In this guide
How to choose a restaurant in Alpe d'Huez
The best choice depends first and foremost on your day. After a hike, a mountain restaurant close to your route saves you heading back down to the resort. After cycling the 21 hairpins, a brasserie or an easily accessible terrace means a quick, hassle-free lunch. For dinner, the food, the atmosphere and booking ahead become the priorities.
Summer is more seasonal than winter. Some restaurants open all summer, others only while the lifts are running or for a few weeks in July and August. The information below is a guide to help you choose, not a guarantee that a place will be open.
Our summer picks
Route Romaine
Le Génépi
In 2026, the tourist office listed it as open from 9 June to 26 September, lunch and dinner, with some weekly closing days. Booking recommended.
- Ideal for
- A special dinner or a meal for two
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Vieil Alpe
PopAlp Café
A Pop Art-style spot with a sunny terrace and a summer menu featuring salads, pasta and grills. Check opening days.
- Ideal for
- A casual lunch and families
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Avenue des Jeux
La Pomme de Pin
On Avenue des Jeux, this is a handy choice for a day in the centre of the resort. Contact the restaurant directly for the menu and opening hours.
- Ideal for
- A central location
- Before you go
- Call or book online
In the resort
Au Bistrot chez les Filles
A south-facing terrace and a menu running from breakfast to crêpes and ice cream. Double-check opening hours.
- Ideal for
- A light bite at any time
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Grandes Rousses area
Le Chamois d'Or
The official site highlights carefully prepared dishes using fresh, local ingredients and a large terrace. Check summer opening before you book.
- Ideal for
- A terrace and a more elegant meal
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Poutran mid-station
Restaurant L'Aventure
Open to pedestrians when the lifts are running, with a panoramic terrace. Access depends on the lift calendar and conditions.
- Ideal for
- Lunch with a view
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Lac Besson plateau
Chalet du Lac Besson
An iconic spot for lunch in the lakes area. Book ahead and check access, the shuttle and opening days.
- Ideal for
- After a hike
- Before you go
- Call or book online
L'Alpette, Oz-en-Oisans
Chez Passoud – L'Alpette
The tourist office lists it as open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, dates to be confirmed. Access depends on your route and the lifts.
- Ideal for
- A stop on a bike ride or hike
- Before you go
- Call or book online
Where to eat for every mood
Fondue and raclette
Look for a specialist restaurant or a mountain-style menu. In summer some places scale back their cheese dishes, so check when you book.
A sunny terrace
Cafés and hotels in the centre have easily accessible terraces. For the views, head to a mountain restaurant when the lifts are running.
After a bike ride
A central brasserie or a place with all-day service makes it easy to eat without a strict booking time. Remember to lock your bike and bring a dry layer.
After a hike
Match the restaurant to your route: Lac Besson, Poutran or L'Alpette. Check the time of the last lift before settling in for a long lunch.
With children
Look for a short menu, quick service, a quiet terrace and a high chair if needed.
Dinner for two
Choose a modern bistro or a hotel restaurant, book ahead and ask for a quiet table or one with a view.
What budget should you allow?
| Type of meal | Approx. budget per person | Example | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick bite | €10 to €20 | Sandwich, crêpe, salad or snack | Check serving times |
| Brasserie | €20 to €40 | Main course and a drink | Book on busy evenings |
| Mountain specialities | €30 to €55 | Fondue, raclette or set menu | Often served for a minimum of two |
| Fine dining | €50 and up | Full menu and wine | Check the current menu |
| On the mountain | Varies | Lunch with lift access | Add a pedestrian lift ticket if needed |
These price ranges are for guidance only and don't replace the prices published by each restaurant.
Lunch at a mountain restaurant
In summer the ski area offers mountain restaurants and snack bars (from 4 July to 30 August in 2026), reached by the summer lifts. Which places are actually open may vary. L'Aventure, the Chalet du Lac Besson, Signal 2108 and Chez Passoud–L'Alpette are among the places or areas to check depending on your route.
- Buy the right pedestrian ticket if you need a lift.
- Book if the restaurant allows it.
- Check the time of the last lift before ordering.
- Keep a warm layer with you, even on a sunny terrace.
- Have a plan B for getting back if bad weather closes a lift.
Where to eat on Tour de France days
Tour finish days, such as 24 and 25 July 2026, bring exceptional demand. Restaurants may offer a set menu only, ask for a deposit or reserve their terraces for their own guests. Finding a table without a booking at normal mealtimes will be tricky.
- Book as soon as restaurants open reservations.
- Ask whether your table will be held if road closures delay you.
- Have a backup meal ready at the apartment.
- Don't count on deliveries crossing closed zones.
- Avoid booking at the far end of the resort without checking the pedestrian routes.
Local specialities to try
Mountain cuisine is about much more than raclette. Look out for ravioles, crozets (small buckwheat pasta), gratins, savoury pies, cured meats, trout, slow-cooked dishes and bilberry desserts. Contemporary chefs also use Alpine produce in lighter dishes that suit the summer.
Resort map (for guidance)
Official sources