A pleasure for all the senses

Zurich Watch out for temptation!

Some rooms at Mandarin Oriental Savoy in Zurich offer a direct view of Switzerland’s most famous chocolate shop: the main Sprüngli branch on Paradeplatz. However, temptation can also be found lurking inside the hotel. Head pastry chef Andy Vorbusch is one of the best in Europe, and anyone who has ever tasted his cheesecake served in a glass with strawberries, elderberry buttermilk foam and milk crumble will never forget the creation. The Savoy Brasserie & Bar also offers classic dishes such as salade niçoise, sole meunière and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes. At the fine dining temple that is the Orsini restaurant, discerning palates can look forward to enjoying first-class modern Italian cuisine – curated by two-star chef Antonio Guida.

Gourmet offerings can also be enjoyed at the top of the hotel: the 1838 Roof Top Bar was once the first of its kind and now shines in new splendour, making it the ideal place for a glass of champagne, a cocktail, a few oysters or creative dishes with an Asian touch.

The best way to burn a few calories is to climb the Grossmünster, with its 187 steep steps leading up to a viewing platform. It offers an unparalleled view of the city, mountains and lake in good weather. Speaking of the lake, it is also an attractive place to visit in winter – for ice bathing and refreshment after a sauna at Seebad Enge (seebadenge.ch) or for sweating on the sauna boat (bootsvermietung.ch). Zurich’s local mountain, the Uetliberg, is transformed into a winter wonderland with a speedy toboggan run when there is enough snow. The Jurablick restaurant (jurablick.com), with its tiled stove and homemade cakes, invites you to take a cosy break on the mountain. The heartbeat of Zurich’s nightlife can be found in the Langstrasse neighbourhood. This is also where you’ll find Charlatan, a wonderfully lively cross between a nightclub, bar and restaurant – run by the same team as the legendary Olé Olé Bar just a few steps away. 

From Andermatt with love. Sublime Japanese food creations on top of the mountain.

Andermatt is the fastest-­growing – and the most spectacular – wintersports destination in Switzerland. The Chedi Andermatt is located in the centre of the village. A true-to-scale replica of an Aston Martin DB5 in the hotel’s lobby points to the fact that Andermatt was one of the filming locations for the James Bond classic Goldfinger. The Chedi boasts two top-class Japanese restaurants: The Japanese in the ­hotel complex and The Japanese at Gütsch at 2,300 metres above sea level. The masterminds behind the two restaurants are ‘The Twins’ Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon, who have been awarded two Michelin stars since autumn 2023 (see profile from page 43).

At Gütsch, you can enjoy their creations and sushi de luxe practically on the piste – with spectacular views included. Those returning to the ­hotel after enjoying wintersports in the ski region connected to the Grisons resort of Sedrun can relax in the 2,400 square-metre Asian-­inspired spa, which also includes two onsen baths. ­Animal lovers can go llama trekking in the nearby village of Bristen ­(bristenlama.ch) and discover the beauty of the Maderaner Valley. Right at the entrance to Andermatt, the Devil’s Bridge amazes visitors from all over the world. It stands so boldly over the Schöllenen gorge and the Reuss that people in past centuries believed that the devil was involved in its construction.

Fabio Toffolon is six minutes older than his twin brother Dominik Sato, who chose to assume the last name of his Japanese wife Yoshiko.

Twin Peaks

A brilliant move for The Chedi Andermatt. A lucky coincidence for fine-dining guests. The twins Fabio Toffolon and Dominik Sato wasted no time in applying their distinguished culinary prowess to make Andermatt a top destination for foodies.

The two executive chefs cook together as a dual team at The Japanese Restaurant. Their Modern Omakase Menu is a unique, top-notch experience. Flavourful, aesthetic and holistic. Guests can also enjoy the exquisite creations of top pastry chef Yoshiko Sato – Dominik Sato’s wife.

Both chefs regard lightness and elegance as crucial. ‘A visit to us is like a taste-filled journey of discovery. It’s a complex overall experience, but stimulating and light,’ says Fabio Toffolon, describing what guests can expect. And Dominik Sato adds: ‘One dish intersects with another. From the first bite to the last, everything is intense but balanced.’ 

Elegance, style and serenity in a classy, Japanese ambience.

In fact, the portions are pleasingly small. Even after several superb dishes, you feel fine, and can hardly wait for the next surprising course. This is partly thanks to the perfectly timed service. The composition of the menu sequence brings the very best out of each course. For example, four appetisers, which are often served together in other top restaurants, are brought out one after the other. Toffolon explains: ‘We deliberately aim for maximum expression in every dish.’ Sato adds: ‘Our menu doesn’t start gently, then build up to fireworks at the end’. ‘Exactly,’ agrees Toffolon. ‘Every dish is a firework, but sublime and balanced.’ Their cuisine is also typified by a successful fusion of Japanese cooking techniques with the best regional and international ingredients. This is also evident in the sauces. They are incredibly intense and flavourful, but as light as a vinaigrette.

The pair describe themselves as extremely ambitious. A bit like top athletes. ‘If we were footballers, you could say we don’t cook any differently here at The Chedi than we did before,’ says Toffolon. Sato picks up the theme: ‘But we used to play in the regional league. Now we’re in the Champions League, and we’re making the most of that.’

Their cuisine has been awarded two Michelin stars and 18 Gault&Millau points. But they are already – rightly – regarded as potential contenders for a third star.

The Bellevue Palace is located in the immediate vicinity of the Bundeshaus, the seat of the Swiss government.

Bern From alphorn to bao buns

Play the alphorn once in your life! You don’t have to climb mountains to fulfil this dream – all you need to do is visit what is probably the most curious museum in the city of Bern. Located just behind the Zytglogge tower, the Klingendes Museum has a collection of well over 1,000 wind instruments from various eras, including an alphorn, which visitors can try their luck on, and a 19th-century trombone that looks like a dragon’s head. Why are we telling you all this? Quite simple! Because Bern is always a little different from what you expect. And this also holds true for its culinary offerings. The best place to eat an avocado tartare served with coriander and crispy rice or bao buns with pork belly and hoisin sauce can be found behind the venerable walls of the city’s only Grand Hotel. In addition to the Asian-inspired Noumi, the Bellevue Palace also offers a restaurant serving the great classics: at Brasserie Vue, the stars of the show are the Calypso prawn cocktail, brine meunière, sea bass in a salt crust and entrecôte double.