Apartment Buqa

About Samoens - Dining and Drinking

Samoens has a varied choice of bars and restaurants that complement the lifestyle. Whether you prefer traditional Savoyard cuisine, or desire a nouvelle cuisine experience, Samoens caters for all palates.

There are around 30 restaurants in town; some specialize in locally sourced alpine dishes such as raclettes, tartiflettes and steaks, others are renowned for their rustic pizzas and hearty dishes, and there is a good number of contemporary, atmospheric haunts that pride themselves on their creative/stylish/modern/fusion menus. In all these dining establishments the ‘attention-to-detail’ extends to offering the wine, aperitif and digestif to compliment the dishes.

And of course, there are bars that provide pleasurable dining in an informal setting. Perfect for satisfying your appetite after a day on the slopes or on the cycling trails.

A select few...

Of course, this very much depends on the occasion - and the company- but from our experience, these are a few of the favourites:

8 M des Monts
t: +33 (0)4 50 21 30 01
Dining/Drinking: Contemporary, local, organic food. Menu changes frequently
Atmosphere: French modern chic! Great décor, music and vibe.
Price: Reasonable and worth every cent!
Only opened a year ago, the restaurateurs have done a great job in transforming a cosy property into a stylish eatery. The menu is written on a blackboard wall and explained in detail; with a recommendation of wine to suit. Great experience!

Le Monde a l'envers
t: 00 33 4 50 34 19 36
Dining: Modern/nouvelle
Atmosphere: Romantic but also full of worldly character
Price: At the higher end but affordable.
Considered contemporary, romantic and ideally reserved for a special occasion/treat. The menu is second to none in providing dishes that are creative, aesthetically pleasing, tasty on the palate… and are satisfactory portions! The homemade aperitifs comes highly recommended and although this restaurant is a little on the pricey side, it is worth every euro for the overall experience.

La Louisiane
t: 00 33 4 50 34 42 83
Dining: Authentic, wholesome dishes. Good choice of pizzas.
Atmosphere: Busy, warm, authentic. Dancing and music on Saturday nights. Child-friendly.
Price: Good value for money.
This restaurant never fails to present a hearty delightful rustic, wood fired pizza and warmth, even when we turned up at silly hours of the evening.

Le Serac
t: 00 33 4 50 34 45 18
Dining: Pizza/pasta. Good choice on the menu, even for the vegetarians among us.
Atmosphere: Busy, lively, warm and friendly. Service with a smile!
Price: Reasonable for a nice meal with friends and family.
In the heart of the village, this couple owned restaurant never appears to be short of diners. Great crème brulee!

Aux becs a fleu
t: 00 33 4 50 54 40 68
Dining: French Savoyard with a modern twist! Suitable for lunchtime and evening dining.
Atmosphere: Quaint, cosy, contemporary, understated
Price: Good value.
This restaurant is a stone’s throw away from Buqa, and very inviting even though it is unassumingly located. Great dining for those who want to feel that they have had the French cuisine experience, but fancy a variation from typical Savoyard dishes. Provides the option of set menus, and is therefore good value for money, and is often frequented by French locals, which indicates that it well established. We can personally recommend their fillet steak dishes!

Restaurant Mezzanine
t: 00 33 4 50 53 65 22
Dining: Gormand type food. Varied French cuisine. Extensive wine cellar.
Atmosphere: Romantic and charming setting. Lots of mirrors create an illusion of more room than there is on this mezzanine level (as the name suggest).
Price: A little on the steep side, but worth it for the food and atmosphere (most of the time)
It is nicely hidden in the characteristic little streets off the main square. Pleasant décor, with lots of mirrors create an illusion of more room than there is on this mezzanine level (as the name suggest). It specialises in gourmet international nouvelle cuisine, and is perfect as a special treat. The restaurant has changed owners in the last year but the chef remains. Suited to families with young children.

Pizzeria du Giffre
t: 00 33 4 50 58 71 96
Dining: Primarily take away pizza but well set up for dining in.
Atmosphere: Modern simple décor, friendly and fast service.
Price: Great value!
Great selection of pizzas and side dishes. But best of all, it is located at the foot of Grand Massif Express.

La Tornalta
t: 00 33 4 50 34 98 68
Dining: French Savoyard
Atmosphere: Lively, busy, quite ‘snug’. Pretty cottage feel.
Price: Fair
In a quaint setting on the corner of the main square, it is a popular eatery for lunchtime and evenings. Good quality; hearty, wholesome, locally produced food. Only downfall is that there is not always adequate number of staff to cater for the service need.

Bar le Savoie
t: 00 33 4 50 34 94 43
Dining: Casual, ‘pub grub’. Inside or outside. Well located at the heart of the square.
Atmosphere: Informal, lively, friendly. Good for viewing sports on TV.
Price: Reasonable.
Primarily a bar but Ideal for lunchtime dining, casual dining, for big groups and for children. Clean, friendly and lively. Great view of any entertainment on in the square.

Covey's Irish Bar
t: 00 33 4 50 18 21 15
Drinking/Dining: Not a dry mouth in the house! Great choice of beers, shots, cocktails and soft. And the ever so popular Pub Quiz and Curry night on Tuesdays!
Atmosphere: Perfect for apres-ski. Very friendly and welcoming to all. DJ's on weekends. Almost always lively atmosphere.
Price: Great value for money. No pretentious price tags in sight.
Newly extended and refurbished Covey’s Irish Bar is hosted by Shane, John and Paul and always guarantees a warm welcome and good times!ell received among tourists and locals. Free WiFi access.

Aspen Café
t: 00 33 4 50 34 15 92
Drinking: Perfect for après-ski pleasure!
Atmosphere: Friendly bar, good service, Sports TV.
Price: Typical bar menu and price.
Awarded Whisky bars of the world, it has a good selection of beverages - and is often filled up late afternoon, with people sat on the veranda. Has live entertainment at peak seasons.

It is worth noting that not all restaurants/bars are open every day or at low season. It is always advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment and plan your eating/drinking diary better!