A celebration of the region's best producers, Halles du Haras brings together independent traders under one roof. Browse butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers and greengrocers championing local, seasonal produce, then pull up a seat at the traiteur counter for regional dishes to eat in or take away.

Forget couture and fridge magnets – Annecy's finest souvenir comes wrapped in paper. Run by Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pierre Gay since 1935, this tiny cheese shop is a paradise for fromage lovers, with more than 120 carefully curated cheeses, all matured in the spectacular glass-fronted cellar downstairs.

Just two minutes from the station, Dialog has become the post-run, post-ride, pre-train coffee for Annecy's sportier crew. The beans are sharp and the kit is smart, but it is the cinnamon rolls that have built the local following. Vegan sandwiches at lunch, friendly baristas, room enough to settle for ten minutes or an hour. A much sweeter way to wait for a train than the platform.

On Rue Sommeiller, Bloomer serves some of Annecy’s most quietly inventive cooking from its open kitchen. The menu is built around seasonal small plates: delicate pastry puffs filled with trout tarama and candied lemon, rösti potatoes worth ordering twice, celery root ravioli and fresh sashimi. The wine list is longer than the menu, and the owner knows it inside out.