WHAT'S NEW IN LES ARCS: Two new places to eat

What's new in Les Arcs for 2013/14?  Well, alongside what's here, a couple of things to report on. These cover two of the essentials of modern life: food and parking.

First, food.  The new restaurant above the pistes at Arc 1800 is now open.  Chez Grillette has a brilliant location on the home runs above the golf course, with great views across the valley.  It's a great addition to an area which has been crying out for a piste-side refreshment stop for years.  There is a big outdoor terrace, and a fair-sized indoor area, which does get busy.  It's more upmarket than the Arpette, but nothing like the Chalets de l'Arc: €12-14 for a one-pot casserole, and, in a possible first for Les Arcs, a selection of "wok" dishes.  

Chez Grillette

Expect to see more developments in this part of the resort over the next few years, as part of the reorganisation of the Chantel slopes and lifts - details here.

There is also news over at Arc 1600.  The original Les Arcs village suffers more than Arc 1800 for not having a proper front de neige with restaurants, places to meet etc.  The facilities are all rather set back from the lifts.  Step forward a new hostelry, just to the side of the Cachette piste, below the Hotel Beguin.  Not sure what it's name is - it appears to be called "restaurant" at the moment.

The new restaurant is at the foot of the
beautiful Mont Blanc piste

Strictly speaking the newly-openend Aiguille Grive Hotel may not count as a "mountain restaurant", as it is only a stone's throw from Charmettoger.  But you can ski to the door, and directly to the lift afterwards, and the location does feel quite away from it all.  Resort old-timers will still miss the "Gilles and Annick" restaurant which used to sit on this site. But at least Gilles is back running the restaurant, and the new construction is quite something:

The hotel's opening was delayed due to problems
with the electrical licence - here is the restaurant

Although the area will win no prizes for its mountain restaurants, things are definitely improving, both in terms of quantity and range.  For more on piste-side eating in Les Arcs, click here.