Gstaad Travel Guide

Gstaad is one of the most charming ski towns I have ever been to. It is absolutely stunning and full of delicious restaurants, gorgeous hotels and many ski shops. I don’t know about you, but I personally love buying ski clothes from these shops. The prices are usually lower than the states and there is such a nice variety of clothing that you are not able to find in most American stores/websites. One of my favorite shops in Gstaad is Backsign. It is located in the center of town, directly across from Hermes. Make sure to ask for Bernice. She was extremely helpful and made my shopping experience so lovely. While you are in town, make sure to check out the Maddox Gallery down the street, as well as the Organic Store. They had loads of bio products, different herbal teas and incredible vegan matcha pralines. 

HOTELS TO STAY IN

Gstaad Palace – Everyone told me that the Palace is the place to stay and hang out in the lobby all day, and it was true. We didn’t stay there but we did have lunch, dinner and drinks, and ran into many friends which was really nice. I am not sure what the rooms are like but the hotel is beautiful and it’s definitely a fun scene. 

The Alpina – I fell in love with this hotel because of the Six Senses Spa. It is absolutely breathtaking! There is an indoor and heated outdoor pool, salt room, sauna, steam and really wonderful treatments. I hear the hotel rooms are gorgeous and it is a great place for lunch. We sat outside, covered in cozy blankets and absorbed the sunshine. 

Park Gstaad – This is the hotel we stayed in and it was lovely. The rooms were charming and it really felt like a ski resort. One of the restaurants in the hotel is well know for its meat (Chubut) and we loved it so much, we dined there twice.

P.S. – the hotel is a bit old fashioned and they don’t use keycards but special keys for the room so make sure you do not forget to return your key upon check out, I had to ship mine back! 

Le Grand Bellevue – Our friends stayed here and spoke highly of the hotel. We went for after dinner cocktails and the bartender was very sweet and knowledgeable. 

The Ultima – A luxury boutique hotel & spa in the heart of Gstaad. This is a new hotel and it looks gorgeous. We stopped by for a jazz concert and really enjoyed it. 

RESTAURANTS FOR DINNER

Olden – Ask for a reservation in the cave, which is downstairs and very cozy! There is a live band which I always enjoy. The dishes I highly recommend are: salmon tartare, artichoke salad, roasted baby chicken, tomato pasta, and the milanese.

Gildo’s – A gorgeous Italian restaurant located in the Palace hotel. The ambiance was beautiful and they had live music which always adds a nice touch. The caccio e pepe was out of this world and I also really enjoyed the Mediterranean sea bass for two. 

Sonnenholf – A charming Swiss restaurant in the mountains that offers a beautiful view of Gstaad and mountain scenery of Saanen. I recommend you try the lemon sole with veggies, it is excellent!

Chubut – Ideal for meat and wine lovers, located at the Park hotel. They offered us an amazing vintage (1988) red wine that was available by the glass. The cheese and meat board to start compliments the red wine so well. Some of the other dishes I really enjoyed were the sea bass ceviche, grilled octopus, beef fillet and the roasted carrots with goat cheese. 

Megu – a Japanese restaurant located in the Alpina Hôtel. To be completely honest, I did not love the quality of fish and sent back three of the dishes. The atmosphere is cool and the bartender made us awesome Nedi Martinis to make up for the lack of flavor in food. 

La Fromagerie  – located in the Palace hotel, the restaurant offers classical Swiss dishes in a cozy atmosphere. This is the perfect spot for those who enjoy cheesy fondue!

Le Grill – an elegant restaurant that serves excellent dishes also located inside the Palace hotel. The small orchestra and singer add a lovely touch to the evening.

16 Art Bar – located in the village of Saanen, this is a cozy restaurant in a beautiful chalet. Must try the spectacular white truffle ravioli.

Chesery – A beautiful chalet-style, Michelin starred restaurant located at the Bellevue. Definitely try the whole roasted Bresse chicken and chocolate soufflé.

Chlösterli – A mix of Italian and Swiss cuisines, the menu always includes fresh and in season dishes accompanied by wine. This cozy restaurant features live entertainment in the bar/lounge area with music, a DJ, and dancing later into the evening.

LUNCH SPOTS

Wassengrat/Eagle Club – in the mountains, ideal for lunch and apres ski.

Palace Lobby – The palace is literally the place to be day and night. You can go for lunch and hang out for tea after. I tried the green bean salad and asked to top it with grilled salmon. It was impeccable! Also, the bartender (Stefano) makes amaaaazing NEDI MARTINIS in the evening!

Bagatelle at Le Grand Chalet – the cutest restaurant in town!! Try the chestnut soup, artichoke salad and the grilled turbot with veggies. Very light and delicious!

Alpina Lobby – If it is sunny, ask for a table outside. The view is gorgeous and food is very fresh. My fav Nedi approved dishes are the carrot tartare, crab salad with quinoa and the burger (no bun). The turmeric latte is super yummy as well!

Rialto – In the middle of everything, it is the perfect place for a relaxed Italian lunch. Request to be seated on the terrace and enjoy a delicious lunch with a few hours of people watching and beautiful scenery. 

Cappuccino – Cute spot in the middle of the town, great for people watching while enjoying lunch and coffee/tea.

Glassier 3000 Botta – Make sure you head up there when it is sunny! We made the mistake of going on a snowy, cloudy day and couldn’t see the famous beautiful views or the peak bridge. We warmed up in the Botta restaurant with a cheese fondue and cold cut meat board.