The restaurant Albert 1er

Reservation by telephone : +33 (0)4 50 53 05 09
Weekly closure : all day Wednesday , Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes.

100 years of family venture

My wife's great-grandfather, Joseph Carrier, grocer and stagecoach director, saw the arrival of the railway in Chamonix in 1901. In view of this development, he decided, in 1903, to build a hotel, which he baptized La Pension du Chemin de fer (The railway Hotel), which was small, simple and open only in the Summer.

Whilst Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, the Pension du Chemin de fer had heating installed,to gain from the tourist development of the mountain.

Albert 1^er, the King of Belgium and an experienced alpinist, became a regular visitor to Chamonix. After his death in 1934, and following the brief lease of the hotel to an Italian from Milan during the Moroccan war, François-Joseph, Joseph's son, renamed the hotel  « Albert 1^er et de Milan ».

One generation later, Marcel and Andrée took over the reins of the hotel. Marcel succeeded his mother, Clothilde, in the kitchen and obtained his first star in the Michelin Guide in 1967.

In 1979, Pierre took over in the kitchen. In 1997, with Martine, they built three connecting farmhouses out of old wood, consisting of twelve rooms, a fitness centre with swimming pool and spa, and La Maison Carrier, a traditional restaurant. A real hamlet....

The same year, drawn to Chamonix and its snowy peaks, I moved from the town of Mazamet, in the South-West and came to work here as Commis Chef. I worked my way up the ladder and I met Perrine, Pierre's daughter. I decided to stay for another season...

In 1999, Pierre Carrier obtained his second star in the Michelin Guide, the Hameau Albert 1^er became part of the prestigious Relais et Chateaux chain. Since, I have become the head chef of the Albert 1^er restaurant. Pierre has progressively left me to express myself through my cooking and he looks after the general running of the establishment : always on hand, always in the right place at the right time.

Perrine and I got married in 2001 and with Pierre Carrier, we run the Hameau Albert 1^er as a solid three-way team. We will also play just a passing role in the grand history of the Albert 1er, but what a wonderful opportunity for us to continue the hard work already established over four generations.

I hope to pass on to you a bit of this history through my cooking, which relies on the heritage and teachings of Pierre, Marcel, Joseph and Clothilde and to which I add my own personal touch. The strong sensations of mountain living have inspired me to produce a pure and natural cuisine, working respectfully with the best available produce, to which I add a twist of the Mediterranean due to my South Western origins.

Perrine, Pierre Carrier and myself hope you have an enjoyable experience.

Pierre Maillet
Head chef