First look: Bergwelt Grindelwald - Hotel Review

Luxury Eiger room - Bergwelt Grindelwald

A new stunner has landed in the fairytale-setting of Switzerland’s Grindelwald. Rousing up the local hotel scene Bergwelt Grindelwald is bringing the region its much needed dose of design - combining mountain remoteness with luxury and looks.

Whether its the spectacular (at times surreal) surroundings, the crisp mountain air or the friendly Alpine towns - the Swiss Grindelwald sure knows how to leave a mark. And guess what - things just got better with the arrival of this new Alpine retreat. Part of Small Luxury Hotels, Bergwelt Grindelwald is taking the stage with 90 playful rooms, a living room-like lobby with fireplace, a buzzy on-site restaurant with cocktailbar and over 800m2 of Spa-heaven.

The location

Surrounded by spectacular mountains, glacier-flanked peaks and rolling Alpine meadows Grindelwald sets the scene for an epic Alpine adventure. It’s the gateway to the world famous Jungfraujoch plateau which has made it to become one of Switzerland’s prime travel destinations. Bergwelt Grindelwald sits in the heart of it all: perched above the lively Dorpstrasse - studded with shops and restaurants - and with magnificent views of the Wetterhorn and the iconic Eiger north face mountains. Over 300km of walking and biking trails lie at your feet in summer, while in winter the nearby ski regions of First and Kleine Scheidegg are the to-go places. Outdoor adventurers will be happy to find out the Grindelwald First cable car station is only a three minute walk away. The towns of Interlaken and Lauterbrünnen are both a 25 minute drive, Zurich International airport an hour and 45 minutes.

Design and style

Bergwelt Grindelwald is best described as a combination of a traditional mountain chalet with the interiors of a cosy design hotel. Exteriors are modest with natural materials in line with its surroundings - think the traditional dark wood paneled facades, anthracite balcony fencing and grey stone walls - while the interiors are colorful and quirky - brought by Swiss Design Hotels and Zurich-based Kalfopoulos Architects. We love the dimmed-light lobby with fireplace and cosy corners - as well as the red tartan patterns that run through the hotel.

The Rooms

The 90 guest rooms are divided between essentials, superiors, luxury rooms and suites. All are generous in size with the essentials starting at 30m2 and the rest ranging up to 48m2 suites. The luxury rooms and suites hold a trump card with spectacular frontal Eiger views. Aside that all rooms come adorned with Schramm boxsprings, a Nespresso coffee maker, a daily restocked minibar, yoga mats and a spacious balcony. Bathrooms are totally sleek with black marble, rain showers and bathroom amenities by London-based Penhaligons. There is also a fun selection of books in each room - often in German - with tales about the Grindelwald. If you’re happy to splash, opt for one of the Eiger suites that come with a fireplace and some even with a private sauna.

Spa and wellness

The absolute highlight at Bergwelt Grindelwald is the Fire and Ice Spa with over 800m2 of sport, spa and wellness pleasure. Hotel guests have unlimited free access to the sauna circuit with a salt stone sauna a minty steam room and other options. There is also a gym, an indoor pool and an outdoor solarium - but the icing on the cake is the outdoor whirlpool with superb Eiger views. No better place to rest your feet after a long day of hiking or skiing than here.

Food and Drinks

Breakfast at Bergwelt Grindelwald is an experience - served in the on-site restaurant BG’s Grill (that also has an outdoor seating area with the views) you’ll have everything you need to kickstart your day. The buffet breakfast features fresh juices (we loved the beetroot ginger), bread and croissants, a good selection of Swiss cheeses, an omelette station, fresh fruits with yoghurt and granola and good coffee. To top things off, there is prosecco too.

Come night time BG’s Grill turns into a buzzy place where both guests as non-hotel guests are welcomed to try Bergwelt’s ‘urban alpine cuisine’. Dishes are made to share and include sautéed king prawns, Swiss salmon steak and Wienerschnitzel - to name a few. After dinner move on to the adjacent cocktailbar and call it a night with an Espresso Martini around the fireplace - or, if it’s a clear night sky, cosy up under a blanket on the outdoor terrace with views on the ever magic mountains.

Bergwelt Grindelwald, rooms from EUR 265 per night incl. breakfast