A Summer Watering Hole Guide to Avoriaz

I’m not one to shy away from challenges, so I’ve spent time finding some of the best watering holes in the region to help you refuel. (It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it).

The Portes Du Soleil is a haven for road bikers, home to some of the most famous cycling routes in the world. It often features in the Tour De France, taking riders over challenging climbs, down winding steep mountain passes and through some of the regions prettiest towns and villages. There’s no shortage of stop off points for road cyclists along these routes, but I know from experience that you don’t want to spend ages searching for somewhere special (especially if you’re hungry and therefore possibly a bit grumpy).

One of the popular rides taking you from Morzine up to Avoriaz on the Col de la Joux Vert. It’s an intense 14km climb and will certainly leave you in need of some food once you reach the summit. Similarly, if you’d rather, you can hike up to Avoriaz from Prodains, Lac Montriond, and the Super Morzine lift. Intense exercise calls for high-energy food including carbohydrates and protein, and nowhere provides that better than Changabangs fast food restaurant, which is directly opposite the Prodains express lift in Avoriaz. It’s a popular spot in winter and summer with mountain bikers as well and there’s plenty of seating and spots to leave your bikes.

If you feel like you’d like to eat a little nearer to the end of your ride, descend down to Lac Montriond via Les Lindarets where there’s a wealth of restaurants to choose from. Le Chaudron restaurant near to the Goat Village itself is a particular favourite, and is able to seat big groups, if you’re out riding with friends or as a team. Renowned for it’s traditional dishes, it’ll leave you feeling satisfied and certainly a little heavier for your last few kilometers home. Nearer still to home is Le Bout De Lac, a popular restaurant with expats, locals and tourists. Sitting right on the shores of the lake, it’s a perfect place to fill yourself with a wide variety of Savoyard specialities. It’s a short 5km ride back to Morzine and a great place to start and finish your hike in the surrounding mountains.

A popular place for it’s mountain bike trails and hiking, is Les Gets. It also appears on many of the regions popular road biking routes. High up in the hills of the resort is La Paika restaurant, famous for it’s incredible views and filling BBQ buffets. If you do stop off here, be warned, your afternoon may be a little more sluggish than your morning. Also guaranteed to replenish the calories you’ve spent all day burning, is the Australian themed restaurant at The Boomerang hotel. Famous for it’s tapas and heavenly nachos, it’s a great way to spend your evening after a day of heavy training.

The Pointe de Nyon is also a great pace to visit for a day of high-energy exercise, famous for its picturesque slopes in the winter and intense hiking and biking trails in the summer. Chalet Inferno never fails to provide for tired tourers with its popular BBQ nights and party vibe. Throughout the summer it has special events including pool parties and dog shows to tempt in tourists, so you time your visit to Nyon if that’s your kind of thing. You’ll also find plenty on offer at nearby restaurant, Pointe de Nyon. With its sunny terrace, it’s a great place to enjoy a post ride pint.

If you would rather head to Morzine for something to eat or an evening drink, there are plenty of places open throughout the year hoping to be your chosen refuelling stop. Proving to be a popular choice with road and mountain bikers because of its beer and filling plates is the Bec Jaune. If you don’t want to undo all of your hard work it also has plenty of substantial healthy dishes, like its vegetarian glory bowl, on its tasty menu. Also, promising to provide you with a simple, hassle free pint is Bar Robinsons (or Robbo’s). With a big seating area inside and out, it’s perfect for riders to congregate and enjoy the last few hours of summer sunshine.

Similarly, a few kilometres out of the centre of Morzine, La Petite Auberge in Essert Romand has a terrace that catches the last rays of the day. It’s perfect if you’re ending your ride or hike in places out of Morzine towards Saint Jean d’Aulps. At Lunchtime it has a five course lunch menu for 15€ that shouldn’t be missed. It’s perfect as a midway point stop-off as well.

And don’t forget to try to squeeze a visit in to the newly awarded “best bar in the PDS”, The Marmotte d’Or in Montriond. Run by self-confessed exercise freaks, it’s a great place to relive your day of mountain adventures and grab a drink to celebrate your achievements. It’s popular for its simplicity, ambiance and stunning views of the surrounding mountains and is really proving itself on the list of best watering holes in the region.

Let us know your favourite watering holes in Avoriaz!