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Latest update: 6 August 2024
I always love taking the time to eat out on holiday. In Brides-les-Bains, my stomach can’t keep up with my eyes. I want to taste everything! That would be fine regarding calories because they are closely monitored in Brides-les-Bains. But obviously, you don’t have to. I want to recommend a few good restaurants and outdoor cafes where you can definitely eat and drink well.
Low-calorie and solo dinners?!
Because so many people come to Brides-les-Bains to follow weight loss programs, the entire village is also geared up for this in terms of catering. For example, there is the Diététique label for restaurants. The label assures that you can get a low-calorie menu. That is super convenient if that’s the purpose of your trip. It saves you from discussing changes to your dish with the staff, which can sometimes be quite awkward. At least, that’s my experience with ordering food with my food intolerances.
I also notice that many tables are set for one person. Again, it’s because people come for the weight loss programs. They often come alone. I think it is really good that the restaurants respond to this so well because eating out alone is a big hurdle for most people to take – for me, too.
Le Golf Hotel Brides-les-Bains
So low-calorie and eating out alone may not sound so nice initially, but it is. It is exactly what tourists are looking for outside the winter sports season. Incidentally, there are no treatment programs in the winter. Then the restaurants serve exactly the opposite: delicious fatty raclette, cheese fondue, tartiflette, burgers… Yum!
Don’t worry: you can also eat high-calorie food in restaurants in the other months. It all depends on what you want to order. For example, I expand my low-calorie menu with a cheese-tasting platter, haha. But if you like to go low-calorie, you should consider whether the restaurant has the Diététique label.
Hotel restaurants: competitively priced three-course menus
At the various hotel restaurants in Brides-les-Bains, you can try a daily changing three-course menu. Usually, there is a regular menu and a low-calorie menu. I chose the low-calorie menu a few times, simply because I thought it sounded better than the regular menu. To be honest: I wasn’t really happy with a bowl of apple compote for dessert. But at another restaurant I got a delicious crème brulee-like thingy – without the sugar coating of course.
Restaurant les Cerisiers Brides-les-Bains
The advantage is that these menus are very competitively priced because the kitchen knows exactly what needs to be made and can, therefore, buy their ingredients for fair prices. The disadvantage is that your dinner will probably be over quickly because the kitchen has everything prepared and ready.
You can go to these hotel restaurants:
- Restaurant les Cerisiers (Google Maps location) – from Hotel Amélie, where I am staying.
- Restaurant Le Val Vert (Google Maps location) – with a cheerful manager or owner who speaks good English and fills the wine glass to the brim. I like this man.
- Le Golf Hotel (Google Maps location) – Dining in style! In a beautiful stately building with a view of the mountains.
Restaurant Le Val Vert Brides-les-Bains
La Maison de Marielle – healthy takeaway
If you don’t feel like cooking or going to a restaurant, you can pick up a healthy meal at La Maison de Marielle. We pick up a three-course picnic when we go hiking in the mountains. We can even choose from different dishes. I have never eaten so luxuriously during a hike!
Tip! Let’s go on a hike – or a little walk. Check out the nature in and around Brides-les-Bains.
Le 26 – French Asian
At Le 26, they don’t pay attention to the calories. It is a restaurant with a modern kitchen with Asian influences. For example, you can eat a pad thai here. We go for a burger and a bruschetta with burrata. Both are very tasty. The chef works quickly and prepares the plates beautifully. The interior has also been paid attention, with lots of wood and decorations on the walls. We don’t really like the coffee, but we do like to come back in the evening for another glass of wine.
Relief – just one more glass of wine
You can also eat at Relief, but we’ll have one final (really!) glass of wine on Saturday night. Relief clearly attracts a younger crowd than the other restaurants. The interior is also a lot more modern. The staff speaks good English and can help you choose a regional wine or one of the specialty beers on tap.
La Tisagote – French pancakes
In the Parc Thermal, we settle down at the tea house La Tisagote. The specialty is, of course, tea, and you can order a savory galette or sweet crêpe with it. Simply presented plates, good food. Outside, there are some seats among the park’s greenery, allowing for perfect people-watching. A black-and-white house cat keeps an eye on things and has to run for its life occasionally when a dog feels like chasing him – or her.
Les Voûtes du Parc
Diagonally across from La Tisagote, you will find the terrace of Les Voûtes du Parc. It has a quiet atmosphere, affordable drinks, and fast service. I mean, where can you get a glass of wine for €4 these days? At Les Voûtes du Parc, you can also have a bite to eat. I haven’t tried it, so I’ll leave that to you!
Tip! Are you ready for some fun? Check out my tips for summer activities in Brides-les-Bains.
La Fabrik – high-calorie food!
At La Fabrik, they don’t count calories – or maybe they lost count. It offers delicious cheesy pizzas and cheesecake. I go for a steak tartare and am pleasantly surprised by its Italian twist. The portions are enormous and yet I still make room for a tiramisu. Because I can’t eat potatoes, the kitchen gives me an extra salad. Very polite, that doesn’t happen everywhere. La Fabrik’s terrace is pleasantly lively on sunny days. Lots of people come for a drink and a laugh, and the staff seems to know almost everyone. A fun atmosphere!
More inspiration for travel in France?
Helpful links for your France trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace for unique camping spots. Rather stay in a hostel? Check out Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. You can find other good options at WithLocals. Check out Freetour and GuruWalk for ‘free’ walking tours, and for bike tours, try Baja Bikes. If you’re into wine: check out all the wine-related activities at Rue des Vignerons.
- Attractions and museums. Book museum and attraction tickets with Tiqets and get a 5% discount with this code: KIMOPREIS22.
- Car rental. Want to compare prices? Check out Discover Cars and Rental Cars.
- Flights. Definitely compare prices! Try Skyscanner and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not be accepted everywhere. When you travel, you could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Maybe Expedia or CheapOair has a good option.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Train and bus. Travel by train to France with NS International, or plan your trip via Trainline. Or find deals on trains and busses in France via Busbud, Omio, or 12Go.
- Travel guides. I love the practical travel guides from Lonely Planet, buy them at Amazon.
- Yoga retreat. And what about a yoga retreat in France?
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The tourism office of Brides-les-Bains invited me. They have given me complete editorial freedom.
