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Where to Stay
The Alpina Gstaad · Gstaad
Alpina Gstaad
For ultimate luxury, this is the hotel to book. Perched on a hillside overlooking Gstaad, the Alpina is mountain living at its most comfortable, a hotel that manages to feel at once both romantic and very family friendly. It's the type of stay where you can tell the entire guest experience has been thought through—there’s a dim nightlight next to each bed, complimentary frozen yogurt is served by the pool every afternoon at 3pm, and wool slippers are left bedside, a gift to be taken home. The service is high-touch, extremely friendly, and the hotel has a destination-worthy Six Senses Spa, with both pampering and longevity-focused treatments. The breakfast just might be the best hotel spread we’ve ever had, complete with everything from ginger shots and homemade protein powder (perfect before a day of hiking or skiing) to dim sum and breakfast ramen. It’s a splurge, but one that we’d save up for. In very exciting news, the Alpina will be opening another hotel in Saanen, the very charming town just next to Gstaad, in 2027. It will offer an equally luxurious but more local-feeling escape.
The Mansard · Gstaad
Miiro The Mansard
Set in the center of Gstaad town is the Mansard, a boutique stay with a perfect location and a great price point, making it an ideal home base for those who want to experience Gstaad without spending a fortune. But it’s more than just a reasonably-priced option: we truly enjoyed our stay here. The rooms are spacious and the beds very comfortable, the staff are genuinely kind and warm, and the hotel has great extras, from a rooftop bar (the only one in Gstaad!) where you can have fondue with mountain views to the basement-level sauna, probably more ideal in winter than summer, but a bonus nonetheless. While we didn’t get to see it, the Mansard suite (pictured above) looks like the most special room to book.
84 Club Chalets · Gstaad
84 Chalets
If you’re traveling as a group or family, Gstaad is also home to some amazing villas, particularly those run by 84 Chalets. Founded by traveler and hospitality vet Sebastian Schoellgen, the collection seeks to provide a quieter, more authentic Alpine experience with mountain-chic chalets that are both cozy and pampering, and set around but not directly in the buzzing center of Gstaad. Ranging from four to eight bedrooms in size, the chalets all feature wellness facilities and come with concierge services for seamless stays. Plans are in the works for a few more villas, plus two restaurants, which will certainly add a dose of cool to the Gstaad dining scene.
Where to Eat
Restaurant Rössli Feutersoey · Gstaad
Restaurant Rössli Feutersoey-Gstaad
Book this one more than once. Owned and operated by a very hospitable husband and wife, this all-around hit of a restaurant is just a 10-minute drive from Gstaad and set in a cozy chalet. Meals are served in the rustic-chic dining room in winter and on the terrace under an oversized white sun umbrella in summer. The menu is seasonal and focused on high-quality ingredients, with staple dishes including the trout and the wiener schnitzel.
16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT SAANEN · Gstaad
16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT SAANEN
The go-to restaurant in the Gstaad-adjacent town of Saanen is 16 Art, a charming local haunt beloved for its warm atmosphere, beautiful terrace, and meat dishes (but everything is good). Come for lunch or dinner and then don’t miss exploring the town, which is full of charm and far less touristed than Gstaad. Also, opt to walk back to Gstaad, which takes 30 minutes and runs along the river.
Hotel Olden Gstaad · Gstaad
Hotel Olden Gstaad
This old-school hotel has a restaurant right on Gstaad's main promenade, making it ideal for a traditional lunch with a side of people- and horse-drawn carriage–watching. It’s most beloved for its pasta dishes—particularly the spaghetti Sciuè Sciuè.
Café du Cerf Rougemont · Gstaad
Cafe du Cerf
Fondue might feel a bit more like a winter food, but we’d argue that melted cheese is always in season. Thankfully, Cafe du Cerf is open year-round (our other favorite fondue spot, La Fromagerie at the Gstaad Palace, is just open in winter), and excellent for its fondue, raclette, and veal dishes. It has a cozy, quintessential Swiss chalet feel, and is located in Rougemont, a charming town just 10 minutes from Gstaad.
Wally’s Gstaad · Gstaad
Wally’s
Wally’s is simple and that’s why we like it. A tiny wooden burger shack in the center of town for a quick, indulgent burger and fries.
Restaurant Chemistube · Gstaad
Chemistube
This family-run, mountainside restaurant is a go-to for a mid-hike refuel (it’s also open for ski breaks in winter). The classic-feeling spot serves hearty mountain fare, including an exceptional rösti, and has beautiful views from its terrace.
Where to Shop
Gstaad Chocolate Shop · Gstaad
Gstaad Chocolate Shop
This specialty chocolate shop has a wide selection of truffles, chocolate bars, and baked goods, plus a great hot chocolate. An essential stop for a sweet treat.
Buure Metzg AG · Gstaad
Buure Metzg AG
The town butcher! Come by for a particularly excellent selection of dry-aged meats, plus cheese, prepped foods, sausages, and lots more.
Pernet Comestibles, Pernet Gstaad AG · Gstaad
Pernet Comestibles
A gourmet grocer with everything from wine and caviar to Le Creuset pans (in case you forgot yours). It also has a wide selection of produce and more standard groceries.
What to See & Do
Gagosian · Gstaad
Gstaad Galleries
Gstaad has a number of lovely galleries along its promenade, with favorites including Gagosian and Almine Rech, both of which showcase some of the best contemporary talent in rotating exhibits.
Tarmak22 · Gstaad
Tarmak22
Set within the Gstaad-Saanen Airport and with windows looking right out onto the tarmac, this contemporary gallery is boundary-pushing purely thanks to its location. But its exhibitions are also unexpected, with shows done in partnership with major international galleries.
The Alpina Gstaad · Gstaad
Six Senses Spa Alpina Gstaad
The Six Senses Spa at the Alpina is worth visiting even if you’re not staying at the hotel. It has a full suite of amenities including a salt room, sauna, cold plunge, and relaxation lounge with water beds, plus a roster of treatments both rejuvenating and more invasive (you could get a face lift here, if you wanted to).
Lauenensee · Gstaad
Lauenensee
One of Gstaad’s most famous lakes, Lauenensee is a beautiful lake surrounded by dramatic peaks (and a few waterfalls!). There’s a lovely, 45-minute loop that traces the lake, as well as longer, more challenging routes you can do up into the mountains. Bring a bathing suit for a lake swim.
Arnensee · Gstaad
Arnensee
Probably Gstaad’s second most famous lake, a bit less dramatic than Lauenensee, but also quieter, with fewer people. It’s a great spot to come to relax, do some forest walks, and swim in the emerald waters.
GoldenPass Belle Époque
To reach Gstaad, you’ll need to take the train from Montreux. There are several trains you can take, but opt for the GoldenPass Belle Époque if you want to turn the commute into an experience. The 1930s, Art Deco–style train is like a time capsule, with velvet seats, wood interiors, and panoramic windows.
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