Restaurant du Refuge-Porte du Bois

We went to dinner from our Champagny en vanoise chalet and had a great time. The restaurant is located in the next valley/village, higher and further away. The adventure of driving there in the dark round of reversers, then (at the level on the packed icy...street and parking in the middle of the snow benches, whetted the appetite. If it snows, I'd take a cab. Inside the atmosphere was friendly, cuddly, welcoming. The restaurant certainly has quirky items everywhere a good meeting point and our style, some people went down for pre- or post-eating drinks or snacks through the sunken fire big place for older children to hang. The meal was good, the usual regional cuisine, but with a house twist and very well cooked and balanced, The 'Brick of Wood' and the 'Regal of Wood' turned out to be filo pastry packages of delicious Camembert on a bed of Salat-Yummy. I had the best floating islands I ever had and the icy souffle was also good. Two courses and a small glass of wine each came to £50. The place was as packed as Pre-Book. Then the adventurous drive came back down (all quite sure, only necessary concentration! . We had an unforgettable evening. I'd like to come back, maybe in summer and go. The valley, hidden in the darkness, sees a very beautiful place in the pictures.

If you have the chance, you have to go. Booking is essential! it is one of the most magical places in Champany Haute - a short taxi ride on the hill of Champany village itself. Please book as I don't think you can just show up. It has everything...foie gras, fondue, steak, fish,something for the vegi! Hospitality is not in the second. Make an evening covered in magic snow valley.

Out of the way restaurant a 10 min drive up from the main village at Champagny. Very quirky but characterful interior full of old mountain equipment, collectible toys, curios, books and so on. There was a small concern that the restaurant could cope with 11...of us turning up for lunch with no reservation but it was all fine in the end and we were so glad we did. The food was excellent. Very traditional and typical Savoie fare. We met Boris, the owner, on the way out and he was a very friendly man with excellent English who I am sure would be only too pleased to highlight other areas of local interest. We paid 25 euros a head for 11 people (6 adults, 5 children), which was for the most part main course, dessert, drinks and tip. I had the menu du jour which was excellent and great value. It was a little more than we were planning but the food was really good and well worth it. When we next go back to Champagny-en-Vanoise then we will most definitely be going back to this lovely restaurant.

This restaurant is in quite a remote spot and it's a wonderful find. It's setting could not be better and it has panoramic views. The cafe/restaurant has a quirky interior with old skiing boots, rucsacs and ropes and ice axes hanging from the ceiling. There...is also an excellent library of mountaineering and other books and they are relaxed about you dipping into the odd volume. The patron is a lovely chap. He speaks excellent english but it happy to put up with one's school boy French. I had lunch there and the menu du jour seemed to be authentic, tasty and very filling. A little too much for an afternoons cross country skiing. Having turned down desert, le patron adjusted the bill. Haut Champagny as a whole is a magical spot and this restaurant does it justice.

Dans le petit village typique de Champagny le haut, ce refuge est superbe. Décoration cosy à l'intérieur, très belle terrasse avec aire de jeux, transats, parasols, slack line...Carte variée avec menu accessible entrée plat ou plat dessert à 18€.Cuisson de la viande respectée, nous avons tous été satisfaits de nos plats entrée ou desserts. Petits bémols: la tarte aux myrtilles faite avec du flan et avec supplément. Verre de vin peu généreusement rempli. Cafés pingres, sûrement une seule dose pour 3 tasses