Magic in the mountain huts of Switzerland
In association with Switzerland Tourism
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It is one of the most inviting images of the winter – the mountain hut, waiting at the top of a meandering ski run back into town, its windows glowing with welcome, and the prospect of drinks and dinner. Few can resist its appeal – not least in Switzerland, which can claim some of the planet’s finest examples of these wonderful refuges from the cold...
Berghotel Riederfurka, Aletsch
Set, picture postcard-like, on the Riederalp of the Aletsch plateau, at 6,774ft (2,065m), Berghotel Riederfurka (art-furrer.ch) is the best of all things – hotel, restaurant, mountain escape zone. It comes fitted with 11 rooms, plus group accommodation for up to 56 people. It offers delicious fare at Arvenstube, its splendid eatery – everything from the simplicity of the Riederfurka Burger to multi-course meals. And, constructed in the second half of the 19th century, it harks back to Switzerland’s past. Its winter window is open from mid-December to mid-April. It reappears for summer between June and October – when a hike to the Belalp-Riederalp suspension bridge is an after-lunch must.
Berghaus Rellerli, Gstaad
Winter in the Bernese Oberland is illuminated by this wood-built icon. Hovering above Gstaad at 6027ft (1837m), Berghaus Rellerli is an elevated giant which can seat up to 500 people – 350 inside, 150 on the terrace. The advantage of an outside spot is a feast of a view – and the menu is no less of a banquet, with a plethora of meats, fondues and soups. You don’t have to be a dedicated skier to eat here. In fact, the restaurant offers a lunch package – dish of the day, plus an ascent and descent on the gondola, for 41 Swiss francs (£27). Better still, Berghaus Rellerli has a sense of occasion. It is licensed for civil marriages, and can sleep up to 75 guests for a big party afterwards.
Zum Bergführer, Davos Klosters
Another leading light for those taking a break from the slopes in Graubünden, Zum Bergführer (sertigtal.ch) looks every inch a classic piece of Switzerland. It holds its nerve at 6,105ft (1,861m), a restaurant lovingly slotted into a 400-year-old stone house. It serves filling comfort food for icy days – slabs of cheese and homemade cakes, as well as grilled fish and gourmet charcuterie boards. You can travel to this cosy bolthole – which can seat 100 people – by road or, in the snowy season, adventurous souls can even make the journey by crosscountry ski excursion or winter hike. Zum Bergführer is open from May to October as well as from November to April.
■ davos.ch
Alphütte Fops Lenzerheide
The Graubünden resort is blessed with this 140-year-old stalwart, which goes about its business at a lofty height of 6,187ft (1,886m). A classic crooked Alpine hut – all weathered wood and creaky floorboards – Alphütte Fops has been run by the same owners for six generations. The Malar family has altered the equation little in that time – with staples of Swiss cuisine such as cheese, bacon, salsiz sausage and homemade barley soup, as well as white wine and hot tea. The hut hosts regular fondue evenings – making the ascent worthwhile, even if you have not spent a long day on the slopes. It is easily reached via the Tgantieni chairlift and a 15-minute walk. Alternatively, you can ski right up to its door.
El Paradiso, Engadin St Moritz
It should be no surprise to find an elegant mountain restaurant amid the sophistication of St Moritz – but El Paradiso (el-paradiso.ch) still manages to raise a few eyebrows, thanks to the quality of its cuisine. It is highly rated by the French culinary guide Gault Millau. The menu bears this out in a host of barbecued meats, bratwurst sausages and chicken, as well as Swiss delicacies like truffles, soft cheeses and fondue. Pitched at Randolins, at 7,156ft (2,181m), El Paradiso is easily accessible via cable car and chairlift. It is also a near-year-round delight, open between early December and April for skiers, and again between June and October for summer hikers.
For further inspiration, go to MySwitzerland.com or call 00800 100 200 30
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