The Park Gstaad offers guests 84 elegant rooms and 10 impressive suites spread over five floors. It also boasts the largest penthouse in the Swiss Alps – My Gstaad Chalet. This sophisticated and very private mountain retreat offers guests unparalleled views of the Wispile Mountain, from an impressive 400m2 metres of refined accommodation.
Encompassing two floors, My Gstaad Chalet features four spacious bedrooms, each with their own luxury en-suite bathroom and views of the stunning alpine scenery; dressing room; bar and kitchen corner; private dining area; and a 24-hour private butler.
It also boasts a complete private spa, with a sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi, tropical shower, treatment room, fitness room and a hair salon.
Gstaad is home to numerous sporting and musical events throughout the year. The day I arrived, gongs were being handed out for the Ladies Championships (Congratulations Kiki Bertens).
I had a ticket for the Men’s’ action the following day, but alas rain stopped play. Luckily the Park Gstaad is a long-term sponsor, so my delicious buffet breakfast each morning was accompanied by a visual treat of lots of fit athletes in shorts. It takes a lot to distract me from my favourite meal of the day (omelette, breads and cheese and meat cuts and smooth Lavazza coffee) but they succeeded.
This is my first visit to Gstaad so I was keen to explore the luxury retail in the village. Only a few minutes’ downhill walk from the Park Gstaad and you’re in the main, traffic-free street, also known as the Promenade. The luxe labels are all here: from Louis Vuitton to Cartier, Burberry and Marc Jacobs. Restaurants and galleries all looked very enticing with menus a mix of Swiss specialties and international flavours. At the end of the Promenade, there’s Le Petit Chalet restaurant (an outpost of another five-star hotel) where I savoured a delicious chicken and chips. Fondues and raclettes are best enjoyed at the chalet-style Chesery, helmed by acclaimed chef Robert Speth.
However, the Park Gstaad’s restaurants are so good you won’t want to venture into the village. Boasting a total of four dining options, from traditional Swiss favourites to innovative Patagonian-Argentine inspired live-fire cuisine at Chubut, the provenance is mostly regionally sourced, and delicious.
My meal at Chubut was out of this world. I met sous chef Rodrigo in the kitchen beforehand, chatting by the Josper charcoal oven, he talked me through some of the dishes I’d be eating later. This included a fabulous curried pumpkin soup with kefir lemon leaf that was for the tennis players, but which I managed to secure as an amuse bouche.
We began with a fabulous mix of small starter plates that comprised grilled octopus, sea bass ceviche and homemade Swiss pork and beef chorizo. Wines were beautifully paired: a superb Colle Massari red from Italy, and a chocolate-and-spice Argentinian Clos de Los Siete from Michel Roland.
Our mains comprised succulent Argentinian Black Angus beef and a divine sea bass – both prepared and cooked to perfection in the charcoal Josper. I loved the side of tomato salad with shallots and coriander. The flavours, textures and aromas at Chubut are superb. I barely had room for dessert but managed a taster of a crêpe filled with dulce de leche served with heavenly banana ice cream and a succulent passion fruit pie.
The Park Gstaad’s gourmet restaurant, L’Avenue Montagne, is under the direction of Executive Chef Axel Rüdlin, who was recently awarded Hotel Chef of the Year by business magazine BILANZ. The relaxed Avenue Montagne serves regional Swiss cuisine from farm to table in a family friendly contemporary setting, accompanied by an extensive selection of vintage wines carefully selected by the Sommelier. Every week, a Sushi Master also offers beginners’ workshops in sushi and sashimi preparation and tasting.
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