Once a month, Luxus Magazine sets sail for a destination in France or elsewhere to discover the most elegant addresses, all personally experienced and carefully selected. Characterful hotels, fine dining, rare boutiques, cultural getaways… Our guide is like a magic key for discerning travelers. After Mauritius, it’s time for Megève – an iconic resort that is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.
There are places where time stands still. Megève is one of them. Perched at an altitude of 1,113 meters, facing Mont Blanc, this resort, created in the 1920s by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, has been cultivating the art of discreet escape for a century. Far from the ostentation of some neighboring resorts, Megève whispers its elegance rather than shouting it. Its cobbled streets wind between century-old chalets with carved wooden balconies, its baroque bell towers watch over snow-covered squares, and its illuminated shop windows promise alpine warmth in the winter night. Here, luxury is experienced on a human scale, combining Savoyard authenticity with contemporary refinement. People don’t come to Megève just to ski—although its 445 kilometers of slopes are certainly appealing—but to experience a certain mountain lifestyle, where every sense is engaged, heightened, and awakened.
🔑 Historical key: the Rothschild family, pioneers of the resort
Born out of an aristocratic gamble, Megève entered history in 1914 when the Rothschild family decided to create a French alpine resort there that could rival St. Moritz. Conceived from the outset as a way of life, the resort combines elegance, sport, and social life. Between the wars, Megève became a meeting place for a cosmopolitan elite, seduced by its revisited Savoyard architecture and preserved village spirit. A pioneer in recreational skiing and discreet luxury, Megève has gone through the decades without losing its soul, cultivating a timeless refinement where tradition, nature, and excellence interact harmoniously.
🔑 Key to sleep: Chalet Alice on Mont d’Arbois
At the Mont d’Arbois, sleep takes the form of a refuge designed like a family home. The latest addition to the Chalets du Mont d’Arbois created by Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, Chalet Alice is part of this discreet and lived-in Alpine tradition. Behind its light wood façade, six bedrooms and two suites are arranged around communal areas designed for sharing: a living room with a fireplace, a dining room, and an open kitchen. The atmosphere combines light wood, works of art, and contemporary lines. Guests can enjoy hotel services, a spa, and concierge services as they wish, without sacrificing the privacy of a private chalet.
🔑 Key to the must-see: the church square
A visit to Megève begins at the Palais Megève, an iconic building combining contemporary lines and Alpine references, and continues in the historic center. The historic heart of Megève, the Place de l’Église has structured village life for centuries. Lined with chalets with traditional facades and shops, it is dominated by the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a Baroque building rebuilt in the early 18th century on older foundations. Its bulbous bell tower is a central landmark of the village. A daily thoroughfare, the square is a hub of activity, with terraces and access to pedestrian streets, affirming its role as a natural meeting point in both summer and winter.
🔑 Key to the dawn walk: snowshoeing at sunrise on the Christomet plateau
Located in the hills above Megève, the Christomet plateau is a well-known starting point for snowshoeing routes. At dawn, before the slopes open, the site offers a particularly calm atmosphere, conducive to observing the landscape and gentle walking. The marked trails pass through forests and clearings, with unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains. This morning outing allows you to discover the mountains at a leisurely pace, as daylight gradually settles over the snow-covered peaks.
🔑 Key to the secret getaway: the hamlet of Planay and the chapel of Villard
For a secret getaway, head to the hamlet of Planay, one of the best-preserved in Megève. Its authentic farms and peaceful trails offer a timeless immersion. Further on, the Chapelle du Villard, discreetly positioned facing the peaks, invites you to reflect and contemplate. Here, the silence is broken only by the wind and footsteps in the snow. A private interlude, ideal for experiencing the mountains in their most intimate form.
🔑 Key to a walk in the great outdoors: the Chemin du Calvaire
Located in the hills above Megève, the Chemin du Calvaire is a short and accessible walking route connecting the village center to the hamlet of Villaret. Built in the 17th century, it is dotted with listed chapels and oratories illustrating the Stations of the Cross. The gradual climb offers unobstructed views of the bell tower and the roofs of the village. This walk combines religious heritage, alpine scenery, and proximity to the heart of the village.
🔑Key to Packing a Great Travel Bag: Jott, Casanera, Dorothée Lehnen
Doudoune Nami © Jott
The Jott Nami puffer jacket, with its generous silhouette, combines elegance and technical sophistication. Its luminous cream hue enhances its voluminous cut, while its feather and down filling ensures optimal insulation in extreme cold. A chic, warm, and ultra-comfortable urban essential.
Looking for a comforting, fragrant break? The Corsican chestnut candle from Casanera, in a chic and delicately woody version, diffuses a rich fragrance with powdery notes that celebrate the full richness of the chestnut. Its enveloping scent transforms your home into a true winter retreat, evoking the soothing warmth of a fireplace, nestled in the heart of the Corsican mountains.
Heading to the mountains… but never without your hot water bottle! Designed by Dorothée Lehnen, these handcrafted hot water bottles warm your heart before they even touch your skin. Handmade from ultra-soft felted wool, they’re adorned with winter motifs—snowmen, retro skiers, or delicate snowflakes. The ultimate accessory to turn your winter evenings into magical moments.
🔑 Sweet treat: L’Épicerie des Fermes
An iconic address in Megève, L’Épicerie des Fermes offers a selection of artisanal products: Au Bon Lait de Megève liqueur, sourdough breads, pastries, honeys, jams, and regional specialties. You can sample the goods on site, at the counter or in the lounge area, over a coffee or hot chocolate. The offering is in keeping with the spirit developed by the Sibuet family, combining local products and careful presentation.
🔑 Key to lunch in town: La table de Marc Veyrat & Mallory Gabsi
On December 4, 2025, chefs Marc Veyrat and Mallory Gabsi opened an exceptional restaurant. This intimate venue offers “emotional gastronomy” centered on wild herbs, undergrowth, and alpine pastures. Between creativity and intergenerational complicity, guests experience a unique sensory immersion. The seven-course “Grand Dîner Improbable” menu celebrates nature, while on Sundays, the “Cuisine de l’Âtre,” created by Christine Heckler Veyrat, showcases local products.
🔑 The key to a festive lunch at altitude: Éric Fréchon’s Le Chalet Sauvage
Perched at an altitude of nearly 1,800 meters on the legendary Mandarines ski run in Megève, Le Chalet Sauvage embodies the art of festive lunches in the mountains. Open exclusively for lunch every day from noon to 5 p.m., this high-altitude restaurant from the Annie Famose group offers a gourmet interlude created by multi-starred chef Éric Fréchon, with comforting and daring cuisine that breaks with tradition. Facing Mont Blanc, the vast terrace becomes the scene of a joyful atmosphere, punctuated by DJ sets and musical performances, transforming each lunch into a true alpine celebration.
🔑 Key to the soul: the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Located in the heart of Megève, the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a major spiritual and heritage landmark of the village. Rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century in the Savoyard Baroque style, it stands on older foundations. Its bulbous bell tower punctuates local life with the regular ringing of bells, audible throughout the village. The building is a reminder of Megève’s rural and community roots, long before its development as a tourist destination, and remains a place for people to gather and pass on local history.
🔑 Cocktail key: The Rabbit Hole
A newcomer to Megève’s nightlife scene, The Rabbit Hole is a cocktail bar dedicated to contemporary mixology. Designed as a sophisticated yet accessible tasting venue, it offers a menu combining revisited classics, original creations, and non-alcoholic cocktails. The bar is run by Thomas Bencze, a renowned bartender and former member of Studio Givré, accompanied by Anissa Heid, who creates creative and balanced recipes. With its cozy and friendly atmosphere, The Rabbit Hole is the perfect place to continue your après-ski or start your evening in the heart of Megève.
🔑 The key to sensory well-being: hot stone massage at the Four Seasons Spa
At the spa, the tactile experience reaches its peak with a hot stone massage. At the Four Seasons Spa, in a mineral and Zen setting, therapists place basalt pebbles heated to 50°C on the back and limbs. The heat diffuses slowly, penetrating the muscles and soothing tension. The contrast between the hot stone and the masseur’s cool hands creates a sensory symphony of rare intensity. You come out feeling lighter, almost like new. To prolong the feeling of well-being, take a dip in the outdoor pool heated to 30°C, facing Mont Blanc, for another sensation: that of silky water on your skin, while the icy air caresses your face.
🔑 Key to the current art exhibition: 90 years of the Combloux resort
To mark the resort’s 90th anniversary, Combloux, located 5 kilometers from Megève, is celebrating its history with an immersive exhibition at the Beauregard mountain pasture. From December 20, 2025, to March 22, 2026, the public is invited to explore nearly a century of skiing in Combloux, from 1935 to the present day. Vintage equipment, archival photographs, and iconic documents trace the evolution of the village resort and pay tribute to pioneers and current generations alike, in an authentic and welcoming atmosphere.
🔑 Style key: Maison AALLARD
Maison AALLARD, a Megève institution founded in 1926 by Armand Allard, has embodied discreet and authentic luxury for a century, combining French elegance and Italian style in exclusive collections designed to last. Now run by Antoine Allard, heir to the third generation, the Maison is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a Heritage collector’s capsule collection inspired by vintage archives: rare objects, scarves, and umbrellas revisited to mark a century of family expertise.
🔑 Key to a tea room by the fireplace: the Mont-Blanc hotel
One of Megève’s must-visit tea rooms is undoubtedly that of the Mont-Blanc Hotel. Nestled in this iconic establishment in the heart of the village, it charms with its cozy and refined atmosphere.
Here you can enjoy delicious homemade hot chocolate and a fine selection of rare Mariage Frères teas, including the Valentine’s Day creations Mandarine in Love and Coup de foudre. Classic and mountain-inspired pastries, including the famous Mont-Blanc, complete this ideal gourmet break after skiing or for a chic tea time by the fireplace.
🔑 Decor & design highlight: the Grand Défilé de Megève
The Grand Défilé de Megève is a design highlight where alpine elegance meets contemporary creativity. With its noble materials, clean lines, and mountain-inspired volumes, it celebrates a chic and natural art of living. In this world, the Atelier Défilé embodies bespoke craftsmanship: a workshop dedicated to curtains, cushions, blinds, headboards, benches, customized sofas, and the restoration of armchairs. A modernized winter aesthetic, combining Savoyard tradition and contemporary audacity.
🔑 Key to strolling: Rue Charles Feige and its surroundings
On Rue Charles Feige and around the square, the shops compete in elegance in their window displays. The biggest luxury brands display their brightly colored silk scarves or showcase their iconic down jackets, while art galleries and local artisan workshops slip their more confidential treasures between the luxury brands: Alpine ceramics, wood carvings, vintage objects. The contrast between these worlds—tradition and modernity, local and international—is Megève’s visual signature: luxury that never overshadows authenticity. No stay in Megève would be complete without a visit to the Fromagerie Boujon, an institution where Beaufort, Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie, and Abondance cheeses tell the story of the region, or to the Maison Vigliengo, to savor the famous Glaçon de Megève, a delicately meringue-coated praline.
🔑 Gourmet tip: Ecir patisserie and tea room
Écir is the new gourmet destination redefining the art of patisserie in Megève, opposite the Palais des Sports. Created by pastry chef Tess Evans-Mialet, who trained at prestigious establishments such as Le Meurice, then at Stéphane Manigold’s restaurant Le Contraste and Christophe Pelé’s restaurant Le Clarence, this pastry shop and tea room combines Alpine audacity with classic savoir-faire. The visual identity of the place is inspired by the “Ecir” wind at high altitude, and its warm, bright design, connected to the mountains, invites you to savor creations such as praline tart, Paris-Megève, or citrus and fir shortbread, accompanied by Etioca specialty coffee and carefully selected Human & Tea teas.
🔑 Key to Happy Hour: M de Megève
At aperitif time, head to the rooftop bar at M de Megève. In this designer cocoon, where light wood meets camel leather and soft furs, sip a Génépi Spritz—the Alpine version of Aperol Spritz, prepared with this green herbal liqueur typical of the Alps—while nibbling on toasted almonds and thinly sliced mountain sausage. The view overlooks the village rooftops and surrounding mountains. It’s that moment between day and night, when Megève gently slips into its nightlife.
🔑 Sporty key: bowling at the Refuge chez la Tante in Saint Gervais
At an altitude of 1,850 meters, at the top of the Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc ski area, the Refuge de la Tante hides a surprise that is as fun as it is unexpected: a real professional bowling alley, nestled two levels below the refuge. In a cozy atmosphere combining warm wood and a revisited refuge spirit, you can compete in small groups, with friends or family. This indoor activity can be privatized and extends the day of skiing with a retro and friendly touch, between strikes, laughter and a spirit of sharing, facing the peaks.
🔑 Key to relaxation: alpine plants at the Pure Altitude Spa at Les Fermes de Marie
To immerse yourself in the invigorating scents of the mountains, head to the Pure Altitude spa at Les Fermes de Marie in Megève. A pioneer in alpine wellness for over 20 years, the body and facial treatments here harness the active ingredients of mountain plants such as edelweiss, arnica, génépi, and arctic berries, combining gentle techniques with natural properties. In treatment rooms decorated with fine materials, signature rituals combine essential oils and plant extracts for deep relaxation and a feeling of total renewal.
🔑 Jazzy key: Megève International Jazz Festival
The Megève International Jazz Festival is the resort’s flagship winter event. Held at the end of March, it transforms the village into a prestigious stage for world-renowned artists. Between open-air concerts on the church square and intimate sessions, this event combines mountain elegance with blues and swing rhythms, attracting music lovers and skiers alike. For those who enjoy jazzy evenings, the M de Megève bar offers a carefully curated musical program in a cozy atmosphere.
🔑 Key to a musical dinner: Le Piaf de Paris Society
Le Piaf offers Megève an elegant and festive musical dinner experience, courtesy of Paris Society. In a cozy setting combining Parisian spirit and contemporary touches, the evening comes alive with live music, including piano, vocals, and iconic covers. Generous French cuisine accompanies the rhythm, while the atmosphere gradually builds, transforming the meal into a true spectacle. An ideal place to combine gastronomy, music, and art de vivre until the end of the night.
🔑 Key to the gourmet dinner: Flocons de Sel by Emmanuel and Kristine Renaut
The three-star restaurant Flocons de Sel reopened its doors on December 11, 2025, after a complete renovation. Chef Emmanuel Renaut offers signature cuisine that is “rustic and contemporary,” paying homage to the Mont Blanc massif. The restaurant features a refined decor combining old wood and modern design, creating a warm atmosphere. With its exceptional cuisine, luxurious spa, and charming lodgings, the restaurant has established itself as a holistic destination at the summit of the Alps. Among the must-try dishes are the thin wild mushroom tartlet, the Féra and Omble Chevalier du Lac, the pike and monkfish biscuit from the lake, and the venison and roe deer.
Read: Megève les merveilles d’un jour (Megève: One Day’s Wonders) ｜François Deswarte Tome II ｜ Scarlett Megève Forever
Discover Megève through the prism of cinema:
Tendre Voyou (Tender Thug) by Jean Becker (1966), starring Jean-Paul Belmondo
Downhill Racer by Michael Ritchie (1969) starring Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, and a young Sylvester Stallone
Charade by Stanley Donen (1963) starring the legendary Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant
The Pink Panther by Blake Edwards (1963) starring Peter Sellers, David Niven, and Claudia Cardinale
Good to know 💡
Best season: December to April for skiing; July-August for hiking and biking
Local market: Don’t miss the traditional market on Friday mornings (church square and surrounding area) to discover authentic Savoyard products.
Horse-drawn carriages: They are part of the resort’s DNA. It’s a chic means of transportation but also a way to discover the pedestrian center without getting tired.
Not to be missed in March:
Back to Back, March 20-22, founded by the Collet brothers, former professional skiers from Megève, is a unique gathering combining freestyle skiing, backcountry skiing, and base jumping.
Classiquicime, March 26-29, is an international classical music festival in partnership with Diapason magazine, a specialist in classical music.
The Megève Spring Sale from March 27 to 29.
Next stop: Cortina d’Ampezzo and its surroundings
Read also > An iconic stopover… Mauritius
Featured photo: © Unsplash
