The Best Vegetarian (and Vegan) Friendly Restaurants in the Alps

Until recently, vegetarian and vegan food was an anomaly in a ski resort. Cheese and lardons, more typical mountain food, were the name of the game - and there wasn’t much else on offer.

Over the past few years, in keeping with current trends, this has changed drastically and now even the Frenchest of French ski resort restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan alternatives. Although strictly vegetarian restaurants haven’t yet made it to the ski slopes just yet, we have listed a few of our favourite restaurants in ski resorts across the Alps which offer vegetarian or vegan cuisine.

1. L’Impossible, Chamonix

Sitting on a quiet street just 5 minutes’ walk from the heart of Chamonix is L’Impossible. The 200-year old farmhouse has been carefully renovated and when you walk in, owners Donatella and Auro welcome you as though you are guests in their home.

Using locally sourced organic ingredients, everything on their seasonal menus are made from scratch with traditional Italian influences. Although locally sourced meat and fish feature on the menu, it is their vegetarian food which has given them notoriety in a town where fondue and tartiflette is the main fare. Much of the food on their menu is made with as little dairy as possible making vegan options easy to create on request. They also have a huge amount of gluten free options making it a fantastic restaurant for all!

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2. Restaurant Les Cerniers, Monthey

Part of the Whitepod eco-luxury hotel in the hills of the Valais, this one made our list because the inventive vegan and vegetarian dishes are so good that even meat-eaters will be left satisfied. Completely homemade with locally sourced ingredients, the chefs at Restaurant Les Cerniers manage to stay true to the dishes of the Valais region whilst offering contemporary food at the same time.

3. 8 M des Monts, Samoëns

This small, family-run restaurant sitting on the edge of the main square in Samoëns is one of the most charming restaurants you will stumble across in the French Alps. Using organic, locally sourced ingredients, the menu is small but of exceptional quality, and it changes each day. They offer a daily vegetarian "Plat du Jour" and a vegan alternative, and the restaurant is one of the few in the area with good gluten-free options. From the food to the service, the owners of this restaurant are passionate about good quality, locally sourced food and it is one of our top choices for vegetarian and vegan options in the Alps.

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4. Restaurant Godswärgjistubu, Albinen

Restaurant Godswärgjistubu If you want an alpine dining experience that goes beyond the food on your plate, this is the restaurant for you. Your meal begins with a guided wild mountain herb tour with restaurant owner, Sasha-Tsering Tsokhim (pictured left). Together you will forage wild plants and fruits and learn about the medicinal benefits of the herbs which make their way into your meal. Vegetarians and vegans are spoilt for choice and each dish uses ingredients which are sourced from the surrounding gardens, meadows and forests. The restaurant itself is a 350-year old chalet, and there is a one guest suite if you would like to spend the night. This is a phenomenal dining experience particularly for those who want to participate in the creation of their meal.

5. Happy Kuh, Kitzbuhel

Located in the Q! Resort Health & Spa Hotel, Happy Kuh was the first vegetarian/vegan restaurant to open in Kitzbuhel. Completely dedicated to helping vegetarian and vegan diners experience the best food the Tyrol has to offer, the seasonal menus are fresh, imaginative and created using the finest locally sourced ingredients.