St. Moritz - A mini guide

MORE THAN JUST GLAMOUR AND GLITZ IN ST. MORITZ

Say St. Moritz, and all that is glamorous ski-chic is instantly evoked. This Alpine resort town, however, is more than just about its well-heeled visitors and the jet-set celebrities that have visited its powder white slopes for decades. Indeed, St. Moritz’s history as a winter destination spans back to the mid1800s, when an enterprising Swiss hotelier, Johannes Badrutt, won a bet with some of his British guests, who returned to St. Moritz in winter to find (much to their disbelief) clear skies and warm sunshine. From there, an iconic winter destination was born.

Image source: Steve Dowle, St. Moritz old and new

St. Moritz is synonymous with discreet mountainous living and the impeccable, contemporary hand of private hoteliers, all whilst offering some of the finest spa and bathing traditions that draw their reputation from the town’s healing mineral springs.

Its natural terrain and landscape have drawn the Winter Olympics – not once, but twice, in 1928 and 1948. Coupled with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Albula and Bernina train routes stopping at St. Moritz along their journey across Switzerland and Italy, St. Moritz is the only corner of the world that holds both UNESCO and Winter Olympic credentials in its favour.

Image source: Chloe Chan (@_.chloechan._ )

A famed ski-foodies bolthole, the town boasts an incredible array of both well-known, Michelin-starred restaurants as well as unpretentious yet equally superb dining establishments that shape the culinary scene within Switzerland and beyond. Ecco, located in the contemporary Giardino Mountain hotel, is a feast for the senses, with two Michelin star chef Rolf Fliegauf whipping up innovative dishes that have its guests raving for days. By the same token, St. Moritz has a lively and varied après-ski scene, with the infamous Dracula Club, founded in the 1970s by Gunter Sachs, taking centre stage.

As iconic art galleries, including Hauser & Wirth, have begun to set up shop in this mountainous retreat, St. Moritz has come to be known as ‘the new Venice,’ echoing its popularity with creatives and thinkers that have long turned to St. Moritz for inspiration. Off the art and ski circuits, St. Moritz is home to some of the world’s finest luxury brands that will satisfy even the most fervent of shoppinglovers – from Bottega Veneta to Hermès (and everything in-between), St. Moritz has it all.

Located just a stone’s throw away from these luxury boutiques whilst on the doorstep of St. Moritz’s infamous ski slopes, Ches’Ota is the ideal haven for a winter escape to St Moritz. It ties the cosiness of mountain living with a chic design vibe, offering guests the ultimate of all comforts that include a private concierge service.