La Cime Caron has always held a special place in the hearts of “Val Tho” lovers. The highest point of the Val Thorens ski area, reached via an impressive cable car, with a breathtaking view over the surrounding peaks… Every box was ticked to turn this “place to ski” into a “place to be.” A spot to stop at, not just pass through.
And yet, in November 2024, dismay set in: an accident on the cable car (then closed to the public) brought the festive mood to a sudden halt, just a few days before the opening of the Val Thorens ski area and of Caron 3200, the brand-new dining and contemplation venue due to welcome its first dreamy diners at 3,200 m altitude.
Throughout the 24/25 season, the striking glass and steel structure could only be reached via the Orelle lifts. The patience of Val Thorens skiers is finally being rewarded this 25/26 winter, thanks to the two brand-new cabins of the iconic cable car! Are you one of the regulars of the highest ski resort in France? Here are 4 good reasons to make Caron 3200 your new “place to be”!
The place to be… for your morning coffee
Ah, that 10 am coffee! The one that gives you a welcome boost before tackling the 150 km of pistes of the linked Val Thorens-Orelle area (or the 600 – six hundred! – kilometres of pistes of the 3 Vallées). Truly “delizioso,” this espresso / cappuccino / latte macchiato (delete as appropriate).
Unless you’re more into hot chocolate… or a “speculoos, vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, cookies” latte cocktail? We won’t hide that this treat on the Rooftop menu, the panoramic terrace of Caron 3200, is winking at us quite insistently 👀 No worries: espresso in the morning and latte cocktail in the afternoon!
The Rooftop | Caron 3200 | Open from 10 am to 3:15 pm | View the Rooftop menu
The place to be… for lunch with a view
Nothing beats fresh air… except when that fresh air numbs your fingers and jaw and stops you enjoying your lunch! At Caron 3200, you can eat in the warm, comfortably seated, without taking your eyes off the mountains (the bay windows are huge!).
On the menu: healthy, balanced and indulgent dishes, served in jars slowly warmed through steaming, and inspired by French-Savoyard, Italian and Asian cuisine. There’s also plenty to snack on the go (sharing boards, golden fries, comforting soups…). Or to satisfy a sudden sugar craving (the desserts are to die for!).
The Restaurant | Caron 3200 | Open from 10 am to 3:15 pm | View the Restaurant menu
The place to be… to chill in the sun
At 3,200 m altitude, you’re (very) likely to find yourself well above the clouds that plague the lowlands all winter. So make the most of your holiday away from the grey Parisian skies (or Lyon, Strasbourg, Lille — fair’s fair) to top up on vitamin D on the Rooftop terrace of Caron 3200!
Throughout the day, curl up in the comfortable armchairs, sunglasses on and SPF 50 generously applied. And chill out, glass in hand, facing the Aiguille de Péclet, Mont Blanc, the Grande Casse, the Aiguilles d’Arves, the Grand Bec…
Can’t put a name to the peaks on the horizon? No judgement here: nothing looks more “like a pointy white thing” than another “pointy white thing” when your neurons are unwinding from work… Take a stroll to the orientation table of the overhead rotunda located in the glass tunnels leading to the Orelle-Caron gondola — things should become a lot clearer.
The Rooftop | Caron 3200 | Open from 10 am to 3:15 pm | View the Rooftop menu
The place to be… for a chic and cosy break
Because it’s cold, because you’re on holiday, because you’re in love: no need to look far for an excuse to treat yourself to a chic and cosy break at the Caron 3200 Wine Bar!
In this elegant, hushed cocoon, you forget the time. A glass of Saint-Émilion in hand, cosy slippers on your feet, eyes fixed on the Mont Blanc massif and the finest peaks of the Tarentaise… Nothing could disturb your peace. Except perhaps the sommelier as they bring you your second glass? But they’re already forgiven!
The Wine Bar | Caron 3200 | Open from 10 am to 3:15 pm | Tastings by reservation | View the Wine Bar menu
