🚠 MEGÈVE

The french ski village to doing nothing well.

Megève is a rare gem of a place that manages to feel both cinematic and refreshingly authentic. Wooden chalets, horse-drawn carriages, lights strung over cobblestone streets - it’s postcard-perfect while welcoming you right into the scene.

Unlike the flashier ski resorts of Europe, Megève wears its wealth lightly. The trappings of luxury are definitely present — designer boutiques, fur-lined parkas, and more Michelin-starred dining rooms than other villages of its size — but the vibe is less see and be seen and more European kid spending winter break at a grandparents’ chalet.

It’s worth saying up front: you don’t come to Megève for high-intensity skiing. The village sits around 1,100 meters, far lower than its alpine neighbors. For context, the peaks of Chamonix and Les Trois Vallées climb to roughly 3,800 and 3,200 meters, respectively. In low-snowfall seasons, the gondola ride offers a mildly tragic view of brown-patched slopes where you wish there were white-capped peaks. But Megève was never built for ski purists; it was built for ambience. This is for people who start skiing at 11 and start après-ski at noon.

The town is built for walking, eating, and remembering how to do nothing well. There are crepe stands on every corner, turning out buttery, paper-thin masterpieces with just the right crisp around the edges. My mother goes classic lemon and sugar. Civilized, no mess. My four-year-old niece (who managed a crepe a day) treats her crepe-eating like a full-contact sport. She prefers Nutella, which inevitably ends up on her face, in her hair, and on my jacket. But you can’t really get mad at someone so innocently and entirely devoted to joy.

Dinner in Megève can be white-tablecloth and hushed or loud and wine-soaked in a room that smells like cheese and woodsmoke. Both versions feel right. There are the “clubstaurant” spots that Indiegroup brought in from St. Tropez and Paris. And there’s the Le Bistrot de Megève types: cramped tables, sizzling fondue, and waiters who laugh at you, kindly but without mercy, for mispronouncing a French liqueur.

To me, this village is the most romantic and authentic in the Alps.

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Table of Contents:

1. General

2. Where to Eat

3. Where to Shop

4. Where to Stay

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GENERAL

THE SLOPES

• Megève’s ski terrain is not as extreme as other famous Alpine resorts. Before booking your trip, it’s worth checking the snow conditions and consulting your hotel. As one of the lower-elevation ski resorts in the Alps, Megève has struggled with limited snowfall in recent years, though it’s worth a trip there even if you’re not skiing.

• If you’re craving more advanced slopes or different terrain for the day, Les Trois Vallées' Méribel is just a one-hour drive away. There’s a great car rental option in town, Europcar Megève, and the drive is fairly easy.

TRAVELING WITH KIDS

• Kids' Ski School: If you’re traveling with children, book ski school well in advance. Availability is limited, and classes fill up quickly. There are 3 options in town: ESF, Oxygene, and Evolution 2.

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WHERE TO EAT

DINNER

• Le Restaurant des Fermes de Marie - Mountain cuisine and the most incredible dessert room I’ve ever seen (see below for my mom in pure joy). A good family place.

• L’Alpage - All things 🧀🧀 & 🥩🥩. Fondue, raclette, tartiflette, pierrade or brasérade.

• FLOCONS DE SEL - 3 Michelin Star restaurant and the most famous in Megève.

• Indie Mountain - Renamed to La Sauvageonne Megève. This place is a vibe. Pasta, cocktails, attractive young couples, and a DJ playing all night.

• La Table de l'Alpaga - 1 Michelin Star experimental cuisine located at L’Alpaga Hotel. This is for the ultimate foodie. One of those meals where you’ll have no idea what you’re eating and it’s all so very tiny and beautifully situated.

Indie Mountain (L) L'Alpage (R)

ON THE MOUNTAIN

• ⭐ Le Relais des Fermes - There’s something about sitting in a lounge chair on a perfectly sunny terrace surrounded by snow with an Aperol Spritz in hand. Follow that with a delicious lunch of classic French Alpine cuisine, and you’re guaranteed a 10/10 day.

Le Relais des Fermes

IN TOWN

• Make sure to get a chocolate crêpe at one of the many stands in the village.

• Le Bistrot de Megève - A cozy, laid-back meal of foie gras and french onion soup.

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WHERE TO SHOP

I wouldn’t hesitate to walk into every single shop in town. Each is charming, special and filled with local gems, but some of my personal favorites are below:

• by Mahe - possibly my favorite; concept store with an excellent curation of items from a mix of brands I recognized and didn’t — Jacquie Aiche, RE/DONE, Claris Virot.

• One of the best Fusalp stores

• AALLARD - French luxury line native to Megève located right in the most beautiful building in the center of town.

• L'épicerie des Fermes - Epic grocery store with local produce and products - I got the cutest polka dot egg cups here!

• Bécassine - Kid heaven

• Scarlett Megève - Art books and design objects

• Blue Ink - shockingly amazing collection of vintage RL

WHERE TO STAY

• L’Alpaga Megeve - A cozy, hamlet-like hotel just a five-minute drive from the village. It’s perfect if you’re looking for some peace and quiet. Their shuttle service is amazing—it’ll take you anywhere you need to go, whenever you need to go there. The lobby feels like a comfy living room, with chess sets and backgammon boards on every table. A great spot for families or anyone just looking to relax.

• Les Fermes de Marie: A quintessential Alpine retreat. Rustic luxury and impeccable service — a great option for couples or families.

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