OFF THE TRAIL: CHAMONIX, FRANCE

If you’re considering hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc or you’re looking for a lovely base for some outdoor activities – Chamonix, France is the right place to start, stop and enjoy.

Once you’ve done all the outdoor activities (ie: paragliding, hiking, cycling, rock climbing) and tourist highlights (ie: Aiguille de Midi), Chamonix is the perfect place to relax and soak in the Alpine life.

This quaint French town is pedestrian-friendly and walking is the best way to see its character, amazing shops, charming buildings, and spectacular views.

I recently spent 5 days in Chamonix pre and post Tour du Mont Blanc hike and really enjoyed my time there. I found a few gems that I wanted to share.
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How did I spend my none hiking time in Chamonix? Why shopping and eating, of course.

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WHERE TO EAT

The food!  Your tastes buds will also reach new heights because the food in Chamonix is Ah-mazing.

Trust me when I say it will be hard to resist the pizza, cheese, bread, fondue, ice cream, chocolates, pastries and more. That is unless your will power is stronger than mine, which completely disappeared at the first bite of pizza. If you find it, please send it back to me.

As you’ll see, Rue des Moulins hosts some of the best places to eat in Chamonix!

HOT DOGS – Cool Cats

Specializing in artisanal Hot Dogs – Cool Cats will transform the way you think about hot dogs. I know you’re thinking, “hot dogs? for real? who eats hot dogs?” Well, not this gal for the last long while.
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But Cool Cats will change your perception of the basic ketchup, mustard & relish hot dog and elevate it to gourmet status. The menu boasts hot dogs to accommodate most dietary restrictions and many of the ingredients are sourced locally. 

My veggie hot dog had avocado and a fried egg on it as well as crispy onions. Delish! My advice: go hungry. Address: 116 Rue des Moulins.

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PIZZA – Pizzeria Des Moulins

​Across the street from Cool Cats, you’ll find Pizzeria Des Moulin. This 100% Italian ingredient kitchen produced some of the best food we had on this trip – even better than the pizza we had in Courmayeur Italy.

It was so good that we broke our rule of not going back to the same place twice so that we expand our restaurant experience. We ate our pre-Tour du Mont Blanc meal here and then all we could talk about for the next 11 days was the pizza. So, we had our post-Tour du Mont Blanc meal there too.

​My advice: order the bruschetta platter. Address: 109 Rue des Moulins.

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DINNER – Caphorn

​Looking to treat yourself to an exceptionally great dinner and dessert? Try Caphorn. This restaurant is also on Rue des Moulins, but it also has seating on the river’s side, which is an entirely different atmosphere.

​I’ll admit it wasn’t the cheapest meal we enjoyed but it was incredibly delicious and we didn’t leave a morsel of food on the plate. It’s a seafood restaurant, which is a nice break from all the carbs (ie: pizza). My advice: save room for dessert and order the molten chocolate cake. Address: 74 Rue des Moulins.

FONDUE – Restaurant Josephine
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I will admit that cheese fondue is one of my favourite meals, which is why I simply could not get this close to the Alps and not have fondue. Restaurant Josephine is a perfect postcard  picture of what a French restaurant looks like.
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It’s also the ideal place to settle in a people watch, which is what we did while enjoying a cheese fondue (more carbs!).  The fondue comes with bread for dipping and a salad.

My advice: Order a glass or two of wine – it’s the French thing to do, bien sur! Address: 76 Avenue Michel Croz.

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WHERE TO SHOP

As a  hub of outdoor activity, Chamonix is chock a block full of major active/outdoor wear brands here – from North Face, Arcteryx, Ice Breaker, Patagonia, Intersport, every brand of hiking boots, and much more. Forget something at home? Not to worry, you’ll find it in Chamonix.

But if you’re looking for something else, here are two shopping gems, and not surprisingly one is a food shop.

COOPERATIVE ARTISAN FINDS – Fresh Air Chamonix.

I don’t buy souvenirs but I love buying things from Artisan stores like jewelry or one of a kind, locally made house goods. This store carries jewelry, ceramics, clothing, tech accessories, home decor, kids decor, and much more. Chances are you’ll find a ‘made in France’ item that you can’t resist. Address: 135 Rue des Moulins.

SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP –  Refuge Payot

​You would think I was on a culinary tour because of my apparent obsession with food on this trip but this is the land of cheese and wine and bread and chocolate after all. Refuge Payot is a one-stop shop for all the foods you would like to fill your suitcase with. From cheese, meats, wine, chocolate, coffee, honey, jam, you name it. If it was made in Italy or France, it’s in this shop.
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Chocolate! Macarons! Pastries! Oh My!  So many decadent shops – you can’t walk 20 meters and not find a store selling sweet goods. I’m not one for taking pictures of food in windows but how could I not when there’s all this beauty around:

There are so many restaurants and shops that we didn’t have time to check them all out – maybe next time!
For more on Chamonix, check out the official website.

*Note I visited Chamonix in July 2019 while hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc.