6. St Christoph, Austria
In the heart of Austria's famous Arlberg ski area lies a haven that has been welcoming weary travelers since the 13th century. The Hospiz Alm restaurant in St. Christoph offers a sunny terrace for those bluebird days, or a toasty table snug by the fire indoors when the weather shuts down.
The internationally renowned wine cellar, housing precious vintages in large bottles, is reached by a slide -- which also takes you down to the toilets to avoid ski-boot tumbles.
"The food is reliably good and the atmosphere is great," says Richard Lumb, co-director of upmarket ski specialists Kaluma Travel. "It's one of those places when you just get comfy and stay the whole afternoon, occasionally morphing into dinner.
"The sommelier is a master of wine and of banter. Suddenly you've doubled your budget and bought a bottle that takes two to carry. A banging red wine and an enormous shared T-bone steak cooked on the roaring fire. Mountain food bliss."
Where else? The Hotel Tannenhof in St. Anton is where ambitioushead chef James Baron is pushing hard for a Michelin star with dishes such as duck liver with quince and Perigord truffle.
Hospiz Alm, St. Christoph 1, St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria; +43 (0) 5446 2611