Swiss discretion
When getting off from the panoramic train at the Gstaad train station, passing in front of the windows of the Balthus chalet on the way, you will feel like you are penetrating a small peaceful village in the Swiss mountains. Buried under the snow are hotels with traditional chalet-like facades, finished wood and century-old inscriptions, shops as clean as a new (Swiss) franc… At first blush, the place does not look like a meeting place for the international jet set. However, the three pedestrian streets are filled with one prestigious brand after another, like Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honoré brought together on 500 meters. The allegedly present billionaires can rest assured; Chopard, Cartier, Prada and the likes are available in case of emergency. But where exactly are these regulars that everyone is whispering about? “In their chalets” Gottfried von Siebenthal will tell you. “This is not Saint-Tropez, people come here to relax, not to be seen.” The true spirit of the resort summarized in one sentence…
The regulars
Johnny Hallyday (new resident), Bernie Ecclestone (owner of the Olden Hotel), Valentino, Ernesto Bertarelli (owner of Alinghi), David Bowie…
Restaurants
Au Chlösterli of the Pastor family (Alpen Bistro restaurant and Italian chef Martin Dalsass’ gourmet establishment By Dalsass.)
Chesery: Robert Speth, Gault Milau chef of the year 2005 is quite the opposite of a show-off. He likes simple dishes served for meals between friends. His maître d’, Yvan Letzer, plays his role of sommelier to perfection.
Le Prado. The new restaurant of the Grand Hotel Bellevue has just been taken over by Richard Mebkhout, ex-chef at Grande Cascade in the Bois de Boulogne. The transplant was quite obviously a success.
On piste
In spite of its low altitude, Gstaad offers three massifs: the Eggli, with its small slope, is connected to the Chalberhöni thus allowing easy access to the Rougement village; the Wispile, rounded but with a black piste reaching all the way from the summit to the resort; and the Wasserngrat, not as popular because of its difficulty. One must make his way to Schönried, six kilometers from Gstaad, to find a ski area of reasonable size on which to ski all afternoon. The MOB, panoramic train going from Montreux to Saint-Stephan, stopping at Gstaad on the way, will take you there in just minutes. Nothing complicated here either, only crossing through pine forests and two breathtaking descents of Hornberg and the Saanerslochgrat. Before making your way back, allow yourself a few minutes of relaxation on the summit of the Hornfluh by admiring de Diablerets glacier.
Top hotel
Gstaad Palace
The ideal spot to look over the valley. Some of the junior suites have undergone a welcomed ”face-lift”. A lighter décor and bathrooms with view of the glacier… The best is of course the Penthouse Suite with a 360 degree panoramic view and outdoor sauna in the tower.
