The list below is not exhaustive but gives details of a pretty good range of restaurants. Restaurants marked 
are accessible on foot and/or by car.
The following list are our top picks in the valleys regardless of price or location:
- Le Cap Horn - Courchevel 1850 - 04 79 08 33 10
- Les Crêtes - Meribel - 04 79 08 56 50
- Pizzeria du Mottaret - Mottaret - 04 79 00 40 50
- Le Lachanal - St Martin - 04 79 08 96 29
- Le Tremplin - Courchevel 1850 - 04 79 08 06 19
- Les Allodis - Meribel - 04 79 00 56 00
- La Bouitte - St Marcel (St Martin) - 04 79 08 96 77
- Bel Air - Courchevel 1650 - 04 79 08 00 93
- Bistro du Praz - Le Praz - 04 79 08 41 33
To contact them from outside of France drop the zero and place +33 in front of the number:
This listing can also be found on the Purple Ski mobile site. Just point your mobile browser at www.purpleski.mobi
Méribel Valley
Les Allodis €€€
Tel: 04 79 00 56 00
One of the best restaurants in Meribel and certainly the best restaurant for lunch. We have been many times and have never been disappointed. Can highly recommend the cream of tagliatelle with chicken and foie gras. The puddings are to die for.
Where? Opposite mid station of Rhodos bubble.
Les Crêtes €€
Tel: 04 79 40 51 04
Traditional style restaurant with low ceilings and wooden beams to match. Traditional menu - no spag bol here! We like Les Crêtes for its simple food and friendly service. Can be very busy. No credit cards.
Where? Cherferie, top of Tougnete lift.
Le Blanchot €€€
Tel: 04 79 00 55 78
One of the best in Meribel in a wonderful setting by the Altiport, but this season easily pipped by the Allodis, certainly for lunch. The restaurant has a new chef this season and the lunchtime menu lacks excitement. Still worth a visit though.
Where? Altiport, Lapin Piste
Les Castors €
Tel: 04 79 08 52 79
Convenient for La Chaudanne and lessons with Magic Academy. However, recent reports are of dreadful service and mediocre food. Give it a miss. Loses the sun pre 2pm early in the season and the service isn't always that great.
Where? Bottom of the trout.
Rhododendrons €
Tel: 04 79 00 50 92
Les Rhododendrons is convenient for beginners spending a lot of time on the Altiport. Not much character but quite reasonable prices. Self-service.
Where? Top of Rhodos Lift
Le Rond-Point €
Tel: 04 79 00 37 51
The food is no longer as well executed as before. Easy access for beginners and from the road. The terrace has the sun for the afternoon all season.
Where? Just below mid station of Rhodos.
Pierres Plates €
Tel: 04 79 00 42 38
Just awful. Simply avoid. Self-service.
Where? Top of Saulire
Le Chardonnet €€
Tel: 04 79 00 44 81
A traditional style restaurant with a wide menu and season-round sun.
Where? Pas du Lac mid-station
Chalet Togniat €
Tel: 04 79 00 45 11
Not too busy with only one chair lift out of Mottaret. Loses the sun early afternoon in December and January but a real sun-trap by March. Self-service.
Where? Bottom of Roc de Tougne lift
L'Arpasson €
Tel: 04 79 08 54 79
Large self-service restaurant. Sun-terrace isn't much use early season but it's the only stop around this side of the valley above Meribel.
Where? Opposite the Tougnete 1.
Chez Kiki €€€
Tel: 04 79 08 66 68
Monsieur Kiki continues to delights his guests with steaks, lamb and duck cooked over the open fire in the middle of the restaurant. The warm fois gras is simply to die for. Dinner only
Where? Morel, Méribel Centre
Le Plantin €€€
Tel: 04 79 04 12 11
The Plantin is situated on the road between Meribel Village and La Tania on the site of the (in)famous old Plantin restaurant. This is completely different. We have only visited this restaurant once; for dinner in the summer of 2009. The room is well designed and the service is good even if the smile was a little forced. The food was also good if a little un-exciting and I had expected more from this restaurant so I was slightly disappointed.
Where? Le Plantin
La Bo a Mil €€€
Tel: 04 79 00 75 48
Web: www.boamil.com/
This charming restaurant is located behind the chapel in Meribel Village. It has a very rustic interior, with stone floors and walls and vaulted ceilings, the food matches this perfectly, being traditional in style but also refined! With friendly service, it's a lovely place to spend the evening.
Where? Meribel Village
Côte Brune €€
Tel: 04 79 00 40 97
Easy to find, large sun-terrace, but as with all Mottaret restaurants is dropped into the shade by 2pm early season, so go up the Pas du Lac if you want a late lunch! Under new management and service better but I have yet to sample the food but with the Pizzeria du Mottaret just across the way, I probably won't be any time soon .
Where? Centre of Mottaret
Le Grenier €
Tel: 04 79 00 46 70
Traditional style restaurant that sits above the "Chrismaran" bar. Wide menu. Seating is all indoors bar a couple of tables on the small balcony. Reasonable prices too.
Where? Centre of Mottaret
Au Temps Perdu €
Tel: 04 79 00 36 64
Ridiculously dressed waiters serve you a range of salads, crepes and eggs. Watch out for ice on the path behind the outdoor tables.
Where? Centre of Mottaret
Pizzeria du Mottaret €€
Tel: 04 79 00 40 50
Delightful. Welcoming, with wonderful pizzas and the best fondue and steak tartar that I have ever had. A visit to Meribel is not complete without at least one meal at The Pizzeria. Really the only place to eat in Mottaret.
Where? Centre of Mottaret
La Sittelle €
Tel: 04 79 00 43 48
Popular restaurant on the side of the Plattieres Blues. Small menu covering spaghetti, steak hache, saucisses and omelettes and cream freaks have to try the crazy chocolat chaud. Self-Service.
Where? Just above Plattieres 1 bubble.
Le Refuge €
Tel: 04 79 08 61 97
Always busy and not surprisingly. Great pizzas and great atmosphere as well as being the only bar not taken over by the British.
Where? Meribel high street
Val Thorens Valley
Chalet Plein Sud €
Tel: 04 79 00 04 27
As the name suggests, catches a lot of sun and has a correspondingly large outdoor area. Queues get big peak season though and they don't really like giving out carafes of water unless, you pester them enough! Self-service.
Where? Top of Plein Sud chair lift.
Le Fast-Food €
Tel: 04 79 00 09 94
Not a restaurant as such but worth mentioning for its good sandwiches at a good price. If you just want to grab a bite, stop here.
Where Val Thorens 2300
Les Rondelles €€
Excellent place to stop when it gets down to -20°C and your tongue has frozen to your zip. Warm your gloves by the open fire and have a "vin chaud". Food isn't cheap, but it's quite good.
Where? Top of Moraine chair lift
Chalet les Deux Lacs €
Tel: 06 61 77 73 26
If you can't get a seat at the restaurant there's an ok snack-bar that serves quiche, small pizzas and chips. The restaurant is quite busy but food is reputedly quite good.
Where? Top of 2 Lacs & Moutiere chair lifts
Chalet du Thorens €
Tel: 04 79 00 02 80
Grab a hotdog at the snack-bar or head inside for something more substantial. Not a huge menu, but food is quite good.
Where? Bottom of Grand Fond cable car
Chalet de Caron €
Tel: 04 79 00 01 71
Popular stop when the sun's out - huge outside seating area. Similarly huge queues at 1.15pm peak season. If you've got time, jump over the Cime de Caron and go to Plan Bouchet instead. Self-Service.
Where? Bottom of Cairn & Caron bubble lifts
L'Etape 3200 €
Tel: 06 80 62 82 93
Fantastic views from the top of the Cime de Caron; however, the loos are often out of order and the kitchen unable to cope with demand. Small outside seating aread. Self-service.
Where? Top of Cime de Caron & Cime Caron cable car.
Chalet du Plan Bouchet €
Tel: 04 79 56 97 27
Small menu but big portions and an excellent Bolognaise. Busier now that the 4th valley has been extended, but still quiet compared to everywhere else and all season sun out on the terrace. Self-service.
Where? Near Cime de Caron & at the top of 3 vallees Express bubble from Orelle.
Chalet de Val Thorens €
Tel: 04 79 00 02 67
Good food in the restaurant upstairs, and excellent home-made pasta in the self-service underneath. Intriguing toilet layout. See for yourself.
Where? Above Val Thorens on Christine red run.
Les Roches Blanches €
Tel: 04 79 00 60 22
One of the quietest restaurants in the 3 valleys. Reasonable prices and loads of space inside and out. Check out the interesting translations at the end of the bar, e.g. Potage du jour = Potage in day. Excellent! Self-service.
Where? Masse mid-station, top of Rocher Noir chair lift.
Le Panoramic €
Tel: 04 79 22 80 60
Great views from the top of La Masse but can get a bit breezy outside. Try the lasagna if your stomach feels like it needs weighing down a bit. Self-service.
Where? At Pointe de la Masse, top of the Masse 2 bubble.
Trois Vallees €
Tel: 04 79 00 74 04
Cosy and doesn't always get that busy. Try the hot lemon juice and check out the "tasteful" pictures of Les Menuires c.1970 on the wall. Food is the usual; omelettes, steak and pasta, interesting plat du jours.
Where? On Vallons blue run from Masse mid-station.
La Bouitte €€€€
Tel: 04 79 08 96 77
This is one of the most extrordinary restaurants not just in the Three Valleys but in France. This has been recognised by the awarding of two Michelin stars. We have eaten here once and if you love your food you have to eat here at least once in your life!
Where? Saint Marcel - Martin de Belleville
Le Chardon Bleu €€
Tel: 04 79 08 95 36
Good for all-season sun and slightly more up-m sun terrace. Go to one of the restaurants in the old town instead.
Where? Saint Martin de Belleville
Le Lachanal €€
For me this is loveliest restaurant in St Martin. The food has become more complex on change of ownership and it is not the great value it once was but still well worth a visit with friendly service and wonderful sun terrace. In my early days in Meribel I used to go here at least twice a month now it is more like once a season! Booking essential.
Where? Saint Martin de Belleville
Courchevel
Le Cap Horn €€€€
Tel: 04 79 08 33 10
Massive outside seating area. Excellent service; high prices accompany the amazing food. One of the top ten restaurants in France according to the Times.
Where? Above Courchevel altiport.
Le Tremplin €€€
Tel: 04 79 08 06 19
Large terrace - a great place for people watching. A superb range of food... oysters, bulots, lobster, sea food platter; if you do one lunch while in the Trois Vallees have it here!
Where? To the right of Jardin Alpin.
Le Bistro du Praz €€€€
Tel: 04 79 08 41 33
This famous restaurant has gone through two changes of ownership since it was run by Charlie. Foie gras is still the restaurant's speciality, but chef Remi Weiscrock has a fresher approach to the dishes and we have eaten here several times since he took over and never been disappointed. Great atmosphere, lovely food, a nice wine list and charming service.
Where? In the village of Le Praz.
Le Roc Tania €€
Tel: 04 79 08 32 34
Simple but good food. Large terrace with sun all day.
Where? Top of Loze chair lift out of the altiport and the Col de la Loze 2 man from the Chenus.
La Soucoupe €€€
Tel: 04 79 08 21 34
Self-service downstairs or small restaurant upstairs; chef cooks on open fire. Booking is essential. The food is good.
Where? Top of Cretets chair lift and accessible from Chenus lift.
Le Chalet de Pierres €€€€
Tel: 04 79 08 18 61
Attracts a special clientele due to its extraordinary price. Food reputably good. Quick service, large terrace.
Where? Underneath Verdons lift, opposite the lake above 1850.
L'Altibar (Le Pilatus) €€
Tel: 04 79 08 20 49
Recently under new management. Varied reports on the food.
Where? Next to the Courchevel altiport
L'Arcensiel €
Tel: 04 79 08 38 09
The small outside seating area catches little sun, especially in early season. Good food is reasonably priced.
Where? Top of the Verdons, below Saulire cable car.
Le Panoramic €€
Tel: 04 79 08 00 88
Rebuilt in summer 2001 after fire damage. Owned by the mayor of Courchevel. Food quite good, but prices not the most reasonable.
Where? Situated at the top of Saulire cable car.
Le Bel Air €€€
Tel: 04 79 08 00 93
Friendly, efficient; excellent tiered sun terrace. Plat du jour and omelettes recommended. Booking necessary. Not to be missed.
Where? Above 1650 at the top of Ariondaz.
La Casserole €€
Tel: 04 79 08 06 35
Good food, though expensive; and the service isn't up to much.
Where? The bottom of Signal chair lift.
L'Ours Blanc €€
Tel: 04 79 00 93 93
Good pizza and pasta, good size portions. Service gets slow when busy but prices reasonable
Next to Ariondaz bubble in 1650.
L'Eterlou €
Tel: 04 79 08 25 45
Reasonable prices, wide menu. Good value food but the service can be slow.
Where? In 1650 itself, about 20m from the piste.
Le Kalico €
Tel: 04 79 08 20 28
The small outside sun terrace doesn't get much sun. Standard menu (pizzas, burgers). Reasonably priced for 1850.
Where? Under the bridge in 1850.
Le Bouc Blanc €
Tel: 04 79 08 80 26
Good quality food, friendly service. Large sun terrace, better earlier in the day. Good views.
Where? Above the La Tania bubble.
La Yaca €€€€
Tel: 04 79 08 41 04
Owned by Abel Congratel and his English wife Anna. Simply superb food, wine and atmosphere but very, very pricey. The only report we had of the restaurant for 2008 was disappointing.
Where? In the village of Le Praz.
Last Updated: 23 December 2009 09:02 GMT
Tel: +44 (0)1885 488799 email: michael@purpleski.com