This Iconic Courchevel, France, Hotel Has 'Palace Status'—and Incredible Après-ski

Prestigious palace status is reserved for France’s most coveted hotels that stand out with their excellent service and amenities. (Currently, there are 31 hotels with a palace status.) It’s a fitting designation for the newly rebranded Fouquet’s Courchevel, one of four Fouquet’s hotels in the Barrière Collection, which includes the original Fouquet’s Paris on the Champs-Élysées.

Among the few family-run luxury hotel groups in France, Barrière got its start more than a century ago in Normandy’s well-heeled town of Deauville, considered the seaside playground for Parisians. “Fouquet’s plays a major role in the history of the Barrière group, making it important for us to open a new chapter aligned with our international development strategy,” says Alexandre Barrière, the group’s fourth-generation chairman. “As the quintessence of Barrière’s savoir-faire, Fouquet’s embodies our vision of discreet, welcoming luxury, deeply rooted in French excellence and art de vivre; our ambition is to create places where refinement is never imposed, but shared—with elegance and warmth.”

I’ve checked in at a few of the group’s lauded hotels over my decade-plus time living in France, but the Alpine locale has long been on my bucket list. Courchevel, the ritzy ski resort in France’s Les 3 Vallées—the world’s largest interconnected ski area—lives up to its reputation of “Saint-Tropez in the snow.” Here, you’ll recognize some of the same restaurants (Kinugawa, Bagatelle) and hotels that line the cobblestone streets of the famous French Riviera town. But Fouquet’s Courchevel is distinctly rooted in the destination and sits in one of the best locations, with ski-in, ski-out access and the village a short stroll away.

The hotel (formerly Barrière Les Neiges) debuted this winter as Fouquet’s Courchevel, with a refreshed lounge, a new hair salon, and expanded spa offerings. One element that remains is the perpetually popular Loulou. In fact, the dolce vita-driven restaurant, housed in a chalet-inspired space, is the beating heart of the hotel.

One morning, I watched the snow fall while sipping green juice and slicing into a light-as-air omelette, before layering on ski gear and heading to the Bernard Orcel-branded ski room to meet my instructor for a private lesson. Upon my return to the hotel, the ski ambassadors whisked my skis and poles inside, before helping me unbuckle my ski boots.

It’s not hard to fall into the rhythm of après-ski. The servers at Loulou quickly had my order memorized: a glass of Champagne and snail-shaped pipe rigate pasta coated in a subtly spiced tomato and vodka sauce that, dare I say, could give Carbone a run for its money. Afternoons slipped by as I alternated between dips in the hot tub, window shopping in town, and time spent doing something I rarely have time for: cracking open a book and reading by the fireplace in the lounge.

Below, my full review of Fouquet’s Courchevel.

The Rooms

Size is the main differentiator in the hotel’s 22 guest rooms and 20 suites. The smallest accommodation, the Superior Room, measures 377 square feet, while the dual-level L’Appartement Les Neiges boasts 3,337 square feet and a tree branch-inspired centerpiece chandelier dangling over a dining table for eight. Sitting by the stone-encased fireplace in the living room, guests can soak up views spanning from the village all the way to Mont Blanc.

During my weekend stay, I settled into a 624-square-foot Prestige Junior Suite, complete with a balcony showing off mountain views. Framed black-and-white film stills lined the walls, while slate-hued faux fur and tartan evoked a sense of place in line with Courchevel’s Alpine-chic aesthetic. I appreciated that the expansive bathroom was outfitted with both a sumptuous soaking tub and a hammam shower, a nice touch if you want to warm up post-skiing in the privacy of your suite. 

Food and Drink

An Alpine take on a traditional trattoria, Loulou leans into the local Savoyard spirit. Its intricate woodwork extends from the carved columns and paneled ceiling out to the terrace, where clover-shaped wooden armchairs look out at the skiers and snowboarders speeding down the Bellecôte slope. The menu is an ode to Piedmont (think classics like thinly sliced vitello tonnato and plenty of truffle), interspersed with Mediterranean-style plates like raw purple artichoke with aged parmesan and lobster linguine.

If you’re dining with a group, the fir tree honey-caramelized suckling pig shoulder is a must (and this is coming from a person who isn’t huge on pork), as is the house favorite black truffle pizza. Dessert comes in the form of a lavish buffet spread, with options like tart, mille-feuille, or tiramisu. You wouldn’t be in the Savoie region of France without cheese fondue and raclette, and adjacent La Table Savoyarde delivers an elevated version of the traditional Alpine experience with horseshoe-shaped booths set against red tartan-clad walls. The menu also includes regional specialties such as tartiflette (a potato, bacon, and Reblochon cheese casserole) and Swiss classic rösti (a fried potato pancake).

Le Lounge Bar is a laid-back spot to gather for apéro by the dramatic Renaissance-inspired wooden hellmouth fireplace. However, I preferred sidling up to the buzzy bar in Loulou and watching bartenders expertly blend Chartreuse- and limoncello-infused cocktails with Serge Gainsbourg serenading in the background.

The Spa

After my first day of skiing, I spent a full afternoon hopping between the al fresco hot tub, sauna, and hammam, with dips in the Nordic cold plunge in between. The team at Fouquet’s Courchevel Spa & Wellness was attentive throughout the entire experience, helping me settle into one of the loungers flanking the 66-foot indoor pool and guiding me through the expansive treatment menu. The restorative HydraFacial treatments are among the spa’s signature offerings, but you can also unwind with a targeted massage, like the Skier’s Essential (dedicated to soothing sore legs), or a custom Biologique Recherche facial.

The intimate fitness studio offers trainer-led wellness sessions, but the highlight is a 30-minute private training session on the lauded Lagree Fitness Megaformer, a rarity in most hotel gyms.

This being Courchevel, it’s no surprise that the hotel’s hair salon, L’Atelier Hair Couture, was fully booked throughout my stay. (I was hoping to squeeze in a Balmain product-infused blowout). In addition to cuts and color, the salon offers Tokio Inkarami Japanese keratin treatments.

Accessibility

Fouquet’s Courchevel has step-free entry to the main areas, elevator access to all six guest floors, and two wheelchair-accessible rooms. The concierge can also assist in booking adapted ski activities, so guests with reduced mobility can take full advantage of the hotel’s ski-in, ski-out slopeside location.

How to Book

Fouquet’s Courchevel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, so guests can earn Leaders Club points that can be redeemed for free nights at any of the collection’s 400-plus properties. The hotel is also part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, giving American Express Platinum cardholders perks like one-category room upgrade when available, guaranteed late checkout, and a $100 property credit.

Nightly rates at Fouquet’s Courchevel start from $2,229 and include breakfast.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.