La Cave des Lys restaurant review

I like to visit the small village of Le Praz for its traditional alpine feel and the best place to go to sample some of the best French wines is La Cave des Lys.

I first heard about this place due to its popularity amongst seasonnaires heading there on romantic dates and I can see why. The ambience of this place can be very intimate for couples due to the cosy surroundings and the candlelit tables. However, it’s not just for first dates, it is also a great place for groups of friends and families to enjoy an evening of drinking fine wines and Savoyard hors d'oeuvres.

The décor makes you feel like you are sat in a real cave, with an arched stone ceiling. The walls are lined with bottles of wine and old oak barrels transformed into high seated tables. The varied seating, from intimate corners to high stalls, allows it to be perfect for romantic evenings or for social drinks.

Wine is available by the glass selected from an à la carte menu with glasses of white, rose, red and sparkling, starting from 4 euros. Bottles of wine range from 18 euros upwards of 80 euros. Bottles of locally made beers and ales are also sold here with the Three Valleys ale being one of my favourites.

This friendly place hosts a lovely delicatessen where you can order carefully presented mixed platters of cured meats, local cheeses and antipasti. The cheese matured with hay - Tomme affinée au foin - was a favourite of mine as well as the vegetarian bruschcetta. This was topped with roasted vegetables, pesto, sun blushed tomatoes and goats cheese.

The food is presented on a slate and you can get mixed small or large sizes. The small is 10 euros and is enough for 1 to 2 people and large is 20 euros which is enough for 4 to 5 people. The bruschcettas are also priced at 10 euros each with three different toppings. French melted cheeses such as camembert, reblochon and Mont D’Or are also available as well as local dishes such as tartiflette and crozet gratin. [Read more about local produce].

The service is excellent with the knowledgeable and passionate owners Yoann and Aurore ready to welcome you and advise you on your food and wine choice. You can also drop by for bottles of wine to take away. It opens daily throughout the winter season from 15:30 until midnight. It is advisable for large groups to book ahead as it can get very busy.

It is relatively easy to find by following the signs in the heart of Le Praz, a short walk from the free ski bus stop. There are two free car parks in village. The main one called Jean Blanc is located on the left as you drive up the mountain towards Courchevel and the second is opposite the Olympic ski jump which is a 5 minute walk into the centre of Le Praz.

La Cave de Lys is an ideal place for an authentic alpine experience. It is a superb mix of Savoyard cuisine, quirky dishes and sharing platters with a great selection of local wines and beers. The reasonably priced wine is a real pull in for a lot of customers because it’s significantly cheaper than higher up the mountain in Courchevel.

The food is also cooked extremely well and presented beautifully. I will definitely return to this hidden gem as it has a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere and you can truly soak up some true Savoie traditions.

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