Europe and luxury trains go hand in hand—that’s nothing new. (Hello, America! Get it together, please.) And few places offer a more glamorous ride than a journey through the Swiss Alps aboard the Gourmino Dining Car.
En Route to St. Moritz? Ride the Gourmino Dining Car
For those in the know, St. Moritz is the European destination often credited as the birthplace of winter sports. Your journey to this storied alpine village—just as magical under the summer sun as it is under a blanket of snow—feels like stepping into a Wes Anderson film.
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Let’s start with the car’s exterior: royal blue with gold metallic lettering that proudly reads “Gourmino.” It evokes the same old-world grandeur as the Belmond Orient Express. Step inside and you’re greeted by a wood-paneled dining car adorned with walnut, brass, and brocade, lined with plush booths that frame picture windows. The antique-printed seat cushions? Surprisingly comfy—and a visual treat. It’s almost as if you’ve time-traveled to the 1930s, which is precisely what the Gourmino aims to evoke.
Running in both directions—from St. Moritz to Chur and vice versa—you can book the Gourmino as the start or end of your alpine escape. We opted to end our trip with it, hoping to stave off post-vacation blues. For at least two blissful hours, it worked.
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A Taste of This First-Class Feast on Rails
“Here, in the Gourmino restaurant car, we want to slow down the fast pace of everyday life.” And through every bite and sip of these seasonally crafted dishes, life does slow down, reminding you of the finer things, like dining aboard a high-end train as it glides through the Alps.
With a menu that rotates by season, regional delicacies are prepared to match the time of year. (Fair warning: Some of the dishes we mention may not be available during summer journeys—we rode the Gourmino in winter.)
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Divided into three categories—starter, soup, and main course—the menu delights foodies with authentic Swiss fare. We began with the tartare: a perfectly cylindrical portion of seasoned beef, served with a small salad, a medium-boiled egg, and a side of “mountain fire sauce” for those craving a spice kick.
Next came the soup course. The Bündner Gerstensuppe, or Swiss barley soup, is a hearty alpine staple—and this one was so good, we nearly downed it in seconds. But we held back, deciding that looking like a scoundrel in such an elegant setting probably wasn’t the move. Creamy, piping hot, and topped with finely chopped chives, this bowl of comfort warmed us to our core—an obvious choice for a winter ride.
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For the final course, four main dishes were offered, all traditional Swiss recipes reflecting the area’s agricultural roots: lots of beef, cheese, and vegetables. We chose the Capuns, and if you’re wondering, What in the world are capuns?—You’re not alone.
Presented in an individual cast-iron dish, these savory dumplings consist of Spätzli dough wrapped in Swiss chard, baked in milk, and finished with melted cheese. They were rich, satisfying, and plated with the finesse of a five-star restaurant.
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The wine list, like the food, is locally sourced, highlighting bottles from the Swiss cantons of Grisons and Valais. And just when you think the show is over, the head waiter arrives to pour post-dinner spirits—like grappa and Williams pear schnapps—from a dramatic height of 60 centimeters. The train might be racing down the tracks, but on the Gourmino, dinner is a delicious performance.
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Last Call: One Final Toast to the Gourmino
If we haven’t already convinced you to book the Gourmino Dining Car on your next trip to Switzerland—or, let’s be honest, talked you into planning a Swiss getaway in the first place—we’ll leave you with this:
“What you can do in our Gourmino restaurant car, then, is simple: enjoy life.”
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