More substantial
dishes include the sensational L’Alpage platter of local specialities like
mountain ham and tartiflette (€30) or pot au feu, a beef stew (€22). Save
room for desserts and the owner’s potent home-brewed flavoured rum.
Where to stay
Hotel
les Suites du Nevada
Tignes Val Claret, tel. +33 (0) 450 33 10 96; www.cgh-residences.com
This new MGM property has brought top class hotel accommodation to Tignes –
high design, haut cuisine, a luxury spa and spot-on service. Suites for two
cost from €350 a night and for six people from €580 a night bed and
breakfast.
Chalet
Arktic
Ski Total, www.skitotal.com, tel. 01252
618333
This modern and stylish chalet sleeps up to 18 people. Features include
wall-to-wall windows with mountain views, pool, sauna and cinema. It costs
from £699 a week per person half-board, including flights, transfers and
taxes.
Hameau du Borsat
Tignes Val Claret
These budget apartments sleep up to six people and have kitchens, bathrooms
and basic decor with pull-out beds in some rooms. They can be booked through
a range of tour operators including www.igluski.com,
Crystal,
and www.directski.com,
from around £300 per apartment for one week.
Apres ski
Grizzly’s Bar
Tignes Val Claret; tel. +33 (0) 479 06 34 17
The coolest in Val Claret is Grizzly's. The eccentric owner has decked it in
carved wood draped in animal skins and all manner of bear and alpine
paraphernalia. The drinks are pricey – at around €10 for a win chaud with
the local spirit, genepi, but it’s worth it for the unique ambience.
Crowded House
Hotel Curling, Rue de la poste, Tignes Val Claret; tel. +33 (0) 479 06 34 34
Live music, theme nights and two-for-the-price-of-one cocktail nights mean
this bar is constantly buzzing.
Best restaurant
L’Arbina
Hôtel L'Arbina, Le Rosset, Lac de Tignes 73320, tel. +33 (0) 479 06 34 78; contact@hotel-arbina.com;
www.hotel-arbina.com
There’s no tartiflette or fondue here – just fresh food, simply prepared with
a corking selection of wines by the glass from €3. The three course fixed
price menu costs €29 or you can go a la carte, costing from €12 for starters
and €19 for main courses.
Airport transfers: The Times, Times Online and Sunday Times team hired a car
through www.carrentals.co.uk,
which offers car hire from Geneva airport from £146 a week.
