Lamartine

The story

Lamartine – Michelin-Starred Modern Cuisine on Lake Bourget, Aix-les-Bains

A Family Story on the Shores of Lake Bourget

Since 1964, the Marin family has been welcoming guests to Lamartine, a restaurant perched on the western bank of France’s largest natural lake, just outside Aix-les-Bains. What began as an inn founded by Jean and Odette Marin grew into a destination, earning a Michelin star in 1989 under their son Pierre and his wife Marie-Christine. Today, the flame is carried by the fourth generation: chef Valentin Marin and his partner Charlotte, who together bring a fresh energy to this beloved house.

Valentin’s path to the family kitchen was deliberate. After training in pastry at Chambéry, he studied at the prestigious Ferrandi school in Paris and refined his craft in some of France’s most celebrated brigades — from the three-star tables of Anne-Sophie Pic to the kitchens of the George V and the Basque Country’s Kaïku. He returned to Lamartine in 2020, ready to write the next chapter. Charlotte, with a background in aesthetics and hospitality, ensures the front-of-house experience is as warm and precise as the cooking.

Modern Cuisine Rooted in Savoy

Lamartine’s cooking is anchored in the landscape. Valentin’s modern cuisine draws on the rich patchwork of Savoy — its lakes, mountains, and exceptional producers. The kitchen works in close partnership with local artisans: the Revel family’s pasture-raised pigs, the filets of Olivier Parpillon’s lake fish (perch, pike, Arctic char), seasonal fruits and vegetables from the Coopérative du Tremblay, and hand-cultivated mushrooms from La Maison du Champignon. It is a cuisine of good products, treated with elegance and clarity — “a little from here, a little from elsewhere,” as the family puts it, always with a distinct identity.

The dining room looks out over a panoramic view of Lake Bourget, a setting that changes with the light and the seasons. Whether for lunch or dinner, the experience is one of genuine hospitality — the kind that makes a Michelin-starred table feel like a family home. A tasting menu and wine pairings are available for those who wish to explore the full scope of Valentin’s cooking.

A Michelin Star with a View

Lamartine has held its Michelin star since 1989, a mark of consistency and evolution across generations. For Valentin and Charlotte, the star is not a resting point but a foundation — a recognition of the family’s enduring commitment to quality, seasonality, and the pleasures of the table. For anyone seeking modern cuisine in a setting that feels both refined and welcoming, this is a rare address on the shores of Lake Bourget.