Good mountain restaurants in Chamonix are hard to find, but this is one of the best. Overlooking the glacier at Argentiere at the top of the valley, the views of the ice falls are fantastic. Sit on the terrace and drink it in.

The standard menu is French country cooking, supplemented by mouthwatering, home-made tarts. To find the refuge, keep to the right of the glacier when skiing under the La Herse lift that goes over the Pointe du Vue black run. Wrapping things up nicely is accommodation for up to 30 in mountain hut conditions.