Steep restaurant prices and so-so food/service and other Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France Tourist Trap Tips

There are several restaurants in the town center that definitely price-gouge (especially when changing to the Euro) and short-change you on service or food quality (or both) - they are just there to turn a fast Euro from your tourist wallet.

I would say the new Atelier Cafe (this location used to be the wonderful and sadly missed Cafe Lune, which was sold to the new Atelier owners) is one of the worst offenders - charging 3 Euros for a pathetic cup of coffee and 10 Euros for an omelette. This location used to be one of the best 'in' spots in town for a friendly local hangout with great service and prices, and now is one of the worst. Sigh.

Also Cafe La Pointiere is known for overpriced food and also for often unfriendly or uncaring service. Avoid it, though it has lots of outdoor seating!

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At Least Do This: The only good things about these particular places is that they happen to have spots with great sun for their outdoor terraces.

Unfortunately, this guarantees that they will stay in business and not have to work hard to do it, because everyone loves to sit in the sun, people watch and look at the mountains!
Alternative: If you want to sit in the sun and 'people watch' in town center, Le Bar Tavel is just across from Le National (next to La Pointiere too), and the part of it's terrace closest to the street gets good sun. They have much better food and friendly attentive service.

Also L'M (literally "The M" - named after Aiguille L'M which you can see from the wooden tiered restaurant terrace) has better food and service for it's high prices, and really cool outdoor torches are lit up at night and in ski season, has outdoor stand-up tables and an outdoor bar serving 'vin chaud' (hot mulled red wine) and other drinks for the 'apres ski' crowd - especially good if you want to avoid those smokey indoor bars. It is located near the clock tower.