La Rose du Pont.

It looks beautiful. And it tastes good.

Through Doytcheva’s eyes · Six photographs

The pink façade of La Rose du Pont in falling snow, lit up for Christmas

La Rose du Pont in the snow.

01 / THROUGH DOYTCHEVA’S EYES

What I love about La Rose du Pont is, first of all, the setting. The style, the architecture, the thought that went into the place.

A Belle Époque train.

In this setting by interior designer Christophe Bro, I feel as though I’m stepping into a Belle Époque train. And I think it’s beautiful.

The chandelier and wood panelling at La Rose du Pont, with snowy mountains beyond the windows — The mountains on the other side of the glass.

A statue in a blue dress among the wood panelling and mouldings at La Rose du Pont — The statue in a blue dress, among the wood panelling.

A place built around a Christmas tree.

The owner told me a story I love. When he was young, he visited the department stores on the Grands Boulevards in Paris. Inside, he discovered an enormous Christmas tree. He told himself that one day he would create a place where he could put up a tree just as beautiful.

La Rose du Pont was designed around that idea, he explained.

At Christmas, roughly from mid-November to the end of December, an enormous tree takes its place in the room. Then I feel as though I’m inside a music box. Or one of those snow globes. That’s exactly the feeling.

The tall Christmas tree beside the mezzanine with white mouldings — The tree at the heart of the room.

A table and armchairs facing the Christmas tree beneath the glass roof — Like being inside a music box.

And then there’s the food.

The first reason is that it’s beautiful. The second is that the food is good.

I love having both. When the senses are fed: sight and taste.

Jaime reading L’Équipe over breakfast at La Rose du Pont, with mountains beyond the windows — Breakfast, the newspaper and the mountains.

“I love having both. When the senses are fed: sight and taste.”

02 / THE PLACE

A brasserie beside the Arve.

At 43 place Balmat, in central Chamonix, La Rose du Pont occupies the former La Terrasse. Its pink façade and ornate balustrades overlook the Arve. A café, restaurant and tearoom, it serves breakfast, meals and refreshments throughout the day.

Interior designer Christophe Bro was entrusted with the transformation. The décor brings Art Nouveau together with the atmosphere of grand brasseries: mouldings, mosaics, a glass roof and an internal balcony. A monumental marble and carved-wood bar sits against shelves of bottles that rise with the height of the building.

Further readingChamonix tourist office Architecture · Chamonix press kit Town-centre altitude