Magic moments in the champagne climate of St Moritz

They come in fur, they go in fur - and in between are still searching for a new one. That is St Moritz in the Engadin valley, situated at an altitude of 1,856 m above sea level in southeastern Switzerland. Like Zermatt, it is not only one of the best Swiss ski resorts but also a well-known resort in the world. St Moritz, called the "Champagne Climate" for its dry air and because the sun shines on average 322 days a year...

... and of course because it is wealthy, shrill and sexy. One can say that it is the Paris Hilton of the noble ski resorts in Switzerland. In spite of only 5,045 constant inhabitants, it is a real Alpine town with many steep gradients and many international boutiques.

The resort of St Moritz
St. Moritz held the Olympic Games two times, in 1928 and twenty years later in 1948. Therefore, a certain infrastructure was built quite early not just for skiing but also for other sports.

This again attracted sport athletes to St Moritz who often could not find the facilities elsewhere. The Olympic Bob Run is the only remaining run in the world that is still fully made of natural ice.

In St. Moritz, people show what they possess. Since generations and decades, celebrities in Switzerland and the world, the high society and business people like to show their thick furs and expensive cars. They do not hold much of the noble restraint.

The motto here is - see and be seen just like in the resort of Gstaad but totally the opposite of Zermatt where guests like to be anonymous and sometimes even register under a fiction name.

They like the "Champagne Climate" too and because they can fly with their jets directly from Moscow to Samedan. Then a limousine brings them to a Luxury Swiss Hotel in St Moritz, usually to Badrutts Palace, Suvretta House, or the Kulm Hotel.

Russian women especially like the high-end boutiques and find it very exciting to shop in this shopping paradise. Where else can they buy everything expensive they want just within a few blocks?

Après-Ski

Clubs & Bars

St Moritz is the paradise for party people and for those that do not want to miss the snow during Après-Ski. Legendary is the "Dracula Club, the Kings Club (081/837 28 33), Vivai Dance Club (081/833 69 39) and the Diamond Club (081/834 97 67.

It is here that the millionaires spend their evenings and the young million heirs their nights. You may have difficulty to get inside, because the bouncers of those important clubs are strict. Therefore, having good connections or having a pretty woman on your side sure helps.

A place where you find an atmosphere of sophisticated intimacy is the "Altitude Bar" (081/836 80 00) at the Kulm Hotel. It fills up early in the evening with people who appreciate a fine after dinner drink accompanied with live piano entertainment. For gentlemen, jackets and ties are required after 8pm.

In the 4-star Hotel Schweizerhof you find the "Piano Bar" (081/837 07 07) which is the oldest and most atmospheric cocktail bar in St. Moritz. Going downstairs in the Schweizerhof is the "Muli Bar & Stübli" a sort of Engadine pub where the locals and guests meet to live guitar music.

When I think about gourmet food in St. Moritz, almost immediately comes to mind the restaurant "Jöhri's Talvo" (081/833 44 55). They serve traditional local food as well as fish specialties. The 18-point out of 20 points restaurant is small but the cuisine is exceptional so reservation is necessary.

The restaurant "Nobu" (081/837 28 23) is situated in the hotel Badrutt's Palace. It consists of one bar area, two dining areas, and one private function room. Nobu is one of the trendiest and hottest places in town with a colorful Belle Époque interior design. It is a location where you can join many celebrities, the high society, and sometimes even royalties.

The "Chesa Veglia" (081/837 28 00) is a restaurant for Italian cuisine lovers. They also serve delicious Pizza and Swiss specialties. It is also located in the Badrutt's Palace Hotel and famous due to the Club Privé, which is the most exclusive club in St. Moritz. The attendance is only possible by appointed lifetime members.

The Chesa Pirani (081/854 25 15) is in La Punt, a small village only 12 minutes by car from St. Moritz. This restaurant achieved 18 points out of a total of 20 points, which represents the high quality gourmet cuisine on offer.

Events

St. Moritz does not have just big names as guests, but has also very much to offer. Namely the "Big 3", the big three which are the "Cartier Polo Tournament", the Gourmet Festival, and the world famous and unique White turf Events - the horse races.

Many Celebrities in Switzerland and from abroad come regularly during Christmas / New Year or at the end of January during the Cartier Polo World Cup. Then in February, they come to see the famous horse races, the White turf Events, held on the frozen lake St. Moritz. Basically this resort has many more attractions that you don't see anywhere else -- Alpine ski races and ski jumping races, bobsledding, curling (Jackson Cup), concours hippique, skeleton races, the gourmet festival, cricket on ice, the cresta run, Nordic skiing races, and the snow symphony concerts.

In the summer there are also concerts taking place, and the gold cup golf week, and the British classic car meeting, and the concours hippique, or the sailing match races. Many also come to enjoy the ferrous mineral springs.

Casino

On the west side of the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, the Casino offers you excellent high-class entertainment and this not just for people who want to try their luck with gambling. The Ivory Ball Lounge Bar (081/837 54 54) is the ideal place to have a drink, listen to the music while watching people playing the games.

Shopping

St. Moritz has become the Mecca of the world for prestige brands. Thus, you find many high-end boutiques and shops on relatively little space in the downtown area.

So, if you are looking to spend a few days, head to the Engadine to one of the best Swiss Ski Resorts - St. Moritz. This upper-class ski resort will not disappoint and you will always remember it. Visit it one's and you will close a friendship for life.

How to get to St Moritz

Getting Here -- Take the train of the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) to Chur. From there you need to change trains and take the Rhaetian Railway (Rhätische Bahn) through one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The train route heads up to the Engadine with its tunnel turns and viaducts bridging giddy heights until St. Moritz. It takes you still almost 4 hours from Zurich on the way up to the resort. Remember you are entering the Alps, which takes of course longer than in flat terrain.

You may reach the Engadine by car from anywhere within Switzerland, from Germany, Austria or Italy. I recommend that you use car transportation in the wintertime; it just means that you take your car on a train ride. The Rhaetian Railway provides you the option to board a train from Thusis or Klosters Selfrenga (Vereina). This is especially practical in the winter with heavy snow on the road is only accessible to 4-wheel drive vehicles or vehicles with chains. Besides, it is a spectacular experience watching nature from your own car while on a train.

There are flight connections to and from the international airports of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. From there and from the airports of Munich and Milan you have direct connections to Samedan, only 5 km from St. Moritz. You can also fly in directly in your private or business jet to the Engadine airport in Samedan, the most highly located airport of Europe at an altitude of 5,173 ft (1,707 m).

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