Hotel Mont-Blanc

The stylish in-town hotel option in Chamonix blends Art Deco history with contemporary style.

• The location of the hotel, a block away from all the shopping and restaurants.
• The hotel’s restaurant, which is the best 5-star dining experience in town.
• The décor of the rooms, which feature a modern take on the traditional alpine aesthetic, with light woods and contemporary, chic furniture.

Famed designer Sybille de Margerie (the talent behind the Mandarin Oriental in Paris and Cheval Blanc in Courchevel) is responsible for the uber-stylish look of the Hotel Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, opened in 2013. A black-and-white marble lobby sets the scene for the property, which marries an early 20^th-century elegance with contemporary comfort.

The owners, the Taittinger family (of the famous Champagne house) are very hands-on, as they have long been devoted visitors and home-owners in Chamonix. The youngest generation doubles as owners and managers and are onsite everyday, adding a family-owned hominess to the chic property.

The 100-year-old hotel was initially built to house the servants of the aristocrats who stayed farther up the hill at the Majestic Hotel (which is today a building of apartments). Many original details remain, like the Belle Epoque lobby fireplace and wrought iron staircase balustrades. Much of the property's furniture was custom-made and the textiles were all hand-selected by the owners. Highlights include carved wooden headboards with alhambra details in all bedrooms and plush, teal velveteen curtains on the ground floor lounge.

Hotel Mont-Blanc's 42 rooms and suites are colorful, comfortable and boast views of the mountains, but are not very spacious, so we recommend booking a junior suite or higher category room. A design aesthetic that can be bothersome is the frosted, patterned glass wall separating the bathroom from bedroom. There is little privacy and the glass design, meant to evoke an ice cube, feels dated and not in keeping with the otherwise stylish look.

The property boasts an excellent spa, outdoor pool that is fully heated in the winter and the very good Le Restaurant de l'Hotel Mont-Blanc.

Guests who prefer new hotels and staying in the village center will be happy at the Hotel Mont-Blanc.