Le Chalet des Îles

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As we all know — cheese, is life. In winter, it’s best served melted (in a pot or otherwise) — and in Paris: you can up the ante and eat your weight in it, on an island. Because, why not? 

The backstory here, is that in France — as well as many other places in and around Europe — when the colder weather sets in, we hibernate, head indoors and eat fondue, raclette and tartiflette. 

While many traditional bistros in Paris will usually have one of these dishes on the menu during winter — for your hit of fromage with a twist, the funky restaurant of Chalet des Iles, hidden in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, gets our vote. 

Come November, the establishment (usually more of a summer destination) is set to undergo a winter transformation and will turn into a makeshift ski resort — complete with faux furs, snowshoes, gondolas and more — so you can try the aforementioned Savoyard specialities in a cool mountain setting, without having to head too far out of the city.  

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From 6PM to midnight every Wednesday to Saturday you can even continue your night at the lively bar once you’ve had your fill, because there’ll be a DJ for after-work/meal dancing — and on Sunday — this Alpine getaway will also offer a mountain-style brunch to cater to those recovering after an all-nighter. Sounds cool right? 

Petit disclaimer though: You will have to reserve in advance, and it’s not exactly in the center of town, but — the specialties cooked up by chef Thierry Nardy, combined with the boat trip over to get to the island location, are worth the trip. At least once ;)

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Perfect for: Getting yourself and a group of friends out of the house in winter to eat cheese and then dance it off in a cool, funky setting you won’t find in other places in Paris. 

What to order: Fondue! Go all out. You can always walk back through the park after if you’ve overdone it. ;)

Address: 14 Chemin de Ceinture du Lac Inférieur, 75016 Paris (Google Maps) 

Trading hours: Monday-Saturday: 12PM-11PM // Sunday: 12PM-3PM

Website: http://chalet-des-iles.com/en

Insta: @chaletdesiles

 
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