“This car belonged to the Queen,” the red and navy uniformed chauffeur tells me as I sit in the back seat of a vintage black Rolls Royce on the short drive from St. Moritz train station to Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.
This type of old world grandeur is what Badrutt’s Palace is known for. A place where Armani-suited waiters flambe crepe suzette tableside; international elites and Europe’s blue blooded families sip glasses of Krug on their annual winter pilgrimage; and where even the most outlandish guest request is made possible (one historic-rumour includes sea lions and the hotel swimming pool).
Class, luxury and tradition never go out of style in the world of Badrutt’s Palace, but the grande dame also knows when to innovate. And the chateaux-style hotel opened by Swiss businessman Casper Badrutt in 1896, has done just that with the unveiling of its biggest expansion of Badrutt’s Palace to date: The Serlas Wing. A notably contemporary six-story extension designed by Antonio Citterio, co-founder of Milan-based ACPV architects.
Taking its name from Via Serlas – St. Moritz’s famed thoroughfare and the address Badrutt’s shares with some of the world’s most exclusive designer boutiques – the wing adds another 25 rooms and suites to the grand hotel’s repertoire. On the ground floor, the prime real estate has been snapped up by designer names like Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent who have opened boutiques, while underground, a walkway provides guests discreet access to St. Moritz village square, without having to brave the snow.
Citterio, who himself owns a house in St. Moritz, drew influence from the traditional architecture of the surrounding Engadin valley for the building’s alpine-stone facade. Inside deviates from tradition with a modern interpretation of mountain-chic. “[This is a] completely new chapter in the hotel’s history, one that architecturally creates a bridge between tradition and the future,” explains Richard Leuenberger, the hotel’s Managing Director.
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Stay
Inside the Badrutt’s Palace Serlas Wing, wool and cashmere Loro Piana panels line the walls, with Citterio also selecting the Italian fashion house’s fabrics to upholster headboards, bed skirts, and custom B&B Italia furnishings. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Badrutt’s Palace’s iconic turrets and the snow-capped Alps, with large living space warmed by open fires and walnut-hued carpentry. A penthouse with a dedicated elevator crowns the building, with lake and mountain views, and a wood-paneled roof crafted using the traditional Japanese technique, Yakisugi.
Guest’s can expect the same signature service as those staying within the original Badrutt’s Palace building next door, with in-suite butler service as standard and attentive touches like Engadiner Nusstorte and champagne on arrival.
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Dine
During the winter season, the hotel is home to 11 restaurants ranging from sushi by chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, to fondue in The Palace’s 15th century Swiss farmhouse, Chesa Veglia.
A visit to the famed Renaissance Bar for a signature St. Moritzino cocktail and a perusal of the cigar menu is a must. As is afternoon tea under the six-meter high ceilings and towering lakeside windows of the hotel’s iconic lobby, Le Grand Hall.
While breakfast can be enjoyed in-suite, it’s worth leaving the comfort of your high-thread count linens for a table at the opulent Le Restaurant, where your eggs benedict avec truffle is accompanied by the strums of a harpist.
On the slopes, the hotel’s Paradiso restaurant is the place to be seen. Reserve a sheepskin-clad booth and tuck in to oysters amidst DJ sets and epic alpine vistas. At night, the party moves to Badrutt’s Palace’s basement at The King’s Social Club, Switzerland’s oldest nightclub.
For something altogether unique, a chef-prepared tasting menu, amongst the rare vintages in The Palace’s candlelit wine cellar – housing 30,000 bottles – is unforgettable.
[See also: Experiencing an Alpine Wonderland at Four Seasons Megève]
Relax
While the Badrutt’s Palace Serlas Wing was under construction, the hotel unveiled its new outdoor vitality pool in summer 2024, enveloped by postcard-worthy alpine scenery and heated to 97 degrees Fahrenheit – ideal for a dip all year round. The indoor infinity pool also boasts the same mountain views, while the aroma and salt steam saunas and private spa suites are the antidote to a day on the slopes. An extensive treatment menu includes regenerative collagen facials and ayurvedic massages.
Explore
In summer, experience sailing on the sun-kissed turquoise waters of Lake St. Moritz; visits to local cheese producers and guided hikes through fragrant pine forests.
In the cooler months, St. Mortiz transforms into a winter wonderland with ice skating on frozen lakes and horse-drawn carriages through the snow, adding to the fairytale feel. While a glitzy calendar of society events includes the annual Snow Polo World Cup and The Ice classic car race.
St. Moritz’s ski season runs from late November to early April, with over 300 km of groomed slopes on Badrutt’s Palace’ doorstep.
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