The combination of a delicious meal in breathtaking surrounds is one of life’s great recipes for success. This is why heli-dining is experiencing a surge in popularity; living the high life has literally been taken to new levels. The Alps are home to some of the most exclusive restaurants in the world and many of the best chefs are decamping to the mountains to serve the finest cuisine in the most awe-inspiring natural settings.
As you soar over snow-blanketed mountains and glaciers, the journey is just as much a part of the experience as the destination itself. In fact, reaching these magnificent bastions of gourmet alpine cuisine has never been easier with a luxury helicopter lunch flight. While an array of upscale restaurants make a Geneva to Courchevel helicopter transfer understandably popular, there are other haute cuisine options to explore. These are our favourite heli-lunch destinations in the Alps:
Bacchus
A warm welcome awaits you at Bacchus by Crychar in the charming resort of Les Gets. With a strong focus on seasonal local produce, you can enjoy mouthwatering meals on the sunny terrace at the foot of the slopes. Chef Grégory prepares homemade sharing platters, fresh pasta, salads, meat and fish delicacies, which are sure to find an inspired match with a recommendation from the extensive wine list.
Vegetarians can also enjoy a good selection of meals, unlike at many mountain restaurants in this region. The interior decor is contemporary and stylish, with sumptuous sofas and a relaxed feel.
Le Chabichou
The exclusive resort of Courchevel is packed with so many upmarket restaurants, the most difficult choice will be which one to choose after your Geneva to Courchevel heli-lunch flight. Le Chabichou is a great start, with its two Michelin stars and reputation for outstanding gastronomy.
The white double chalets that make up the Chabichou Hotel are instantly recognisable to those on the international dining scene and blend in perfectly with the mountainous snow-covered backdrop. The ever-popular tasting menu is an easy way for diners to sample a variety of regional delicacies. The two chefs, Michel Rochedy and Stéphane Buron, create subtle pairings of flavours, such as creamy truffle polenta.
Try its companion restaurant, Bistro Le Chabotté for a less ostentatious experience.
Pierre Gagnaire Pour Les Airelles
Along with Le Chabichou, Les Airelles is one of five restaurants in Courchevel with two Michelin stars. Les Airelles is perfect for high fliers, since it sits high atop the resort in the ultra-luxurious surroundings of the Rue du Jardin Alpin. Les Airelles has the honour of being a five star ‘Palace’ status hotel—an exclusive club which essentially makes it a six star hotel, so it follows that the restaurant is also one of the best in the world.
Pierre Gagnaire serves incredible international dishes using rare ingredients and innovative combinations in grand palatial surroundings where wood panelled walls, silk fabrics and chandeliers set the tone. This is fine dining at its opulent best!
Chez Constance
Perfect for all seasons, Chez Constance in Le Petit Bornand Les Glières offers hearty unpretentious food in beautiful surroundings. The menu includes fondue, potato fritters, charcuterie and a divine cheese platter.
The family-friendly mountain refuge offers lots of space for children to run around and play outside, as well as delicious desserts that will appeal to all ages. There is plenty of room for a helicopter to land and green as far as the eye can see, making it ideal for a pre- or post-lunch stroll.
Chateau des Avenières
A heli-lunch at Château des Avenières is a truly panoramic experience. Nestled in lush green countryside on the Salève hillside, the luxury hotel offers a breathtaking landscape that takes in Mont Blanc and Lake Annecy. Built by an American at the beginning of the 20th century, the Château is an eclectic mix of styles, incorporating a chapel with a golden mosaic where the Zodiac, the Kabbalah and Egyptian tarot sit in the midst of French-style gardens. The restaurant, Le “M” des Avenières, is supplied with fresh herbs and vegetables from the kitchen garden.
