Switzerland doesn't lack for five-star hotels. You can't throw a snowball in St. Moritz or Gstaad without hitting a lobby filled with gold leaf and history. But honestly, The Chedi Andermatt is just built different. When it opened back in 2013, people thought Samih Sawiris—the Egyptian billionaire behind the whole project—was a bit nuts. Andermatt was a sleepy, grey military town. It wasn't "chic." It was where soldiers did drills.
Fast forward to 2026, and the gamble didn't just pay off; it redefined what a mountain retreat looks like.
Most luxury hotels in the Alps go for that heavy, "Grandma’s lace and heavy curtains" vibe. The Chedi went the other way. It’s got this weirdly perfect mix of Alpine wood and Asian minimalism. Think high ceilings, over 200 fireplaces (not a typo), and dark, moody textures that make you feel like you're in a Bond villain’s lair—the version where the villain has really good taste and a great skincare routine.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Design
You’ll hear the term "Alpine Chic" thrown around a lot. Usually, it's marketing fluff. At The Chedi Andermatt, it actually means something because of Jean-Michel Gathy. He’s the architect who basically invented the modern "ultra-luxury" look you see at Aman resorts.
He didn't just slap some bamboo on a chalet.
The hotel uses local wood and stone, sure, but the layout is wide open. You’ve got these massive, floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Gemsstock mountain like it’s a piece of art. The lighting is low. The smell? It’s a custom blend of leather, cedar, and something vaguely spicy that you’ll want to bottle and take home.
It’s expensive. Let's not dance around that. You're easily looking at over 1,000 CHF a night during peak season. But here's the thing: the rooms are enormous. Even a "standard" Deluxe Room is around 52 to 55 square meters. That’s bigger than most city apartments. You get Hästens beds (the ones that cost as much as a mid-sized SUV) and iPads that control everything from the fireplace to the blackout curtains.
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The Food Situation is Actually Kind of Wild
If you’re staying here, you aren't just eating fondue. Well, you can, but that’s not the point.
The Japanese restaurant at The Chedi Andermatt has two Michelin stars. Two. In the middle of the Swiss Alps. Chefs Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon do this Omakase thing that is, frankly, mind-bending.
Then there’s "The Japanese at Gütsch." To get there, you have to take a cable car up to 2,400 meters. It’s officially one of the highest Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. Eating high-end sushi while looking down at the Urseren Valley is a core memory kind of experience.
But if you want to see something truly ridiculous, go to the main restaurant. In the center, there’s a five-meter-high glass cheese cellar. It’s like a cathedral for dairy. They have over 50 varieties of regional and national cheeses. You haven't lived until a sommelier explains the nuances of a three-year-old Sbrinz while you’re sitting under a massive chandelier.
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The Spa and That 35-Meter Pool
The Spa & Health Club covers 2,400 square meters. It’s huge. It’s basically a temple to relaxation with a heavy Tibetan influence.
Most people come for the pools.
- The Indoor Pool: It’s 35 meters long, which is actually long enough to swim laps without feeling like a hamster in a wheel.
- The Outdoor Pool: Heated, obviously. There’s something special about swimming while it’s snowing and the steam is rising off the water into the crisp mountain air.
They have these hydrothermal circuits with Finnish saunas, bio saunas, and salt steam baths. If you've spent the day skiing the Gemsstock—which is a "serious" mountain, not for the faint of heart—this is where you go to stop your legs from falling off.
The Ski Butler (Yes, Really)
This is one of those services that sounds like a gimmick until you use it. The Chedi Andermatt has ski butlers. They don't just store your gear. They’ll drive you to the lifts, have your boots warmed up, and even help you click into your bindings if you’re feeling particularly lazy.
When you come back, they take your skis, dry them off, and hand you a warm drink. It removes every single annoying part of skiing.
Andermatt itself has changed too. It’s now connected to Sedrun and Disentis, meaning you have about 180 kilometers of slopes to play with. The Gemsstock side is steep and rugged, perfect for off-piste fans. The Nätschen side is sunnier and "softer," better for families or if you’ve had a few too many drinks at the après-ski bar the night before.
Is It Worth the Hype?
Look, it’s a bucket-list destination. It’s not "cozy" in the traditional, cramped Swiss way. It’s grand. It’s sophisticated. It’s the kind of place where you see people in $5,000 cashmere sweaters drinking $200 bottles of wine in the Wine & Cigar Library (which, by the way, has the largest hotel cigar collection in the world).
But it doesn't feel stuffy. The staff are surprisingly chilled out. They call it "Chedi Service"—slick but not robotic.
If you’re looking for a quiet, budget-friendly mountain hike, this isn't it. But if you want to see what happens when you combine Asian Zen with Swiss precision and a massive budget, you sort of have to go.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip
- Book the Glacier Express: The train stops right in Andermatt. It’s the most scenic way to arrive and beats driving through the Gotthard Pass any day.
- Reservation Strategy: If you want to eat at The Japanese, book it the same day you book your room. It fills up months in advance, especially during the winter holidays.
- Off-Peak Hack: Visit in late September or early October. The larch trees turn bright gold, the rates drop significantly, and you can still hike the Furka Pass without freezing.
- The "Day Spa" Option: If you can't swing the room rate, you can actually buy a day pass for the spa (usually around 200 CHF, which often includes a credit for treatments). It’s the best way to experience the vibe without the four-figure bill.