Where to celebrate New Year's Eve 2017 in Chamonix

The focal point of New Year’s Eve in Chamonix is counting down to midnight by the clock tower in the centre of town. This is usually a completely chaotic event with no one quite sure exactly when to start counting, hoards of people shouting over each other in a multitude of languages, excitable revellers setting off impromptu fireworks, etc, etc… It’s all good fun though and once the new era has been announced there is a great deal of kissing and hugging complete strangers, while an official firework display goes on largely ignored overhead.

New Year is all about gourmet dining and fine wine here in France, and there are plenty of restaurants in Chamonix where you can indulge in both.

Hotel Aiguille du Midi in Les Bossons may be off the beaten track but they are renowned for their excellent restaurant and homegrown produce. They’re offering a traditional French festive menu starting with champagne and lobster and finishing with local cheeses and their notoriously delicious desserts.

Likewise, Hotel Les Lanchers in Les Praz is a bit out of the way but they draw people in from far and wide with their great food and friendly ambience. Their New Year’s menu puts an elaborate twist on classic dishes, with indulgent ingredients that will surely require a cognac or two to aid the digestion process.

Swedish-run restaurant Bizes is offering something a bit different with unusual taste sensations such as Josper-grilled scallops or parsnip and pear soup with a savoury macaron on offer.

If you’re at the other end of the valley, you’ll find a great dining experience at Le Delice, a tiny little restaurant with a great reputation. Their NYE menu promises to be a real treat and, as ever, they can offer vegetarian options on request.

You can find all other Chamonix restaurants here, be sure to book in advance if you want a table for New Year

It’s business as usual for most of the drinking establishments in Chamonix on New Year’s Eve. The good thing about this is that there are no extortionate entry fees, no queuing on the door, and no fancy dress codes. The flip side is that everywhere is rammed and your favourite bars may be so busy that you can barely squeeze through the door, never mind gets your drinks order in.

Get your best costumes out and start practising your jazz hands for the Mardi Gras NYE Party at Bighorn Bistro. They’ll be serving up a special Creole menu featuring Louisiana favourites like a Gumbo dip toast, a delicious crab stew, pork ribs and local fish. Vegetarian options are also available. Then it’s party time from 22:30 until 04:30 with DJ Ziggy Zero mixing the tunes and the bar staff mixing their best Southern cocktails.

Monkey Bar are glamming it up with a Dirty Disco party from 21:00 and finishing at 04:00.They're turning the bar into one big dance floor for a New Year's Eve like in Studio 54. So dig out your best glittery gear and get dancing until well into 2018.

Bar’d Up are celebrating a private party with live music. No inflated drinks prices or wrestling through the sweaty crowds to get to the bar. Tickets are only 10€ each and numbers are limited, so get yours in advance!

Ring in the new year with prosecco and hot dogs at Cool Cats, right opposite Bar’d Up. Grab yourself a glass of bubbles on their warm terrace and do apres-ski in style with live music from 19:00, followed by DJs playing funk and soul late into the night. As they're advertising it as "the shiniest New Year's celebration", they are giving away free glittery face decorations when you purchase a bottle of prosecco.

At the other end of town, The Jekyll invite you to join them for a New Year’s dinner party, complete with live music and DJs. This cosy old pub is a great place to settle in for the night and raise a toast to 2018 with friends.

Over in Les Houches, the Kitsch Inn will be popping the corks and getting the party started at 23:00 with DJ Jimbo blasting out some favourite classic 70's disco, funk and soul tunes. They’re also laying on a special menu from 19:00.

If you can face the thought of eating after a night of partying then there is no shortage of places in Chamonix to grab a great brunch. Monkey, La Terrasse and Bluebird all do a good old fry-up, whereas Elevation is renowned for its stomach-settling baguettes stuffed with egg and sausage. You can find more hangover cures and possibly even a hair of the dog in the many Chamonix cafes.