Dining Out: Top Restaurants in Crans-Montana

The Swiss Alps are home to miles and miles of spectacular slopes and breathtaking peaks, but if you’re looking for somewhere to settle down, not just ski down, then you need somewhere with more than crisp white snow. You need somewhere with the thriving nightlife and fine dining options that any big city would be proud of, and we can’t think of anywhere better than Crans-Montana.

A jewel in the already glittering crown of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is almost as popular for its hospitality and food scene as it is for its slopes.

The best restaurants in Crans-Montana

Anybody moving to Crans-Montana is going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a dinner venue. That’s why we’ve taken the time to narrow down some of the very best options.

These are the restaurants and eateries that are known throughout the region and across the world; thanks to the quality of their meals, the vibrancy of their atmosphere, and unforgettable experiences shared through word of mouth and online reviews.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Le Bistrot Des Ours

If you’re craving a bold take on French and Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of the Swiss Alps, then you have to head to Le Bistrot des Ours, a beautifully appointed space with warm wood paneling and rugged rock walls.

Le Bistrot boasts a Michelin Star courtesy of chef Franck Reynaud, as well as a perfectly complementary wine list - the perfect recipe for an exceptional culinary experience. For the adventurous, there’s the option to sample a surprise three-course menu put together by Reynaud, but whatever you choose, be sure to finish off with a warming drink by the perfectly inviting fireplace.

Restaurant CaSy

Whether you’re after an informal drink and bite to eat, or a more special night out with friends and loved ones, CaSy has you covered. Owners Carolyn and Sylvain have taken their 20 years' worth of experience in hotels and restaurants around the world, and poured it into their own hometown venue.

Relaxed and friendly, CaSy’s easygoing demeanour belies a serious focus on food, drink, and good times for anyone who steps through the door. And as befits a family-owned eatery, those who have visited are frequently keen to point out just how attentive and focused Carolyn, Sylvain, and their whole team are before, during, and after every booking. If you make a return visit, CaSy makes sure you’re treated like family.

Le Continental Restaurant

With views of the nearby forest and a chef who likes to get involved and have a laugh with his customers, Le Continental Restaurant has won over a regular and returning clientele.

Modern and stylish in both decor and menu, Le Continental Restaurant is the perfect spot to relax and refresh your palate. The clean and elegant interior tells you all you need to know about the ethos behind Le Continental, but the stunning patio, with its verdant views, threatens to overshadow even the excellent menu. With an emphasis on artistic presentation and visually striking servings, though, that would be a tall order indeed.

Le Mayen

Le Mayen is a local restaurant through and through. Opened in 1968, two generations have now been onhand to treat visitors to the best that the Valais region has to offer.

That means regional dishes made with the best and freshest local ingredients. As well as daily specials, Le Mayen is best known for its decadent raclettes and fondues, with no fewer than nine different menu options for cheese lovers to melt over.

Whether you choose from the ever-changing menu of the day or from the set menu, you can be sure of a full and satisfied belly. But speak to anyone who has visited, and they’ll tell you to make room for one of Le Mayen’s decadent desserts. 

La Rôtisserie

Although it’s situated at the beginning of Crans-Montana’s famed Jack Nicklaus golf course, there’s more to La Rôtisserie than club sandwiches and a warm-up for the 10th hole.

In fact, La Rôtisserie is a meat lover’s paradise. As well as fresh fish all year round, La Rôtisserie places special emphasis on both regional and seasonal dishes, such as hunting-based specialities between September and October.

We mentioned the seafood, but it bears repeating - especially when La Rôtisserie offers a platter of Gillardeau oysters (available with six or 12 pieces), beautiful delicacies that are both firm and aromatic, as well as absolutely delicious.

La Chalet

If you were looking for a single word to sum up Le Chalet, a restaurant that embraces all that it means to be Valais and of Crans-Montana, it would be ‘quintessential’.

For a start, La Chalet is not just a name, it’s a single word that tells you everything you need to know about the venue itself. A picture-perfect chalet, straight out of a postcard or old-fashioned guidebook.

La Chalet is festively adorned with a multitude of flags, both Swiss and from friendly nations, while the wait staff's uniforms are evocatively traditional. When you sit down at La Chalet’s terrace, for all-you-can-eat raclette perhaps, or a generous portion of meat skewers, there can be no doubt as to where in the world you are.

Restaurant LeMontBlanc

The very height of fine dining, Restaurant LeMontBlanc offers diners a 180-degree, panoramic view of some of the Swiss Alps’ largest, most dramatic peaks - the perfect accompaniment to LeMontBlanc’s more avant-garde take on French cuisine.

Unafraid to push the limits of fine dining, LeMontBlanc has created a series of culinary concepts. Each showcases both the gastronomic prowess of head chef Yannick Crapaux, as well as the best in local, seasonal, and sustainable produce.

An epicure’s delight, the Michelin-starred LeMontBlanc caters to anyone looking for a daring experience, whether through the fresh à la carte menu, the more lavish gourmet menu, or even a spot of afternoon tea amongst the mountains.

Wild Cabin

Wild Cabin sets itself apart from a lot of the other dining options in Crans-Montana through its focus on sharing. Not only are they sharing the best seasonal vegetables alongside locally sourced, succulent meat and fish, but they’re inviting you to share it amongst your fellow table guests.

The menu at Wild Cabin is geared towards ‘family style’ dining, with shareable dishes taking centre stage. Think of charcuterie platters, house-made spaghetti, and winter salads sitting alongside filet mignon and wild seabass, each painstakingly prepared.

Wild Cabin doesn’t just provide a one-and-done dining experience either. You can also buy into one of its three wellness programs, each focusing on a different aspect of health with a specially formulated menu.

Restaurant le Plaza

Instead of focusing on regional French cuisine, Restaurant Le Plaza has taken a different route. Moving away from the menu staples of so many of its contemporaries, Le Plaza has carved out a niche for itself. What’s more, aside from the set menus, the Le Plaza’s chef also starts each week by creating a unique set of dishes based on the best ingredients currently in his kitchen. If you wish, every visit to Le Plaza can be a unique experience.

If you’re not too full from your feast, Le Plaza’s sister venue, Le Moon, is open from 10:30 pm until the early hours. Entry is free, but there is a dress code for anybody wanting to kick back with a drink and a soundtrack provided by big names from the DJ scene.

In fact, Le Plaza and Le Moon are both well-known among visitors for their vast and exhaustive cocktail menu. You’ll never be short of new flavours to try, no matter whether you’re planning a meal or late night out.

Gueuleton

At Gueleton, meat is always at the top of the menu. It’s the speciality at this proudly Swiss-French establishment, and they take selection, preparation, and serving very seriously.

As well as charcuterie boards and sharing platters, there are some exceptional plates that you won't want to share. From freshly grilled tomahawk steak to the most tender pork belly, not to mention dry-aged ribeye, these are dishes to be savoured above all else. Especially when paired with one of Gueuleton’s selection of wines from Italy, Valais, and France.

MOSAIC

With an open kitchen where you can see the chefs hard at work on your meal, MOSAIC is a brasserie that embraces the classic and modern equally.

Whether you’ve studied the menu and chosen your ideal slice of meat, side, and wine, or are open to taking the chef’s suggestion, MOSAIC is dedicated to ensuring every visit is both memorable and mouthwatering.

Where MOSAIC particularly shines, according to its large and regular clientele, is its dedication to accommodating both food allergies and preferences. Gluten-free and vegan options are plentiful, while allergies and intolerances are catered for without fuss.

Restaurant FIVE

Another venue that eschews the cuisine of the region, Restaurant FIVE has instead taken inspiration from the many delicacies of the Levant, the eastern Mediterranean region including Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and more.

That means Turkish flatbreads, falafel, kibbeh, grilled and boneless chicken, confit lamb, and more. There’s also the Sunday Buffet, a dazzling array of small-plate delicacies that’s not to be missed.

Why’s it called FIVE? According to the proprietors, it’s in homage to the five pillars that the restaurant is built on: hospitality, sharing, respect for nature, contemporary use of flavours, and the culinary heritage of the Levantine countries.

Looking to make Crans-Montana your home?

Crans-Montana is a beautiful place with one of the most vibrant and well-awarded culinary scenes in the world. With plenty of traditional French and Italian eateries sitting alongside fare from further around the world, there will never be a time when you’re stuck for somewhere to eat in Crans-Montana. In fact, you’re far more likely to feel spoiled for choice. Hopefully, this guide will have helped you choose where to spend your time and fill your plate.

When it comes to buying a home in Crans-Montana, though, there’s really only one option. Browse our properties in Crans-Montana, and find your mountain-side home today.