Stay in an exceptional hotel. Experience an unforgettable moment in a majestic panorama. That's what we're looking for this winter season. I'd like to introduce you to 5 prestigious hotels whose charm resonates beyond Switzerland's summits . Between luxury and elegance, discover a selection of the finest hotels in the Swiss Alps to stay in this winter.
1 - Gstaad Palace: excellence from generation to generation
There are places that seem to stand the test of time, jewels that have embodied excellence, luxury and majesty for over a century. Who hasn't heard of the Gstaad Palace? Since 1913, this luxury hotel has been glittering right next to the ski resort. Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Grace Kelly, Roger Moore, Jacques Chirac, Margaret Thatcher, Madonna... and many other celebrities have stayed here. Now run by the third generation of the Scherz family, the Gstaad Palace is one of the last family-run hotels in Europe where guests enjoy first-class service. Its 90 rooms and suites offer breathtaking views of theOberland Bernese Alps. The architecture and design, blending glamour contemporary and Alpine style, are designed for an experience worthy of the most renowned establishments.
To stay at the Gstaad Palace is to write your own page of history, a memorable chapter. The story begins in the restaurant, where haute cuisine is authentic, simple yet elegant. Five restaurants invite you to discover new world flavors. At Walig Hut, the atmosphere is resolutely Alpine. This alpine hut, renovated by Gstaad Palace, offers menus infused with the aromas of the mountains. The large restaurant is a showcase for gastronomy. Michelin-starred chefs prepare dishes as refined as art. The Grill, awarded 16 Gault & Millau points, offers international cuisine using local ingredients. "La Fromagerie" enjoys great popularity. The restaurant serves fondues and raclettes, wines and desserts in tribute to Saaneland. Gildo's Ristorante celebrates the excellence of Italian haute cuisine.
Staying at the Gstaad Palace is far from trivial. Everything is designed to provide an unforgettable VIP experience. From the Olympic-size swimming pool to the four tennis courts, from the famous GreenGo nightclub to the many boutiques. The traditional culture of the Scherz family is combined with the glamour of the hotel. You've no doubt seen the Gstaad Palace on your television screens, as the establishment has been used as a backdrop in a dozen films: Sau Crore in 1991, Snowboarder in 2003, Christmas in Love in 2004, and The Saint in 2013.
2 - Beausite Zermatt : prestige facing the Matterhorn
In the heights of Zermatta historic building stands facing the Matterhorn. An exceptional setting whose elegance honours the grandeur of the Alps. This is theHotel BEAUSiTE at Zermatt. Its interior architecture, completely redesigned in 2022, has given this complex a new lease of life. Today, even the most discerning guests enjoy unforgettable moments here. The interior harmonizes with the beauty of the Matterhorn, Switzerland's landmark. Decorated with mountaineering ropes, it is the symbol of the hotel. In the main building, 49 rooms are available. In the villa, 18 rooms and suites are open all year round.
"We're bringing the golden age of mountaineering back to life - in bright colors, with joie de vivre, and all with a wink. Because no one wants that coldness and rigidity any more."
Roman Codina, General Manager of the BEAUSiTE hotel.
At the BEAUSiTE hotel, the chef at both restaurants concocts honest, authentic cuisine. For a traditional charcoal barbecue, The Grill offers meat, fish and vegetable dishes. As for the 3 Seasons , seasonal and vegetarian specialties mingle with the aromas of Zermatt. Here, haute cuisine and high mountains share much in common. Determination, audacity and excellence are the keys to success.
After a day on the slopes, Hotel BEAUSiTE invites you to relax in its renovated spa, featuring mountain grottoes, a winter garden and an indoor pool. Relaxation is the order of the day. Outside, the infinity pool offers a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn. There, in a few moments of contemplation, this Valaisan giant seems to enter into communion with our spirit, lifting us to the world of heights.
Staying at Hotel BEAUSiTE in winter means taking advantage of the entertainment at Zermatt. This is when the village is at its best. On New Year's Eve, the valley is alive day and night. If you'd like to make the most of Zermatt's winter atmosphere, the Hotel BEAUSiTE can advise you on the various events organized in the village.
3 - Chetzeron in Crans-Montana: a luxury hotel in the middle of a ski resort
The Hotel Chetzeron, the jewel of Crans-Montana, offers exceptional overnight stays at an altitude of 2112 meters. What a privilege to stay at such an altitude! A former gondola station transformed into a restaurant in 2009, then into a hotel in 2014, Chetzeron stands at the heart of the Crans-Montana ski area. Arriving at the hotel on skis is one of its main attractions. Away from the crowds and bustle of the mountain village, the hotel offers a distinct atmosphere: a regeneration of the spirit in the calm of the heights. Up here, the view is of the Imperial Crown at Zinal. The rejuvenation offered by Switzerland's most beautiful summits is incomparable.
The Hotel Chetzeron is to high-altitude design what the Matterhorn is to the Swiss mountains: a majestic, unmissable landmark. Its singular architecture, simple and modern, blends perfectly with the landscape of the Valais Alps. The bay windows let in the light to offer a unique spectacle of sublime, untamed nature. The hotel also stands out for its modernity. At the cutting edge of technology, the building complies with the most stringent environmental and energy standards.
In addition to the tailor-made service and luxurious comfort of the Hotel Chetzeron, its proximity to the mountains is exceptional. In winter, there's no shortage of activities: snowshoe trekking, downhill skiing, ski touring, freeride, outdoor heated pool, restaurants, spa... Everything is designed for a memorable stay in the heart of the Crans-Montana ski area.
This winter, I'm exhibiting my work in the Hotel Chetzeron as a tribute to the splendor of the surrounding mountains. If you're visiting Crans-Montana, I invite you to take a look at my large-format paintings. I have selected my most beautiful photographs from the Imperial Crown of Zinal to present the mountain from a special angle: powerful and indomitable. I promise you a wonderful journey from the moment you enter the hotel lobby. Then, in the restaurant, your eyes will be lost in the immensity of the panoramic works. Let your imagination and sensibility carry you away to discover a whole new world.
4 - La cordée des Alpes at Verbier : between Alpine charm and universe contemporary
Verbierone of the world's most renowned ski resorts, is home to a jewel in the crown of its ski area: the Hotel La Cordée des Alpes. This 4-star Superior establishment, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is located at an altitude of 1500 metres, right at the foot of the slopes. In winter, the village of Verbier undergoes a metamorphosis: the atmosphere becomes warm and welcoming, and the music resounds. I highly recommend staying at La Cordée des Alpes during the festive season. Just a few steps from the hotel, you'll find concerts, entertainment, mulled wine, aperitifs and fireworks.
In winter, La Cordée des Alpes comes alive with a luxurious ambience. The rooms, clad in noble materials, welcome you in a design combining the charm of Alpine chalets with contemporary architecture. The hotel's restaurant has been reinvented this year. From now on, the chef will be showcasing local produce in a modern interpretation of regional dishes. The restaurant's casual frame is perfect for locals and visitors alike looking for a refined culinary experience.
Discover the hotel spa. Indoor pool, sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi... and much more. The spa can be entirely privatized for a moment of absolute tranquility. As a couple or with friends, the moment seems timeless. A glass of champagne is raised in the quietest of moods. Then a glance at the landscape. The Valais mountains offer the most beautiful of journeys. La Cordée des Alpes also offers a tailor-made treatment for children and mothers-to-be, providing a serene interlude before the arrival of a newborn.
I also recommend a traditional lunch at La Marlénaz café & restaurant at 1895 meters altitude. Viewed from the terrace, the Combins rise up in front of you. Like a diamond in the rough, the massif forms an invincible wall of ice. So, as we savor this gourmet meal, we travel between flavors and landscapes. Our eyes wander over these legendary mountains, which can only be reached after several days' walking.
5 - Chalet Royalp: alpine ambience in Villars-sur-Ollon
A fifth establishment has been added to my selection of the finest hotels in the Swiss Alps: Chalet Royalp in Villars-sur-Ollon. Nestled in the heart of vaud alps, Chalet Royalp offers a resolutely mountain atmosphere. Strolling through this alpine setting plunges you into a world where luxury blends with the beauty of the Vaud countryside. Chic and friendly, the hotel exudes the authenticity of a traditional Swiss chalet. Dressed entirely in wood, the rooms and suites are an invitation to travel.
Enjoy the culinary talents of chef Fabien Manzoni. With passion and creativity, he prepares refined dishes as invigorating as the Alpine air, as elegant as summits and as nourishing as our land. La Rochegrise offers diners a warm and friendly atmosphere. Le Grizzli seduces with its authentic charm. With the crackling of the fireplace in the background, the restaurant invites you to savor the classics of Swiss cuisine: from wood-fired raclette to creamy fondue. At Chalet Royalp, gastronomy is king. To match the beauty of the panorama, the chef prepares dishes like a painter working on his own canvas. At Jardin des Alpes, elegance and sobriety combine with the authenticity and generosity of the dishes served. An invitation to awaken the taste buds, an incitement to wonder. But the parade of restaurants doesn't stop there. You can also enjoy the famous "coup de feu" at the Table d'Hôtes, indulge in an aperitif at the Cellier, enjoy a convivial frame at BeAr's Bar, or relax by the fire, cigar in hand, at the Cigare Lounge.
Villars-sur-Ollon is all about festivities. From the heights of the village to the heart of Chalet Royalp, you'll enjoy the New Year's Eve festivities. In the center of Villars, fireworks, music and DJs will enliven the surrounding area. This year, the Place du Marché will be the place to be. So if you'd like to celebrate the festive season in a warm, Alpine atmosphere, in a hotel where luxury and mountain authenticity reign supreme, Chalet Royalp is the place to be.
The breath of winter carries us into a new ski season. The wind whispers the beauty of the Alps and the magic of this time of year. These five hotels, each unique and prestigious, invite you to celebrate Switzerland's most beautiful mountains. Savor, enjoy and look forward to memorable moments in these luxury establishments.
