Breakfast
Le Grand Café des Pistes, Rond Point des Pistes (+33(0)479-084-767). Bar-restaurant at the top of Méribel. Tuck into a buffet-style mountain breakfast on the large sun terrace or in front of the open fire. Open 8-10 a.m.
Bibi Phoque Creperie, La Chaudanne (+33(0)479-003-093). Grab a takeaway pancake or crepe on your way to the lifts or eat on the south facing terrace. Open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (winter only).
Lunch:
Le Coeur de Cristal, Rhodes gondola mid-station (+33(0)479-224-609). Located at the crossing point of the Rhodes and blue Marmottes run, 300 metres above the Rhodos gondola mid-station. This traditional mountain restaurant serves fresh pizzas and Savoyard specialities for lunch. Also open for dinner Thursday and Friday evenings (transport by snowcat in the evening).
Lodge du Village, Meribel Village 73550 (+33(0)479-010-355). Authentic Italian restaurant with a lively bar upstairs. Enjoy pizzas, panninis, salads and bruschetta for lunch on the large sunny terrace. Open from 10 a.m to 1 a.m. (live music in the evenings).
Dinner
Grand Coeur, Chemin du Grand Coeur - 73550 Meribel (+33(0)479-086-003). This fine dining establishment, set within the four-star Grand Coeur hotel, offers an innovative take on Savoyard cuisine. Choose something from the gourmet fixed or a la carte menu, but leave room for dessert. The dessert trolley offers a dizzying choice of pastries and beautifully decorated cakes.
Kouisena, Hotel L'Eterlou, Chaudanne (+33(0)479-088-923). This rustic, intimate restaurant serves up traditional, local dishes in a real Savoyard atmosphere, complete with open-fire cooking. We recommend the entrecote steak with roasted potatoes.
Orée du Bois, Hôtel L'Orée du Bois , Route du Belvédère, Rond-point des Pistes (+33(0)479-085-752). This is the all-French experience. Tuck into bold, refined fare made from fresh, local produce in an elegant dining room. The wine cellar is a voyage through the vineyards of France - ask the waiter to recommend a bottle to complement your meal.
Zig Zag, Mottaret - Chatelet, Meribel (+33(0)479-004-740) is a good cheaper option, tucked away near the Plattières lift. Open for lunch and dinner, this small, friendly restaurant serves simple, tasty dishes. The set menu changes every day, but a firm favourite is the steak and chips.
Apres/Nightlife
Rond Point, 73550, Meribel (+33(0)479-003-751). The Rond Point, or the Ronny as it's known, is the place to go for live music and a piste-side beer. It's famous for its raucous dancing and partying, as well as spectacular views from the sunny terrace bar at 1,600 metres. Be sure to try the staple - toffee vodka - but avoid bar queues by heading to the top-floor bar where waitresses will fetch you pitchers of beer for no extra charge. At closing time (7:30 p.m.) you can ski down from here to the Chaudanne or (if a little too wobbly) take the bus.
Le Pub, Meribel Centre (+33(0)479-086-002). Le Pub, although rather unimaginatively named, is actually one of the liveliest bars in town and one of the most spacious. Because of its size, it offers a good choice of live music. It also offers special promotion nights and regular happy hours. You can play pool, watch any big live sporting event or just dance the night away on toffee vodka. There is also a nice sun terrace out the back for a relaxing après-ski drink. Live music is on seven nights a week.
