Swiss ski resorts bounce back
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People sit under palm trees on the frozen Lake St. Moritz in the Swiss mountain resort of St. Moritz. Arnd Wiegmann / Reuters |
Hotels
The five-star Chedi in Andermatt, about two hours outside Zurich by train, seeks to update traditional alpine wooden architecture with modern sleek lines.
Its 134-square-meter Gemsstock suite features a fireplace, private wine cabinet and Acqua di Parma bathroom goodies for roughly 1,800 Swiss francs a night. (www.thechedi-andermatt.com)
For those willing to venture further from Zurich, the InterContinental Davos opened late last year.
The futuristic pod-like building got a test run when world and business leaders descended on Davos for the World Economic Forum last month.
The upscale W Verbier opened on December, the brand's first attempt at a ski resort, which it brands "Ibiza on ice". The project combines a luxury hotel with full-service residences, next to Verbier's main gondola. Catalan chef Sergi Arola collaborated on Arola, the development's restaurant. (www.wverbier.com)
A cogwheel train transports visitors to Zermatt's Riffelalp Hotel, which stands at 2,222 meters above sea level and advertises the elevation as part of its name. In winter, a snowmobile will bring your luggage. (www.riffelalp.com/the_resort.html)
Arosa's Waldhotel has won plaudits for a warm, cozy feel following a refurbishment featuring local Cembran pine wood.
Shopping
Zai, which translates as "tough" in the local Rumansch, was founded by ski designer Simon Jacomet in 2003. It handcrafts skis with carbon fibers but also more traditional materials such as French walnut.
A trip to the Zai factory in Disentis, east of Andermatt, can be arranged on the company's website (www.zai.ch).
St. Moritz is a luxury shopping hub, with prestigious names such as Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton clustered on Via Serlas.
Hatecke, a deli at Via Maistra 6 in St. Moritz, sells the dried beef specialities for which the region is known. The sleek, minimalistic packaging makes them perfect gifts to take home.
Eating
Hanselmann, a 120-year-old patisserie at Via Maistra 8 in St. Moritz, reopened recently after a subtle facelift. It is famous for a caramel- and butter-loaded nut tart that is indigenous to the region.
The Nira Alpina Hotel in Silvaplana, just southwest of St. Moritz, is credited with bringing the cupcake to the area, although its bakery also offers a variety of more traditional breads and sweets.
Ristorante Murtaroel - a family-run restaurant in Plaun da Lej, a little further southwest of St. Moritz - gets daily delivery of fresh fish from Milan's market, including king crab.
The restaurant of Verbier's Cordee des Alpes, home to star chef Marco Bassi, is a mecca for gourmets seeking seasonal, fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
In Zermatt, Zum See at Wichjeweg 44 offers traditional Swiss and Mediterranean dishes but the Gault Millau-starred restaurant is particularly cherished for its desserts.
Nightlife
No word on opening hours at the cocktail bar of Verbier's Le Nevai hotel, but it features the Nevai Sunrise, a mix of cachaca, lemon and pineapple juice and strawberry, among its signature drinks. (www.hotelnevai.com)
The fabled - and immodestly named - King's Club at Badrutt's Palace Hotel in St. Moritz has no closing time and guests are instructed to "dress to impress". (www.badruttspalace.com/en/enjoy/bar-club/kingsclub)
The Dracula Club near St. Moritz's five-star Kulm Hotel has lost little of its luster since 1974, when it was founded by Gunter Sachs, a German-born heir to the Opel car dynasty and a renowned jet-setter. The nightclub, now run by Sachs's son Rolf, is members-only. (www.kulm.com/en/restaurants-bar/dracula-club.html)
The Diamond Club at Via Maistra 33 in St. Moritz, which has a DJ most nights through the winter season, is just as popular with night owls and may let you in even if you're not famous. (www.diamond-stmoritz.ch)
More information:
Most major ski centers offer online listings of various cultural, culinary and sporting events, including St. Moritz (www.stmoritz.ch/en/winter.html), Verbier (www.verbier.ch/en), Zermatt (www.zermatt.ch/en/page.cfm/m_news_events/events), Andermatt (www.andermatt.ch/en), and Davos (www.davos.ch/en/news/events.html).
