#1  AlpArosa, Arosa GR

Seventy years ago, the last cheese maker left the "Hinteren Hütten". As a result, the alpine farming complex, located in the middle of the ski area and on the (winter) hiking trail between the middle station of the Weisshornbahn and the Carmennahütte, fell into a long sleeping slumber. But in December 2019, thanks to two private investors and the visionary team of operators led by Tim Disch and Vanessa Kistler, it experienced a renaissance. The three former stables remained virtually unchanged on the outside, while the architects put all their skills to work on the interior, gently contrasting the historic agricultural building fabric with modern accents. Instead of self-service hustle and bustle, the "AlpArosa" offers rustic class – in terms of atmosphere, service and cuisine – and of course outside in the sunshine too. The kitchen focuses heavily on regional products from Graubünden suppliers, whether it's rösti with Lostallo salmon and local sour cream, beef tartare with egg yolk cream and brioche, or burgers with bacon, pickled onions and Maraner mountain cheese. Those who manage to grab one of the coveted seats on the well-kept wooden terrace, equipped with sheepskins and warm blankets, can enjoy wonderful moments in the crisp mountain air. It's impossible not to notice the envious glances of those who failed to make a reservation and have to move on without having achieved anything. Conclusion: "Saggstargg".

 

#2  Eggli Lounge, Saanen-Gstaad BE

Stylish ten-seater gondolas in Porsche design take guests from Gstaad up to Eggli. At the top, the classic mountain restaurant of the same name awaits. Those who prefer a smaller, more relaxed atmosphere – and don't need a huge culinary selection – are better off at the "Eggli Lounge" on the opposite side, which opened four years ago. The kitchen serves vitello tonnato, beetroot couscous and rösti with tomme cheese and dried meat. For a quick warm-up break, there is Schümli-Pflümli, hot chocolate or non-alcoholic orange and apple punch. You can sit in the sun, let your gaze wander and listen to the babble of languages – "Bonjour, wie geits?" or "Let's meet tonight dans la Fromagerie!". The often underrated Eggli/La Videmanette ski area surprises with varied runs and idyllic natural scenery. Especially on the slopes at the foot of the striking limestone formation La Videmanette – with "Le Rubli" as its highest peak – you feel as if you have been transported to the Dolomites or Torres del Paine National Park. At the same time, you experience a pleasant contrast to the hectic hustle and bustle of more sport-oriented ski destinations.

 

#3  @Paradise, Zermatt VS

What makes Zermatt so unique is not only the 37 four-thousand-metre peaks surrounding the Matterhorn or the 360 kilometres of immaculately groomed ski slopes between 1,620 and 3,883 metres, but also the incomparable hut culture. Every Zermatt connoisseur has their own favourite spot on the slopes – whether it's "Zum See", "Blatten", "Fluhalp" or "Findlerhof”. The coolest place right now? For trend-conscious bon vivants, it's "@Paradise" in the hamlet of Findeln. It is run by the young host couple Loredana and Elia Zurbriggen, with Markus Pössenberger as chef – and in the background, Vrony and Max Cotting from the legendary neighbouring establishment "Chez Vrony" work their magic with clever calculations. On the menu: spicy ginger and carrot soup, tapas (vegetable tempura, hummus, tzatziki), minced meat on pita bread, bagel with smoked salmon and horseradish, apple strudel. Also good: Wiener schnitzel with potato salad or cheese fondue. Accompanied by top wines from the Valais. The crowd comes from all over the world, and many languages can be heard buzzing through the air. The atmosphere gets better by the hour – and when it's time to leave as the last rays of sunshine fade, you do so reluctantly and with the firm intention of coming back the next day. Just make sure you book in advance, because "@Paradise" is almost always fully booked.

 

#4  Stalla Alp Nagens, Laax GR

When it's grey below and blue above, many lowlanders from the Zurich, Aargau and St. Gallen areas are drawn to the Flims Laax winter sports resort because it's close, snow-sure and sunny. The lucky ones on skis or in winter boots who know their way around the mountains sooner or later end up on the sun terrace of the "Stalla" on Alp Nagens (note: not to be confused with the mass-operated ‘Berghaus Nagens’ further up the slope). To say that this mountain restaurant with table service has been flourishing in obscurity would be quite an exaggeration. Nevertheless, the "Stalla" is one of the quieter places in the area. Those who know it don't know it from loud marketing hype, but from word of mouth from satisfied guests. They rave about hearty, delicious hut classics such as sausage and cheese salad, Alpine macaroni or the grilled dishes at the outdoor bar – and about the raclette, which is melted here in the traditional way over an open fire. The cows that graze on the Nagens Alp in summer provide the milk for the cheese produced on site. When the weather is bad, it is so cosy inside that you could put down roots here.

 

#5  Paradiso, St. Moritz GR

Shortly before noon, the fun begins, and St. Moritz's sociable, adventurous and cheerfully eccentric winter guests gather at "Paradiso" for an alpine rendezvous. The rich and successful arrive, giggling Milanese women in Lolita outfits and American tech nerds, stars and starlets. The scent of the glittering winter wonderland on the two restaurant terraces acts like a magnet, even though the Paradiso hut is located at the far edge of the Corviglia ski area (easily accessible for winter hikers via the Suvretta-Randolins chairlift or on the hiking trail from St. Moritz via Salastrains and the Signalbahn mountain station). The hut has been run by "Badrutt's Palace" for four years and is more successful than ever before. Guests can choose between the simpler "Music Deck" on the upper level and the more elegant "Paradiso Mountain Club" one floor below (day membership for non-members: 40 Swiss francs). Demand is high both upstairs and downstairs, and the gastronomic offerings are as varied as they are carefully prepared: from cheese fondue made with matured Engadin mountain cheese to truffle tagliolini or turbot fillet with spinach to Omaha beef rib-eye with grilled lobster. The prices may just about pass as customary for the area, but at the end of this exclusive lunch, the odd average earner may find themselves pinching their arm.

 

#6  Espace Weisshorn, Grimentz-Zinal VS

Hardened winter sports enthusiasts may smile at Grimentz-Zinal, but the 115 kilometres of slopes between 1,500 and 2,900 metres above sea level offer impressive variety in an impressively archaic mountain world. The arduous journey to Val d'Anniviers – via a narrow, steep road from Sierre – discourages some day visitors, but ensures a more exclusive experience: here, every skier has noticeably more space than in the large winter sports areas. There are no crowds at the "Espace Weisshorn" mountain restaurant, which opened in 2023 at 2,700 metres – on the roof of the gondola mountain station of the same name. Instead, the timelessly simple restaurant invites guests to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. The culinary promise of "creative, modern and yet affordable" is fulfilled day after day, thanks to Valais top chef Didier de Courten. Sustainability also plays a major role: 380 square metres of solar panels cover 90% of the energy requirements, and bottles are completely avoided – with the exception of wine.

 

#7  The Japanese at Gütsch, Andermatt UR

The most extraordinary mountain hut in Switzerland in terms of cuisine is located high above Andermatt and is an outpost of the luxury hotel "The Chedi" down in the Alpine village. A few steps from the mountain station of the Gütsch-Express 8-seater gondola lift, Japanese delicacies are served in a purist, cosy atmosphere with views of the Gotthard, the Oberalp Pass and the Urseren Valley – and on warm winter days, on the terrace too. The open kitchen offers a choice of four to five-course menus or individual sushi and sashimi dishes such as the "Uramaki Dragon Rolls" (spicy tempura shrimp with avocado, cucumber and salmon). It's worth postponing your sporting ambitions to another day and immersing yourself fully in the subtle cuisine of twin brothers Dominik Sato & Fabio Toffolon: "The Japanese at Gütsch" has been awarded a Michelin star. After your meal, you can ski or take the gondola back down to the valley (there is no winter hiking trail) – or you can take a walk around the practically flat Gütsch panoramic trail.

 

#8  Rinderberg Lodge, Zweisimmen BE

Your pulse adjusts to the leisurely pace at which the small red gondolas pass by the sun terrace of the "Rinderberg Lodge" in the Gstaad-Schönried-Zweisimmen ski area. Caught in an endless loop: down, up – and down again. There is something hypnotic about it, just like the movements of the fondue forks as they dip into the cheese. Or like the winter hikers who roam several hundred kilometres of groomed trails in the vast Alpine backdrop of the Saanenland – for example, from Eggweid, the middle station of the Rinderberg gondola lift, where the lodge is also located, down to Zweisimmen. The wood-panelled lodge, which combines the charm of a Bernese Oberland hut with artfully modern elements and has been operated by Bergbahnen Gstaad since summer 2025, also houses two dozen comfortable guest rooms. The cuisine focuses on regional products: authentic, simple dishes, lovingly prepared, will take centre stage even more in future.

 

#9  Chäserugg Gipfelrestaurant, Unterwasser/Toggenburg SG

In the family-friendly ski resort of Chäserugg, the mountain station at the 2,262-metre summit is a striking architectural landmark. Ten years ago, Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron realised their vision of a spacious panoramic restaurant in a prominent location, artfully integrating the massive steel and concrete structure of the 1970s cable car. Guests can choose between a full-service restaurant and a self-service area, both indoors and outdoors – the self-service area is ideal for those who don't want to linger too long. The cuisine places great emphasis on regional products, which is also evident in the Sunday breakfast with Schlorzifladen, Bloderkäse and yoghurts from the Toggenburg region. A gentle panoramic circular trail leads from the summit building across the Rosenboden plateau in all seasons, offering views of 500 mountain peaks in six countries (according to the advertising) along the entire route, including the steep rock faces of the Churfirsten chain. For safety reasons, sledges are not allowed on the Chäserugg summit or the Rosenboden plateau.

 

#10  Kuhstall Schamuela, Valbella-Lenzerheide GR

Click, clack! Out of your skis and into the ski lodge. For many snow sports enthusiasts, the real alpine life takes place away from the slopes. Since the opening of the "Kuhstall Schamuela" in December 2023, Valbella-Lenzerheide has also provided a good reason to take a break from skiing and enjoy the savoir-vivre in the cosy dining room or on the sunny terrace. The mountain restaurant, located at the valley station of the Cumascheals chairlift at the foot of the Stätzerhorn, has quickly become a winter hotspot. Where cows once roamed, the experienced catering company Hüttenzauber now provides friendly service and hearty cuisine made primarily from regional, natural products. On the menu: salad and pasta variations, homemade porcini ravioli, entrecôte "Café de Paris" with pommes allumettes and other meat specialities, most of which are prepared on the grill. For non-skiers, the "Schamuela" can be easily reached in half an hour via the winter hiking trail from Valbella.

 

#11  Chetzeron, Crans-Montana VS

Crans-Montana polarises mountain lovers. Some praise the lively variety of activities on offer and the colossal panorama with its parade of peaks from the Dom to the Weisshorn and the Mont Blanc massif. Others see mainly concrete. One thing is certain: the sun-drenched high plateau above the Rhone Valley is a wonderful place for skiing and winter hiking. Since the opening of the "Chetzeron" twelve years ago, the previously underdeveloped mountain gastronomy has also improved significantly. The former gondola station in the ski resort has been transformed into a stylish feel-good place with 16 rooms and an inviting restaurant – including a beautiful wooden terrace and outdoor lounge with deckchairs. "Chetzeron" largely leaves classic Valais specialities to its competitors. Instead, it offers dishes such as a delicately prepared beetroot risotto with fresh goat's cheese or a fillet of Swiss pasture-raised beef with creamy potato gratin. Host Sami Lamaa's credo: "We appeal to guests who not only want to make the most of their weekly ski pass, but also value good food and a touch of la dolce vita at an altitude of 2,112 metres."