40 winter favourites in St. Moritz

Tips for foodies (and aperitif lovers)

1. Fondue in the smallest restaurant in St. Moritz. The Carigiet Fondue Stübli is opening this winter in the Chesa Veglia. The motto is "small but beautiful"; the Stübli has room for three tables for up to twelve people. If you prefer a pizza, you can go to the Heuboden (hayloft) pizzeria in the same building. The "Dama Bianca" with truffles, parmesan and buffalo mozzarella is probably the most famous pizza in St. Moritz.

2. Feel-good address in the centre of the village. This is the Dal Mulin restaurant. This is where both locals and second-home owners meet, along with guests staying in five-star hotels. An excellent wine list combined with Alpine-influenced cuisine and 15 Gault Millau points promise plenty of enjoyment.

3. Bread & Diamonds by Super Mountain. A new concept awaits you at Super Mountain's bakery and jewellery shop at Via Somplaz 13. The focus is on Paolo Casanova's sourdough bread and Angelo De Luca's collection of diamonds. Local coffee from Bivio and smoothies are also available.

4. Make your own cocktails and pizzas at Grace La Margna. The five-star Grace La Margna hotel, which opened this summer, offers cocktail classes and pizza workshops. True to the motto: work before pleasure.

5. Where to go for après ski? The answer: La Gondla or Roo Bar in St. Moritz, or Bar Finale in Celerina. La Gondla, an old gondola from the Diavolezza lift, is located on the roof of the Quadrella car park, near the Chantarella valley station. A lively atmosphere is guaranteed here. The Roo Bar on the terrace of the Hotel Hauser is a village institution. People meet here for a drink (or two or three). For many, the last stop after a day's skiing is the Bar Finale in Celerina. For others, it is the start of a wild party night in St. Moritz.

6. Dance with the locals. Singing and dancing along is (almost) obligatory at the legendary Stübli Bar, where a rotating cast of musicians plays hits à gogo.

7. Coffee and a newspaper. For a successful start to the day, all you need is coffee (or tea) and the daily newspaper. Both can be enjoyed in relaxed surroundings of the Belmont, along with a brioche or croissant.

8. Fancy a cocktail? The Renaissance Bar in Badrutt’s Palace is the place to be. Try the “St. Moritzino” signature cocktail, made with Cointreau, fresh lime and orgeat syrup. As an added bonus for this winter season, the bartenders will be greeting guests in Giorgio Armani suits for the first time.

9.The Monocle Shop in St. Moritz. Monocle is once again setting up a pop-up shop in the Hotel Steffani. Until 31 March 2024, takeaway coffee, Monocle accessories and prints will be available, along with a handpicked selection of local produce.

10. Feasting in the ski area. After opening last winter, the Langosteria returns to the St. Moritz Corviglia ski area. It is a paradise for fish lovers! There are raw and cooked fish, oysters and seafood of all shapes and varieties. There is also a well-stocked wine cellar and a magnificent ambience.

11. Lunch in Surlej. Wonderful views of the frozen Engadin lakes and the sun on your face – that’s what the terrace of the Hotel Bellavista in Surlej promises. The restaurant serves local specialities, such as game dishes from the local hunt. Tip: the Engadin Krautpizokel (buckwheat dumplings) are excellent.

12. New Kid on the Block. Since early December, the Vincenzo Dascanio Cafe has found its home at Via Serlas 26. The interior promises a cozy ambiance reminiscent of the 'Nutcracker,' with a diverse selection of drinks and a menu offering various food options. Those interested in buying flowers, room fragrances, or decorative items will also find what they're looking for.

13. At the edge of the forest in Sils is GIGERs. The kitchen team will surprise you with seasonal and creative dishes in a log cabin (“Quadrin”) next to the Waldhaus Sils. The views of the snow-covered Laret forest are unbeatable (and soothing) - and if you fancy a walk after dinner, there is a winter hiking trail that leads directly down to Lake Sils.

14. The St. Moritz Sky Bar. Yes, St. Moritz has a rooftop bar! Enjoy a breathtaking view over St. Moritz, the lake and the Rosatsch mountain range, combined with a cocktail or a beer from the biggest selection of beers in the Engadin. Pro tip: drinks can also be enjoyed outside under the patio heaters.

15. Cosy and down-to-earth - that's Pur Alps. The gourmet market opposite the Kulm Hotel offers over 1,200 regional products from Graubünden and neighbouring South Tyrol. The bistro also offers a daily changing lunch menu. The day can be rounded off with a nice aperitif and a "Speckbrettl" (bacon served on a wooden board).

Tips for culture lovers

16. Gerhard Richter: Engadin. The famous artist Gerhard Richter first visited the Engadin in 1989. He was so impressed by the valley that he returned several times. Gallery Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, the Segantini Museum St. Moritz and the Nietzsche House in Sils Maria are now hosting for the first time an exhibition on Gerhard Richter's relationship with the Engadin – well worth seeing!

17. Movie night at the Scala cinema. After a day of adventure in the snow, you can end the day with a blockbuster movie at the new Scala cinema. Tip: The Cresta & Bob Museum is in the same building as the cinema and worth a visit.

18. NOMAD is back in Town. The NOMAD winter edition will once again be held in St. Moritz from 22 to 25 February 2024. Once again, a construction site has been chosen as the venue for the exhibition; a selection of art and design artefacts will be exhibited in the former Hotel Eden in the heart of the village, complemented by talks, guided tours, cocktails and a high-quality VIP programme.

19. Peter Robert Berry. The Berry Museum, housed in the 100-year-old Villa Arona, shows most of the artist’s oil paintings, pastels and drawings. Berry’s main influence was Giovanni Segantini, and particularly his divisionistic style, which can be seen in Berry’s works.

20. The Chesa Futura by Sir Norman Foster. It is (unfortunately) not possible to visit the inside of the Chesa Futura, but the façade alone is worth a visit: the building is clad in 250,000 larch shingles - a fusion of traditional building materials and futuristic design par excellence.

21. Immerse yourself in the history of St. Moritz. What better way to do this than with a guided tour of the village. Over the course of two hours, you will be immersed in the extraordinary history of the Alpine metropolis, discover how a bet played a major role in the development of winter tourism and what the Bronze Age has to do with St. Moritz.

22. A special holiday. The 1st of March is not just the first of a month, it's "Chalandamarz", probably the most important holiday for children in the Engadin. Winter is driven out with cowbells, traditional costumes and singing. Chalanda means "first day of the month" and "Marz" means the month of March. Every village has its own rituals and customs. In St. Moritz, you can watch the procession in the pedestrian zone - or visit the Suvretta House for an afternoon tea, where the singing begins at 5pm.

Tips for the relaxed and the active

23. On the slopes from 7.45am. What could be better than leaving your first tracks on freshly groomed ski runs? Admittedly, it’s a bit of an effort, but the early bird gets the worm. The bonus is that when the rush comes at 10 o’clock, you can sit in the café and enjoy a cappuccino and a nut bar.

24. Spa in Samedan. The Mineralbad & Spa Samedan is the first vertical mineral bath in Switzerland. What does that mean? The baths are spread over five floors. You walk through the bath and steam rooms as if you were in a mountain labyrinth. The bathing ritual comes to an end in the roof bath.

25. Amusements on the Lake. From 19 January to 25 February 2024, Lake St. Moritz will be the place to be, and not just for major events such as the Snow Polo World Cup, White Turf or The I.C.E. Numerous food stands, an ice rink, a pond hockey area and an skating rink guarantee fun on two blades. Cross-country skiers and walkers can also get their money’s worth. Live music complements the entertainment on four Wednesday afternoons.

26. Fun on the slopes under the floodlights. That is the Snow Night on the Corvatsch, which takes place every Friday evening. Ski run no. 10 is prepared for winter sports enthusiasts from 7pm and you can glide down the piste under the floodlights. If you fancy a dance afterwards, head to the Hossa Bar.

27. Cashmere (S)hopping. How about shopping for cashmere in St. Moritz? Three of the best addresses are the traditional Cashmere House Lamm, the family business Hawico of Scotland and the new Extreme Cashmere store at Via Somplaz 7.

28. Ice bathing in Lake St. Moritz. Admittedly, venturing into an ice-cold lake in sub-zero temperatures doesn't seem particularly appealing at first glance. But ice bathing has been proven to be healthy - and the adrenaline and endorphin rush is guaranteed. You can go ice bathing in Lake St. Moritz on your own and at your own risk, or alternatively, you can book an ice bathing session with a guide at the Carlton Hotel.

29. Yoga on Snow. Yoga in the studio is passé, now there is yoga on snow. There are four wooden signs specially installed for this on the Paradiso slope in the Corviglia ski area. Each one describes a specific yoga theme to practise. Skiing and yoga all in one - a unique combination!

30. Curling on the Kulm ice rink. Johannes Badrutt, hotel pioneer and owner of the Hotel Kulm, organised the first curling match on the continent in 1880. The sport can still be played today on the natural ice rink at the Chesa al Parc. The St. Moritz Curling Club rents out the ice rink and offers curling lessons to anyone interested. Afterwards you enjoy a delicious meal at the Kulm Country Club.

31. The fastest taxi ride. The St. Moritz to Celerina Olympic Bobsleigh Run was first opened in 1904, making it the oldest and only natural ice track in the world. How about a ride as a guest? The “world’s fastest taxi” lasts around 75 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130km/h.

32. 9 runs, 88 kilometres of slopes, 4444 metres of altitude. This is the Snow Safari that takes you from Furtschellas to Celerina. Admittedly, that sounds like a lot of numbers and little adventure. However, if you go on the Snow Safari, you can expect fantastic views of the mountain panorama, a variety of ski runs and plenty of places to stop and rest – and probably sore legs in the evening (an ice bath or spa can help with this).

33. Up and away with a paraglider. The panorama around the Corvatsch is impressive enough from the ground. But from the air? Spectacular! And even taking off from Europe’s highest prepared take-off site is a special experience – the view of the Bernina glacier world is breathtaking.

34. The glacier downhill. Switzerland's longest glacier run is 8 km long and leads from Diavolezza to Morteratsch via the Pizzo and Morteratsch glaciers. The peculiarity is that the run is not prepared, but the route is marked with yellow signs on both sides.

For nature lovers

35. Through the snowy winter landscape on fat tyres. What do you mean, you can’t go biking in the Engadin in winter? Of course you can! You may have to store your mountain bike, but with a fat bike you can ride on the winter hiking trails. For example through the Stazerwald forest. And by the way: There are also fat bikes with electric assistance.

36. Get close to the birds. In the Taiswald, a larch and fir forest not far from Pontresina, the birds will literally eat out of your hand. If you want to know more about the birds, you can join a guided tour every Thursday. Tip: You can also feed the birds at Staz forest - and then head to Lake Staz for an ice skating session.

37. A white carpet in the valley. There are not just cross-country skiing trails on the Upper Engadin lakes, there are also winter hiking trails that are freshly prepared every day. The lake trail from Maloja to St. Moritz is 17 km long - so it really is more than just a stroll. The route can also be divided or shortened by bus.

38. Night ride under the stars. The wild and romantic Val Fex is already a unique natural experience even by day. But the experience is further enhanced by a night ride in a horse-drawn carriage, followed by a delicious dinner at the Pensiun Crasta or the Hotel Sonne.

39. Tobogganing fun. If you like speed on a toboggan, don’t miss the Muottas Muragl toboggan run. It offers a thrilling ride with 20 tricky turns and a drop of 718 metres over a length of 4 kilometres.

40. On (Black) Ice. Biting cold and snow-free days. These are the secret ingredients of black ice. A natural phenomenon that occurs repeatedly on the lakes of the Upper Engadin. If the ice is thick enough, you can go ice skating on it! But beware: Enter at your own risk!