Morzine, a beautiful village set in the Chablis mountain range famous for snow sports and cycling — and where we started our van life adventure. To start with, you are for sure going to want to spend more than 24 hours in Morzine, there’s so much to do for those who love extreme sports as well as for those who like to take things a little easier. It’s a buzzy town with something for every kind of traveller.
But first, coffee…
To start the day I’d begin by feeling up with both food and coffee at Satellite Coffee, a cool spot serving up delicious coffee, baked goods, brunch, lunch and sometimes dinner. With great fresh food including vegan and gluten free options. The staff are super chill and welcoming. Being plant based we’re used to the usual limited options (and in France they are usually even more sparse!) but this is not the case at Satellite; their mushrooms and toast was absolutely packed with flavour and toppings, as were their avocado toast.
It’s tempting to hangout in Satellite all day, but the mountains await!
Lunch at altitude
After a morning of snow sports my next stop would be Changabang in Avoriaz for lunch. A super fun burger place with great party vibes and food to match. Though they don’t actually have a vegan option on the menu if you speak to the staff nicely they will happily hook you up. Even if you’re not super hungry it’s an awesome spot to stop and people watch as it’s where lots of routes converge.
Before you head down the mountain it’s worth taking a bit of time to wander around Avoriaz. This car-free ski resort was dreamed up by the downhill skiing Olympian Jean Vuarnet, who comissioned architect Gérard Brémond in 1966. It is lively and has plenty of shops, bars, cafés, and hotels.
Avoriaz 1800 is connected to Morzine by the Prodains gondola, which you can use as a pedestrian, too. If you’re interested in the history, you can read more on the Avoriaz 1800 website.
Après Ski
Done with the mountain for the day but looking for a little end of day beverage? Look no further than Bar Robinson, my preferred spot after a long day snowboarding. It’s nothing fancy but has classic ski resort vibes with local beers.
Next it’s back to the van for a quick turnaround. We’re having dinner out tonight, so we take the long route into town along the river, taking in the beautiful alpine views along the way and working up an appetite.
Dinner and Drinks
The final stop of or day is Bec Jaune – a microbrewery with a cool pub vibe. Their beer is brewed on site and they have a super interesting menu with plenty of vegan options; from burgers to ramen there’s something to suit most dietary requirements. It’s a super buzzy spot with those dropping by in their sallopetes looking for drinks as well as those dressed up for dinner, so if you want a guaranteed space I’d recommend booking a table. If doing things last minute is more your style then it’s always fun squashing up at the bar and making new friends!
After dinner it’s a case of seeing where the night takes you. There is always plenty going on in Morzine so depending on how you’re feeling there is definitly a party, bar, or cozy spot by a fire waiting for you.
And by the way, all of these recommended places get a big paws up from Harley, too 🐾
Where are your favourite hangouts in Morzine?