HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc: Food & Drink Tips

Chamonix sits in the heart of Haute-Savoie with a distinct mountain food culture. Order tartiflette (oven-baked reblochon cheese with potatoes, lardons and onions) or fondue savoyarde for a proper post-race refuel. For something lighter, try croûte savoyarde — melted cheese on country bread. Round off any meal with a small glass of génépi, a local herbal digestif made from alpine flowers that has warmed mountain people's legs for generations.

Officially UTMB-friendly venue: free coffee for all race participants and UTMB staff with any meal. Café-restaurant-breakfast spot on the Quai d'Arve riverbank, a short walk from the bib-collection centre at Espace Michel Croz. Opens early — ideal for a calm pre-race breakfast before the expo crowds build.

Terrace café-restaurant on Place Balmat, one of the most central spots in Chamonix. Another officially UTMB-friendly venue — free coffee for runners and UTMB staff with every meal. Perfect for watching the race-week foot traffic over a morning coffee, or for a relaxed lunch between the expo and the afternoon briefings.

Specialty coffee shop on Avenue de l'Aiguille du Midi, a regular stop for trail runners and mountain guides during race week. Praised across running blogs for consistently good espresso. Close to the start/finish zone on Place du Triangle de l'Amitié — a solid pre-race morning ritual before the nerves kick in.

Café-restaurant on the main Avenue Michel Croz, a few minutes from the finish line on Place du Triangle de l'Amitié. Officially UTMB-friendly — free coffee for participants with every meal. Works well for everything from a relaxed race-week lunch to a post-finish dinner with crew. Reliable kitchen, good atmosphere when Chamonix is buzzing.

Dinner-only restaurant committed to local, organic sourcing with an open-fire Josper oven at the heart of the menu. One of the best spots in Chamonix for a proper post-race celebration meal — hearty, seasonal cooking that hits different after 170km on your legs. Small menu that changes with what is fresh. Book well ahead; it fills during UTMB week.

Semi-gastronomic restaurant inside the Heliopic Hotel on Place de l'Aiguille du Midi. Carries a Michelin recommendation and is praised for well-executed seasonal dishes at honest prices — think perfectly cooked veal, fresh fish of the day and outstanding crème brûlée. Quiet, well-spaced tables make it ideal for a calm pre-race dinner. Reservation recommended.

Lively bar-restaurant in Les Houches, right on the UTMB course. During race week they serve special pasta dishes every day of the week and run a full music programme — DJ sets, live acts and kids activities — as runners pass through. A great pre-race pasta evening in the start village atmosphere, or a spot to cheer on runners mid-race from the terrace.

Budget-friendly and popular with runners in the days before the race. Hash-brown-stuffed burgers and generous portions make this a solid carb-loading option the night before your start. Multiple running guides and blogs specifically call out Poco Loco as a UTMB pre-race favourite. No booking needed — quick, easy service during a hectic race week.

Italian restaurant on Rue du Lyret specifically recommended by trail runners for pasta nights before the race. Classic pasta, pizza and risotto in a straightforward setting — exactly what you want the evening before 170km. Mentioned alongside Poco Loco in runner travel guides as one of the go-to carb-loading spots during UTMB week. Book ahead for the night before your start.