No matter the season, St. Moritz is one of Switzerland’s chicest mountain towns. Our official guide to the destination awaits below, courtesy of journalist Todd Plummer.
Where to Stay:
Badrutt’s Palace
All roads lead to Badrutt’s, the alpha and omega of places to stay in a city that has no shortage of fantastic grand hotels. Badrutt’s has everything you’d expect from a hotel of this stature, history and reputation: elegant, gracious rooms that, even at these prices, are worth every penny; plenty of cozy nooks for a drink or snack at any time of day and well into the night; a gorgeous pool and outdoor hot tub overlooking the lake; a nightclub, King’s Social House, from celebrity chef Jason Atherton; and, above all, extraordinary service to make every part of your stay a seamless experience.
Kulm Hotel
Since the Kulm Hotel opened its doors in 1856, it has been a St. Moritz staple. With 164 rooms and five restaurants, the hotel imbues storied European glamour at every corner, from the lobby’s dainty chandeliers and floral-patterned furnishings to the first-class service the staff displays throughout each guest experience. The ritzy rooms & suites look out at the local lake and resident mountains, making the view from your balcony breathtaking at every hour of the day.
Where to Eat & Drink:
Da Adriano
It wouldn’t be a trip to St. Moritz without dinner at the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, where iconic host Adriano Feraco welcomes guests at his eponymous fine dining restaurant, an intimate jewel box space where the walls are stacked with pictures of famous guests and lined with wine bottles signed by friends of the house. When you’re here, you’re family.
Kulm Country Club
It’s just as much about the ambiance here as it is about chef Daniel Müller’s inspired international cuisine. The alpine chic dining room pays homage to St. Moritz’s sporting traditions with toboggans strung from the ceiling and vintage photographs on the wall. When it’s sunny, snag a seat on the terrace for one of the best see-and-be-seen aprés-skis in town, where skiers and non-skiers alike indulge in cocktails and “tartes flambées” flatbread pizzas.
Where to Visit:
Kulm Spa
Nobody gets spas quite as right as the Swiss do. Guests are invited to use the facilities free of charge, but day passes are also on offer if you’re staying elsewhere. Pencil in plenty of time to stretch out by the Kulm’s epic indoor pool, or the heated outdoor hydrotherapy zone which has to be seen to be believed.
St. Moritzersee
St. Moritz’s sweeping, picturesque alpine lake is about as idyllic as they come. In the winter months when frozen over, the lake serves as a venue for many of the town’s quintessential sporting events, such as Snow Polo or White Turf horse racing. In the summer months, the walking trails around the lake’s perimeter are some of the most serene places in town to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.
Hauser & Wirth
When international gallery Hauser & Wirth opened across the street from Badrutt’s Palace in 2018, it served as validation that this tiny mountain hideaway was, in fact, an important crossroads of the international art scene, attracting visitors (and clients) from the Americas, London, Milan, Moscow and beyond. Expect to see shows from the likes of Cindy Sherman, Alexander Calder, as well as a mix of emerging contemporary artists. In a town which can feel very sporting-centric, it’s a refreshing excursion to take some time and peruse the exceptional art on display here.
Shop St. Moritz
St. Moritz’s main business district boasts a medley of different high-end stores. Make sure to pop into chic independent boutiques, Modes and Joy Fashion.
Ski St. Moritz
The St Moritz ski areas of Corviglia, Corvatsch, and Diavolezza-Lagalb are powdered wonderlands during winter and spring. If you want to make a beeline for the slopes, any of these ski resorts will exceed your expectations.
