St Moritz Information

Apres-ski

St Moritz has a wide range of bars and clubs, including some of the most infamously exclusive (and expensive) nightspots in skiing. There are regular après-ski spots too.

The long-standing Cascade Bar (tel: +41 81 833 0303; www.cascade-stmoritz.ch) remains popular, while Pavarotti & Friends wine bar (tel: +41 81 833 0700) is a local's favourite, not least because the owner looks like Pavarotti himself.

Fabulous drawings by local artist, Carigiet, decorate the walls at Bar Carigiet in the Chesa Veglia (tel: +41 81 837 1000; www.badruttspalace.com), and there's always something going on in Hotel Schweizerhof's pub (tel: +41 81 837 0707; www.schweizerhofstmoritz.ch).

Eating out

Although St Moritz is known for its sophisticated restaurants, it can cater for all tastes. Chasellas (tel: +41 81 833 3854; www.suvrettahouse.ch) is a popular lunchtime stop that is transformed into a secret gourmand destination come dusk, with Chef Robert Jagisch using seasonal produce in his signature Italian haute cuisine. El Paradiso (tel: +41 81 833 4002; www.el-paradiso.ch) has a similar offering, though it's more cheese fondue than fine-dining.

Ecco on Snow in the Giardino Mountain Hotel (tel: +41 818 366 300; www.giardino-mountain.ch) is one of the resort's most popular and has earned 2-stars from the prestigious Michelin guide, thanks to its innovative head chef, Rolf Fliegauf.

Veltlinerkeller (tel: +41 81 833 4009; www.veltlinerkeller-stmoritz.ch) is good for Swiss specialities, but if you want choice, Hotel Laudinella (+41 818 360 000; www.laudinella.ch) has four restaurants: Siam Wind (Thai), Pizzeria Caruso (Italy), Kura (Japanese) and La Brasserie (French).

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Nearly two-thirds of visitors to St Moritz in winter have no intention of skiing or boarding. They are happy to take the lift up to a gourmet restaurant, go on a sleigh ride along the frozen lakes or, if they time it right, perhaps watch a horse race, polo or a cricket match on the ice.

St Moritz has the famous Cresta Run (www.cresta-run.com) toboggan route, which is men only – due to old-fashioned chauvinism or chivalry, depending on your point of view. It also has the only bobsleigh run still 'handmade' out of natural ice each winter, which hosts international races and can claim to be the world's largest ice sculpture.

Other things to do in St Moritz include visits to the various spas, museums and galleries, a trip to the cinema or casino, or a game of indoor tennis or squash.

Family fun

There are non-skiing childcare facilities in several of the hotels, typically operating between 0900 and 2100 with a break for lunch. Among these, the nurseries in the Kulm Hotel (tel: +41 81 836 8000; www.kulmhotel-stmoritz.ch) accept children from age three; while Kempinski Hotel (tel: +41 81 838 3838; www.kempinski.com) can look after kids aged three months to 12 years. Badrutt's Palace Hotel (tel: +41 81 837 1000; www.badruttspalace.com) and the Hotel Schweizerhof (tel: +41 81 873 0707; www.schweizerhofstmoritz.ch) also have day nurseries.

The local ski schools accept children in special all-day classes on the slopes from age three, with indoor periods for younger participants. Several of these schools will pick up children from various points around the resort.

Retail therapy

St Moritz is the ultimate destination for serious shoppers. In fact, arguably more people travel here for the shopping than for the skiing. There are more than 150 shops in St Moritz, including designer boutiques such as Armani, Versace, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and Bulgari along Via Serlas. For delectable chocolates, head to Confiserie Hauser at Via Traunter Plazzas 7 (tel: +41 81 837 5050; www.hotelhauser.ch).

Splashing out

Not splashing out is the challenge in St Moritz. But those hoping to sample the resort's lavish nightlife should save some cash for an evening in the famous King's Club in the Badrutt's Palace Hotel (tel: +41 81 837 1000; www.badruttspalace.com). This swanky nightclub stays open until sunrise (or whenever it feels like closing) with celebrities and lesser-known royalty among the clientele.

Hotels

The glitzy resort has its fair share of luxurious accommodation to suit well-heeled visitors, with over half the hotels being rated either 4- or 5-stars – the highest concentration in Switzerland. Most of the accommodation is modern, with some traditional, chalet-style offerings.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap