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1490 Exclusif Restaurant Review

Aperols and cheese at 1490 Exclusif with a view that really can't be beaten

featured in Restaurant reviews Author Alice Gregr, Morzine Reporter Updated

Most bars and restaurants in the Portes du Soleil boast an amazing view of some kind or another. But Exclusif, a bar at the top of the Col d'Encrenaz is perhaps the most spectacular of the lot - and a trip to it is quite the adventure. However, as we've proved. Once you've been, you'll just want to keep going back.

We first decided to go to Exclusif to surprise our friends who are getting married. We'd heard it was pretty special and thought it would be a nice treat to head up to the bar and have a few evening drinks. I've been back twice already.

Finding the bar is the tricky part. You head to Esssert Romand first, a little village on the edge of Morzine, and then drive up the famous road biking climb, the Col d'Encrenaz. It's a windy 6km drive to the top of the hill where there's a car park. From here you can either walk up to the bar or call the team at Exclusif and ask for a lift. The walk is pretty easy, it's about 15 minutes and along a decent path. However it is steep in places so not easy for everyone. If you do choose to get a lift, in summer you'll be picked up in a mini bus and in winter by a skidoo.

On each occasion we've been we've walked and taken the dogs with us. It's a dog friendly place but they ask that you keep the dogs on the lead which is fair enough because there are a lot of cows around. Be warned the fences are electric so keep your dogs close by. You walk upwards past a few bars and restaurants before reaching a clearing and the end of the track where you'll find Exclusif. Like I said, we were told it was pretty special, but we weren't prepared for just how special it actually is.

The bar sits on the hillside in the middle of an alpine meadow. It has panoramic views of the Roc d'Enfer, Mont Blanc and the Col de la Ramaz. The bar itself spills out on several levels including a small inside greenhouse which means you can even enjoy Exclusif when the weather isn't that great. I have to say though, the bar is at its best on sunny days. You can sit outside on the terrace, enjoy the views, listen to the cowbells and sip on a beautiful glass of wine.

The owners of Exclusif are lovely and extremely welcoming. They're always pleased to see you and bring out nibbles to go with your drinks and put up umbrellas if it's sunny. You feel like you're miles alway from anyone else however, we're told the restaurant is almost always fully booked in the evenings. Despite this, there's a really peaceful atmosphere at Exclusif. There's gentle music going on in the background but nothing too intrusive which means you really can relax and enjoy the sounds of your surroundings.

There's a great selection of drinks on the menu including cocktails, wine and beer. As you would imagine, it's not cheap, with an Aperol Spritz coming in at around 8 euros. They do taste delicious though and once you've had one, it's likely you won't mind splashing out on a second, especially as you've had such a journey to get this far.

The food menu is full of Savoyard delicacies including Tartiflette, there's a three course meal option that costs around 32 euros. It's not a massive menu but has clearly been put together with a lot of thought. We haven't had a proper sit down meal at Exclusif yet but we could see from the people around us that it would be well worth spending a little extra to sample the menu at some point. We ordered some meat and cheese plates to share between our table along with a beautiful bottle of house rosé. We were supplied with copious amounts of fresh, warm bread to accompany our platters and certainly didn't leave hungry.

The best part about Exlusif for me, is how different it is from anywhere else in the Portes du Soleil. It's a classic, chilled out bar with a real Ibiza vibe. It's somewhere to go if you fancy a bit of a break from the liveliness of Morzine and Les Gets and are looking for a spot of tranquility. It's open throughout the year and is as popular in winter as it is in summer.

I was reluctant to write this article as I almost wanted to keep this hidden gem all to myself, but I couldn't do it to you. Exclusif is one of my favourite spots in the Portes du Soleil and I advise everyone to give it a go.

Location

Map of the surrounding area