The ski season is open, the snow is here all perfect. Chamonix has a major face lift. With the ringing out of the old year and in with the new comes an enormous change . Elsewhere shops are empty and closing in Chamonix there is an enormous amount of fantastic new shops and restaurant openings capturing the spirit of the place .
Lets start by mentioning a major restaurant and bar opening with Cap Horn ( related only by the owner being the cousin of the piste restaurant in Courchevel ) . It has a super sushi bar , fab tapas Jazz bar and excellent restaurant : opposite is Munchie also very cool and some of the most interesting food in Chamonix - move over Nobu this is much better
Other major changes are the Boardrider shop , completely in the freeride spirit of Chamonix . People talk about Chamonix in many ways but often mention extreme sports and purity of sport . To be clear its been updated - you can ski wild on skis so fat that they could be two snow boards ( black crow was born here ) but you can shop in Chanel , see the beautiful people 20 years younger than Megeve and beautifully dressed in cutting edge ski wear and now chic evening wear . Watch out Courchevel and St Anton and Verbier- Chamonix is changing the beautiful , the wealthy and those avoiding the change in the swiss franc will all be here this year with shopping , eating and skiing to match every range from world champion skiers , russian oligarchs ; english bankers ( usually French but working in London) to boys and girls in camper vans who just want to ski . An exotic mix - IT WORKS - be there or be square .
Best of the Alps it is!
Favourite adresses in Chamonix:
Restaurants: Munchie, Bistro, La Remise d'Argentière
For lunch on the slope: "eat shit " or go to Courmayeur....best place Maison Vieille.
Woman fashion: Chanel
For mens clothing by on line: Mr Porter
Sport Shop: for training shoes : Ravanel and co
For ski boots and fitting see Jules at Sanglard
For skis and all technical equipment : Snell
For ski google: POC
For sportswear: peak performance
Best bread: Saint Hubert
For traditional Butcher (one of the best in france) : Minié
Hairdresser: Le Salon
