Food and drink
Avoriaz has a great selection of restaurants for a variety of different tastes. With French and Swiss influences, there is no shortage of great food - whether you feel like classic Alpine dishes such as fondue or raclette, or family friendly spots, you will be sure to find somewhere that meets your taste.
For on-the-go hearty burgers, curly chips and snacks in an ideal piste-side location, head to Le Changa, just opposite the Prodains cable car summit station. It is incredibly popular, especially on a sunny day.
Also in the area is Chez Flo, offering both inside/outside dining and a delicious menu of Savoyard dishes, croque monseuirs and chips. Next door is Les Trappeurs which is both a lively après bar as well as a good place to stop for a bite to eat, also offering Savoyard dishes but also some Italian specials, and wine.
If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy traditional French dishes, La Reserve offers classic gourmet French dishes, there is also occasional live music.
Après, bars and nightlife
Après culture reigns supreme in Avoriaz, and plenty of the bars and restaurants come to life at 5pm when the lifts close and everyone is growing a little thirsty. Providing you get the last lift at 5pm back up to Avoriaz, Happy Hours Bar at the base of Ardent is a great choice. Snacks are also served and there is live music occasionally.
La Folie Douce has made its way to the slopes of Avoriaz, it is an ideal stop on the way back from a day of exploring the Portes du Soleil. A popular apres bar with live music and DJs throughout the season.
Back in Avoriaz and its getting late- head to Shooters Bar, which has a lively atmosphere and mostly indoors so you stay warm in the evenings. The Yak is a basement club and is open until early, with guest DJs, house music and good times!
Shopping
Guests can expect the usual sporting goods stores, souvenirs, tabac shop, and a chemist (pharmacy) when shopping in Avoriaz. Most of the shops in the town are based along the Promenade du Festival which stretches past the tourism office. There are several Sherpa supermarkets for those who are living in self-catered accommodation and they are based very conveniently close to the hotels. You will find two ATM machines near to the tourism office on Promenade du Festival.
If you want a full day of shopping it might be best to head down the valley to Morzine, where you will find a much wider array of shops and facilities.
Spas and relaxation
If you’re looking for something for the whole family, head to Aquariaz swimming pool complex where you’ll be transported a thousand miles away to a warm sub-tropical climate even when the snow is falling outside. There is an open air spa heated to 34 degrees, as well as massage benches and a water playhouse to keep the kids occupied.
Arts, culture and events
Avoriaz is a purpose built in the 1960s with a ‘space age’ feel to it, but there is still plenty of culture to be had. With Rock the Pistes happening every year in March and the new Snowboxx festival migrating to this small town, it’s a real hot spot for music lovers.
The mountains around Avoriaz are also home to plenty of vista spots that stretch over France and neighbouring Switzerland. For a wonderful experience and photo opportunity head up the Fornet chair lift and you’ll see what we’re talking about!
More culture and Alpine lifestyle can be found if you venture down into the much older and more traditional Morzine at the base of the mountain.
Resort Activities
Aquariaz
Aquariaz swimming pool feels like a tropical haven, a thousand miles away from the Bahamas. The leisure centre has several different swimming areas including an indoor river, a sidewinder and themed children's area. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon when it is just to snowy to go skiing.
Igloo Experience
Discover the coolest dining experience in Avoriaz, the Village Igloo. A unique ice grotto, bar, restaurant and mini hotel in Avoriaz, where can enjoy a traditional Savoyard meal in a spectacular setting. Apart from having dinner in the igloo, the bar is open throughout the winter season, as is the hotel. It really is an unforgettable experience for everyone. Book and pay locally.
Horse drawn sleigh
Acting as the taxi service in Avoriaz, there are plenty of horse-drawn sleighs around the town, and grabbing a trip from one end of Avoriaz to another is great fun for everyone of all ages! Pay locally.
Ice skating
There is a small ice rink in the middle of Avoriaz, lit up at night and you can hire your skates locally. This is a fantastic child-friendly activity that can be enjoyed even after the pistes close for the day. Pay locally.
Bowling
There is a two-lane bowling alley and arcade located in a subterranean complex on Place des Dromonts. It’s hard to miss the big ‘bowling’ sign out the front. Pay locally.
Cinema
Located in the centre of Avoriaz near the tourism office and ice skating rink, the small cinema has two screens and shows all of the national releases. Please note that some films will be voice dubbed in French. Pay locally.
Parapenting
For the thrill seekers out there, paragliding (or parapenting as the French say) is available in both Avoriaz and Morzine throughout the ski season for those who dare.
Helicopter rides
If you think the mountains are beautiful from the ground then try seeing them from above. Helicopter tours and rides are available in resort and make a great day out for everyone.
Snowshoeing
You can take a guided ramble through the beautiful Alpine landscape with a pair of snowshoes. This relaxing activity is the perfect way to step back and enjoy a slower pace of things, explore the forests, spotting animals and breathing the fresh mountain air. There are even evening snowshoe walks to be enjoyed, so talk to your Inghams rep in resort if you fancy taking the mountains in at a different pace.
Cross country skiing
With 216km cross country trails and tracks in the Portes du Soleil area, 45km of them sit in Avoriaz alone. There are 4 areas that are generally accessible from Avoriaz and Morzine: the Manche Valley, Morzine-Avoriaz Parc Naturel des Cretes de Zorre, Lake Montriond, and Pleney-Chavannes. You can grab cross-country skiing lessons with the ESF in Morzine.
