Just a stone's throw from the lake, a discreet façade houses one of the liveliest spots in the resort: The 2 Balls Palette. Here, at the same table, you'll find ski patrollers still in their uniforms, seasonal workers who've come to relax, and loyal tourists who've known the place for years. At the helm are Samuel Lepage and Gabriel Libert, two figures well known to the regulars, who took over the business from Laurent Guignard, nicknamed 'Boulélé'.
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Samuel arrived at Tignes in 2011 and started behind the counter in November 2014. Gabriel joined him in 2017. Ten years later, the two friends are officially taking over the bar.
"We redid everything last autumn, but kept the original spirit". explains Samuel. It's a subtle balance: retaining the 'village bar' feel that appeals to the locals, while opening up more to passing visitors.
The gamble paid off. The regulars come back as before, and the tourists, seduced by the atmosphere, come back again and again. There are no flashy signs or aggressive advertising here. The 2 Balls Palette deliberately cultivates a certain discretion. "We prefer word of mouth". confides Samuel.
Generous charcuterie and cheese boards
In winter, it's the place to be after a day on the slopes. In summer, it's the ideal stop-off after a hike or mountain bike outing.
People come here for a drink, to share a platter of charcuterie and cheeses - "the pallets" that give the place its name, with their variations of colours like those of a painter. The boards are served on real wooden pallets, a nod to the original concept.
And sometimes the evening brings unexpected encounters. In one corner, a sign by Florence Arthaud. A little further on, a photo with Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France.
In summer and winter alike, musicians, rugby teams and well-known faces from the resort drop in to say hello. The group 'Ultra Vomit', for example, is one of our loyal friends.
Festive, rhythmic atmosphere in the evening
In the evening, the atmosphere changes as the glasses are emptied. The old-timers come for the aperitif, then the seasonal workers take over, and the tourists join in as the hours go by. "It's a place where people talk to each other and mix". says Samuel. Even the instructors and their students meet there to extend the day.
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Open only during the winter and summer seasons - from late November to early May, then from late June to early September - the bar stays true to its mountain rhythm.
In between, the managers take a breather... or tackle some work. "It's intense when you're open. You live life to the full, so the off-seasons allow you to take a break for a bit."
À The 2 Balls PaletteIn a resort that is constantly changing, this bar remains one of those anchor points to which people always return. In a resort that is constantly changing, this bar remains one of those anchor points to which people always return.
Find out more :
- Price: 22 euros for a board and a draught beer
- Open: daily from 10am to 2am
- Address: 189, promenade du Tovière, 73320 Tignes