Winter in Gstaad has a way of arriving not with noise, but with quiet theatre. As the Bernese Alps settle under their annual blanket of snow, the Gstaad Palace reopens on 15th December, once again becoming the backdrop to a season defined by heritage, culture and the sort of understated glamour that has always set this village apart. This year, the Palace steps into the spotlight with renewed sparkle as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Return of the Pink Panther, partly filmed within its storied walls. It is embracing the moment with characteristic humour: film screenings beneath the Baccarat chandeliers, mischievous pink footprints tracing the corridors and cocktails at GreenGo, the hotel’s legendary nightclub where dawn is merely a suggestion rather than a boundary.
For Andrea Scherz, the Palace’s third-generation custodian, the anniversary is more than a cinematic nod. He remembers Peter Sellers spinning through the revolving doors during filming, a memory woven into the fabric of the hotel’s mythology. Today, that same spirit of playful refinement animates a season designed to delight both loyal guests and new admirers.
Culinary Adventures and Alpine Firsts
Gstaad’s gastronomic scene continues to grow. This winter marks the Swiss debut of Zuma, whose renowned Izakaya concept opens at Ultima Gstaad from 5th December to 15th March. Here, sushi, sashimi, crudos, and Wagyu from the Robata grill take centre stage, complemented by the kind of elegant cocktails that highlight why the brand is loved worldwide.
Equally charming but more whimsical are Gstaad’s new XXL ski-in, ski-out fondue pots. These two-giant wooden caquelons, perched in Gsteig and on Rinderberg, allow skiers to enjoy the most traditional of Swiss meals without ever removing their skis. It is a world first, and very much in the spirit of the region: tradition elevated with a wink.
Left: A world first, the XXL ski-in, ski-out fondue pots allow skiers to enjoy an authentic fondue without even removing their skis.
© Destination Gstaad / Yannick Romagnoli.
Middle: Zuma makes its Swiss debut at Ultima Gstaad. It will offer both lively restaurant dining and private in-chalet experiences with its full à la carte menu.
Right: At the Gstaad Palace, Le Grand Restaurant unveils its new look following a complete redesign. © Gstaad Palace / Melanie Uhkötter.
At The Alpina Gstaad, gastronomic experiences unfold like a curated journey. The Finer Things in Life celebrates the craftsmanship of local cheesemakers and wine producers. You’ll be surprised by the pairings, which include Japanese sake and cheesecake, which, against all odds, truly works. Winter Beats & Barbecue turns the Alpina Lounge & Terrace into a vibrant winter scene, complete with DJ sets and hot cocktails. And then there is the Caviar, Balik & Champagne Tasting, an ode to indulgence best savoured on the hotel’s terrace, champagne flute in hand, mountains stretching serenely beyond.
At the Palace itself, Le Grand Restaurant emerges renewed following a thoughtful redesign by Fischbach & Aberegg, now proudly awarded 15 Gault&Millau points. La Fromagerie – always a favourite – remains a sanctuary of Alpine decadence, while Valentine’s Eve promises an evening steeped in romance.
Chalets of Distinction
This season also welcomes the unveiling of Ultima Gstaad Promenade, a chalet of rare pedigree and presence. Originally built by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV for friends and family, the property has undergone a meticulous renovation and now stands as one of the village’s most exceptional private residences. The chalet spans more than 2,500 square metres over four floors and accommodates 16 adults and four children across nine beautifully appointed bedrooms.
The new Ultima Gstaad Promenade features a stunning double-height dining room and its own spa, which includes an indoor pool.
Refined wooden detailing, mirrored ceilings and a double-height dining room lend the chalet an atmosphere of contemporary Alpine elegance. Its amenities verge on the extraordinary: a Saharan-marble spa with indoor pool, sauna, hammam and Jacuzzi; a private cinema; arcade; bar; and even a nightclub. With full staff, gourmet catering, in-resort driver service and private airport transfers, it represents Gstaad living at its most extravagant.
A Winter Scored to Perfection
Music has long been part of Gstaad’s identity, and this winter’s line-up is particularly impressive. The Gstaad New Year Music Festival, celebrating its twentieth edition from 26th December to 10th January, brings together talents such as Cecilia Bartoli, Marina Viotti,Asmik Grigorianand the great Plácido Domingo. Their performances take place in the intimate churches of Saanen, Gstaad, Lauenen and Rougemont, settings that lend each concert a rare sense of closeness.
Music is everywhere in Gstaad in winter: From the New Year Music Festival (left | © Destination Gstaad / New Year’s Music Festival), to the Sommets Musicaux (centre | © Destination Gstaad) and the Live-Music Sessions at The Alpina Gstaad (right).
Later in the season, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad (30th January–7th February 2026), under the artistic direction of Renaud Capuçon, places the violin at the heart of its programme. Eighteen concerts feature musicians including Hélène Grimaud, Emmanuel Pahud, and Pene Pati, alongside masterclasses and encounters with the artists.
At The Alpina Gstaad, nightly Live-Music Sessions fill the air with jazz, swing and soulful melodies, turning the lounge and terrace into an intimate refuge for music lovers.
Wellness and the Quiet Art of Renewal
Gstaad is as much about restoration as it is celebration. At the Palace Spa, Himalayan saunas, Samvahan therapy and breathwork with Natascha offer a journey back to balance, less reinvention than gentle recalibration.
Left: At the Gstaad Palace, guests can enjoy treatments by Master Master Anand M. Kambli, founder of the Shiva Ananda Center & Institute of Samvahan Therapy in India. © Gstaad Palace / Stefano Scatta.
Right: January Detox Weeks at The Alpina Gstaad combine detox menus with treatments and guided excercise sessions at the Six Senses Spa. © The Alpina Gstaad.
At The Alpina Gstaad, the year begins with January Detox Weeks, where guests can choose three-, five- or seven-night stays accompanied by vegetarian or vegan full-board detox menus. Treatments at the Six Senses Spa, guided movement, personalised fitness sessions and holistic therapies create an approach to wellbeing rooted in harmony rather than austerity.
Children, too, find their own enchantment in Gstaad. The Palace’s Sammy’s Winter Club invites younger guests to bake gingerbread, meet reindeer and enjoy a “Vintage Circus”, while outside, ski patroller Veronika Zumbrunnen watches over the slopes, embodying the spirit of community that makes this region so singular.
Adventure, Elegance and the Gstaad Spirit
Gstaad’s pistes cater to every temperament: gentle glides on Wispile, the adrenaline of the Tiger Run on Wasserngrat, or the exhilaration of heli-skiing untouched peaks. Private coaching sessions with World Cup racer Mike von Grünigen provide an exceptional opportunity for improvement at any level.
The Wasserngrat in Gstaad is a scenic mountain peak (1,920m) known for its stunning views and mountain restaurant serving regional food. It features the notoriously steep “Tiger Run” black piste for expert skiers and gentler slopes for families and beginners. © Emily Uhkötter.
As the Palace team notes, “Gstaad is your theatre”, and indeed it is. For over a century, this Alpine village has drawn the world’s most discerning travellers, offering a stage where elegance, culture and alpine beauty coexist in perfect harmony.
Author: Lina Ress
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