For some reason, there’s something about the Swiss Alps that immediately fills you with a deep sense of calm. Maybe it’s the snow-dusted mountains or the quaint architecture dotted around endless valleys. Or maybe it’s the storybook-like scenery. Speaking of stories, at the farthest reaches of the Bernese Oberland lies a quaint Swiss Alpine village named Wengen. Wengen is small, but its appeal is big: it overlooks the mystical Lauterbrunnen Valley — the very same valley that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. It’s a hidden beauty boasting exceptional landscape. And sitting right at the top of this village, overlooking everything and everyone, lies Wengen’s first five-star hotel: Grand Hotel Belvedere.
The hotel is not a new build. Grand Hotel Belvedere dates back to 1912, a former Art Nouveau hotel, it had been acquired by French hospitality group Beaumier (marking it as their first property in Switzerland) and was lovingly renovated before opening its doors in December 2024. Since it’s still so new, the hotel is still in its hidden-gem ‘if you know, you know’ phase. As expected from any historic building, Grand Hotel Belvedere’s exterior is oh-so-charming and quaint. Very Wes Anderson with its turquoise shutters, carved wood-fronted balconies and pastel lemon facade.
Inside, the decor is plush, cozy and chic with earthy palettes, lime-washed walls, wood panelling, pine furniture, charming local artwork and plush carpeting. With only 90 rooms and suites, the atmosphere is intimate and calm, and rooms are like staying in your own little snow cabin. With the abundance of windows throughout the property, you’re treated to captivating sweeping views of the Jungfrau everywhere, directly connecting guests with the mountainscape upon entry. And that’s where the hotel’s strong connection to its surroundings begins.
A stark contrast to the chocolate-box aesthetic of Grand Hotel Belvedere is the spa. Stripped of any frills and accoutrements, the spa is a brutalist concrete structure that somehow manages to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, offering views over the hotel’s gardens and forests. Inspired by Japanese onsens and the work of architect Peter Zumthor, brutalist architecture shouldn’t work for a spa, but it does.
The spa is large but covers the essentials: treatment cabins, a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, relaxation rooms and two heated pools: one indoor and one outdoor. By stripping back, its minimalist design and the mineral materials used actually create the ideal setting for total relaxation. They’re big on wellness and adventure at Grand Hotel Belvedere — from full moon yoga to treatments that use only organic Alpine ingredients to paragliding (it’s not unusual to see a paraglider drift by when having breakfast) to hiking — Wengen’s abundant nature is used to its full advantage.
This direct and intimate connection to the landscape is also woven into the food on offer. Hailing from the UK, chef Will Gordon is young at 33 and oversees the hotel’s food. A forager himself, Gordon is big on sourcing ingredients within a 100 km radius — right down to the caviar that’s taken from sturgeon bred in Swiss mountain waters — and picks ingredients himself daily in the nearby forest.
Although there’s the usual Swiss classics like the good old schnitzel, the majority of dishes are plant-based — probably because Will is a vegan himself — but it’s something refreshing and modern in the traditional alpine setting: think vegan fondue and sensational cauliflower steaks coated in Black-Forest miso sauce served atop a heap of Swiss lentils. There are quite a few Italian cooks in the kitchen, and the fresh pasta served here is out of this world. A standout is the handmade tagliatelle with truffle butter & 36-month aged Lauberhorn cheese. And don’t be fooled by the simple-sounding fruit salad as it’s anything but—playful and fresh, it stars seasonal fruits served five different ways: compressed, chewy, fresh, juiced and iced.
Tranquil and passionately eco-conscious, if you’re looking for an authentic mountain escape that’s strongly connected to Switzerland’s inimitable natural beauty, Grand Hotel Belvedere is a jewel that’s worth discovering.
Learn more about the Grand Hotel Belvedere at beaumier.com.
words. J. Bibi Cooper
