Snack Bars and Mountain Restaurants in and around Chamonix

Mountain Snack Bars are spread all over the Chamonix Valley. Most of them serve simple local specialties like cheese and charcuterie platters, pancakes, salads and potato dishes. They will usually serve alcoholic beverages like local beers and wines. In France, these mountain snack bars are typically referred to as "Buvettes". There are a few that operate more like mountain restaurants with sit-down service and a much wider range of choices. Nearly all refuges will serve food and drinks to visitors too and will double as snack bars when they are open. So although the list below might look limited, please be aware that all the refuges we have listed also double as food providers.

The great thing about the refuges and mountain snack bars is that they enable you to refuel during your trail adventures and lessen the need to bring your own food and drinks. Some of them have a free water source where you can refill your water. The more remote ones will rely on bottles water which you will have to buy. If you are relying on mountain snack bars or refuges for your provisions then it would be a good idea to check ahead of time if they are really open on your planned dates.