Megève is the Queen of the French Rhone-Alps, an alpine retreat that rests in the shadow of the Mont Blanc peak. Renowned for its charm, authenticity and its elegance, this ski resort was established in the 1920s by the Rothschild family as a playground for the rich and famous, magnetising royalty, aristocrats and Hollywood stars alike.

Deemed the ultimate luxury ski resort in France today, only the most exclusive guests seek out its luxurious accommodation with the finest restaurants. Serving up both of these ingredients in one opulent residence is the mountaintop haven of Flocons de Sel Megève. This is a luxury boutique hotel, a member of Relais & Chateaux as well as an world-class three Michelin-star restaurant.

Flocons de Sel Relais & Chateaux hotel and three-star Michelin Restaurant

Flocons de Sel is the name of both the hotel chalet complex and its fine dining restaurant. At the helm of both is Megève’s finest chef Emmanuel.  Being a Relais & Chateaux property means that Flocons de Sel Megève represents a certain excellence, a distinction of quality that the most discerning jetsetter or foodie might seek out. To become a member of the coveted Relais & Chateaux club, a five-star hotel usually must have an acclaimed gourmet restaurant run by a celebrated chef like Renaut. Often chefs also oversee the day-to-day running of the hotel.

Flocons de Sel is its three Michelin-star restaurant, presenting the most superb dining option in the region within an intimate location. Its natural setting, the chef’s ingenuity, and the superiority of service are the very qualities that pull esteemed visitors to Megève as much as the resort’s ski slopes and aristocratic heritage.

A three-star Michelin star chef with a passion for the mountains

The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 2003, second in 2006, and the third in 2012.  In addition to having one of the highest distinctions an eatery can gain, Renaut himself also holds the titles of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2004 (Best Craftsmen of France) and Compagnon du Tour de France (Companion of the Tour de France).

As well as being one of the best chefs on the resort, Renaut is one of the most modest, referring to himself as ‘a man of the mountains’. He has always been in love with alpine destinations and chose Megève as his home long before he even decided on his career. “Even if I was not a cook, I would still live in the mountains,” he laughs.  Knowing that the alpine environment and the peaks around him provide nourishment, not just for the body – but for the mind and soul. Renaut considers himself a mountain guide who invites his customers to explore local products: “I try to bring my environment to the plate,” he added.

At Flocons de Sel, Renaut creates his own brand of cuisine: lavish, spirited, vibrant, attractive, and full of flavour. His specialism is taking ingredients in their purest form and then cooking them to reveal their finest attributes. What makes Renaut distinctive is his overarching aim to turn traditionally heavy mountain cuisine into delightful and fragrant dishes, using simple sustainable ingredients to achieve a unique result.

Foraging for natural ingredients to make grand cuisine

When he is not in the kitchen, Renaut is usually combing the alpine forest paths and mountain pastures foraging for mushrooms and truffles. Sometimes he invites his guests along so they can get closer to the mountains. He also selects herbs grown in his own garden to include in his gastronomical delights. Food gathering is a passion he encourages in all who work for him, as he sends his staff out twice a day in search of ingredients. For Renault, foraging for sustenance coerces a greater consciousness of one’s environs, and he values the time to pause, breathe, and reflect.

With sustainability in mind, he traces organic produce from suppliers up to 100km around the restaurant, drawing on Megève’s rich agricultural heritage. Then Renaut works his magic on the raw ingredients, using his well-honed culinary techniques to conjure up spellbinding dishes. Whatever, the combination of ingredients he uses – be they meat, fish, vegetables or dairy, Renaut is always innovating. He performs alchemy in his kitchen enhancing dishes with subtle seasoning and local mountain herbs to produce captivating culinary creations that he serves to his discerning customers.

Flocons de Sel’s elegant dining room features breath-taking views across the stunning mountainous terrain. Here diners are in for a first-class gastronomic journey. The family-run restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience that begins when guests enter the casual lounge for a pre-dinner aperitif and small bites from the chef. As travellers relax by the fireplace on cosy couches with soft blankets, a waiter takes their order and presents them the wine list. All à la carte and set menus evolve according to the seasons.

Choose the chef’s full discovery menu which includes nine delectable courses that are both subtle inventive, flattered with the finest wine pairings. Once orders are taken, guests are led to the dining room to be seated for dinner. A fantasy of flavour awaits them with the finest truffles accompanying dishes such as Kohlrabi risotto, veal and sabayon flavoured with vinegar and potato salad, milk fed lamb from Aveyron rubbed with fresh garlic and linden, onions and mushroom tart and a cheeseboard from the region. Meals served on exquisite china are accompanied by elegant silver cutlery.

The experience is unique as the combination of delicate products are treated with mastery of cooking techniques that tease out the textures, all flavoured by subtle seasoning and local mountain herbs. Overall Renaut delivers a delightful floral culinary experience for every romantic dinner, leisurely lunch with friends, or a family meal booked here. The establishment has privacy and refinement down to a fine art. The attentive hotel and waiting staff will make you feel at home this refined, yet intimate setting.

Renaut has other restaurants further down the mountain, such as the Chalet Forestier on the slopes of Rochebrune, serving up comforting dishes like macaroni with ham and truffles. Meanwhile, Flocons Village bistro offers à la carte food and simpler options such as locally sourced fish from the lake accompanied by carrot and orange puree served in the heart of the ski village, handy for guests staying in central Megève.

Beyond the Michelin star dining experience, Flocons de Sel offers several standout luxury accommodations as well. Guests can choose from either mountaintop or town centre accommodation across 11 lodgings in the form of rooms, suites and apartments.  For those who value privacy and unparalleled luxury, there is a sublime natural retreat in the Rochebrune area on the outskirts of Megève. High on the slopes with spectacular views of Mont Blanc and Mont d’Abois guests find a secluded hideaway.

There is the plush Mazot chalet that sleeps up to five, split across two levels with a private terrace for guests to soak up the splendid views of the valley and the mountains. The Rochebrune and Leutaz suites can be rented independently or connected as a private apartment that sleeps four. Communal open plan spaces provide an elegant way to unwind beneath wide beams, warmed by the heat generated by a wood-burning fireplace, as guests recline on plush sofas. Many of the loft-style rooms open onto balconies with incredible views of the rolling undulations and the valleys below to enjoy as visitors eat their breakfast.

Emmanuel and Kristine have ensured that there are personal touches throughout all the rooms, painting the walls in mountain colours and selecting Savoy furniture and furnishings to achieve a rustic feel and calming alpine ambiance that is airy and light. Beams of locally sourced timber that frame the open skylights give natural light. In this tranquil universe guests can pour themselves a drink from the minibar and relax watching a movie on the flat screen tv or listening to music on the iPod docking stations. All cosy and snug inside their private hideaway, guests can gaze out onto the alpine scene as snowflakes fall outside.

Spa and Ski

After a day of skiing, sightseeing, or shopping, unwind with a full pamper at the hotel’s full-service spa, with its own Turkish bath.  Experience treatments inspired by the aromatic elements with the essences of fir trees, mountain flowers, and Megève’s natural spring water. This is a haven of tranquillity dedicated to relaxation and serenity. Take a dip in the heated indoor swimming pool, unwind in the sauna, steam room or relaxation room and then sink into the hot tub on the terrace.

Being at the top of the mountain means that guests can ski right out of the hotel down the slopes then get a cable car back up again. The Rochebrune ski area is exclusive to Megève. Skiing in Megève could not be simpler with over 88 lift connections to over 400km of pistes across two more peaks, including Mont d’Arbois with its own cable car and Le Jaillet which shares lifts with the villages of Combloux and La Giettaz.

Off the slopes, a fairy-tale medieval centre awaits spellbound tourists who wander through the traffic-free streets listening to the clip clop of horse hooves as the steeds pull carts that transport well-to-do travellers around town. The grand 13th Century John the Baptist Church towers over the winding streets, surrounded by fine art galleries and designer boutiques. There are also exclusive jewellers aplenty, selling rings when visitors are inspired to make a spontaneous proposal. Many hopeless romantics have been known to get down on one knee in the Flocons de Sel restaurant.

Flocons de Sel Megève offers unparalleled luxury for well-heeled travellers within an elite resort in a ski-location that has over a century of prestige as a well-known luxury destination for the rich and famous and the aristocracy. So, it is not surprising that epicureans travel from far and wide just to taste the culinary creations of Renaut, the only chef in Megève with three Michelin stars as well as to stay in his exclusive and intimate Flocons de Sel Relais & Chateaux property.