Winter magic in delightful mountain huts

A lounge right at the very heart of the glacier landscape of the Alps? At 2,860 metres above sea level? Why not! The spectacular Refuge l’Espace near the Glacier 3000 mountain station above Gstaad is an uniquely elevated glacier lounge that boasts breathtaking views. Just getting there is already an experience in itself. You have the option of reaching the hut on foot along the Glacier Walk in around 45 minutes or getting there in comfort by taking the snow bus. Oh and by the way, helicopters and light aircraft can also land within yards of the hut. The welcoming hosts are more than happy to help you organise exclusive events and group functions for up to 30 people. Your team can expect not just unique views but also delicious regional cooking and, if you time your event just right, perhaps even a bearded vulture or two on the terrace...

An excursion to the Tschärzis mountain hut above Gstaad is guaranteed to be an unforgettable team experience. The authentic alpine hut is located near Lake Arnen at 1400 m above sea level. The journey up there alone is an experience, with the means of transport including a minibus, helicopter, horse-drawn carriage ride or your own (snow)shoes. With its cosy log-cabin atmosphere, warming furs and an open fire, the Tschärzis hut is as warming to the heart as it is to the soul. The choice of menu is as open as the skies high above the mountains, with such traditional Swiss dishes as Fondue and Raclette as well as regional specialities.

A “pinnacle of pleasure” is the strapline of the Wasserngrat mountain restaurant, and it’s certainly a fitting slogan given that, high above Gstaad, at an altitude of 1,920 metres above sea level, the view of the surrounding peaks really is a pleasure in itself. A meal in this mountain chalet is a real experience. Awarded as a top event location in 2016, the restaurant seats up to 160 people inside, with space for up to 250 guests on the two levels of the terrace outside. You and your team may well want to start off with a glass of champagne or mulled wine down at the chairlift valley station. In only seven minutes you will then find yourself at the Wasserngrat, from where you can make your way back down again later in the evening along the torch-lit trail.

Still an insider tip: The Eggli mountain restaurant is quick to reach using the gondola lift by the same name; after all, the valley station is just a few minutes from the village centre of Gstaad. But when you do get to the top in winter, the scenery that opens up to you is something else! Welcoming you all are snow-covered landscapes, fir trees with a dusting of snow, and cosy inviting hospitality. The kitchen has a selection of creative culinary options on offer – whether in the mountain restaurant with its sunny south-facing terrace or the exclusive Eggli Lounge.

The alpine hut has been there since 1858, the alpine restaurant since 2010: with meticulous attention to detail the former alpine farmer’s hut on the Balisalp has now been transformed into restaurant Balis. And here, at the Balisalp ski lift below Käserstatt in the skiing and hiking region of Meiringen-Hasliberg, every member of the team is warmly welcomed as a “mountain friend”. Indeed, among these welcoming hosts, mountain friendship is not an empty phrase. With a team event at the Balis you and your group are guaranteed a genuinely hearty selection of dishes: from a traditional alpine farmer’s breakfast with rösti to home-made cheese tart and legendary platters packed with local alpine cheeses and shavings of Hobelkäse – up on the Balisalp, authenticity, joy, and team spirit is everywhere!

If you and your team have yet to discover the Schwarzwaldalp located in the romantic Reichenbach valley, then you must head straight for the heart of Switzerland and the Haslital. Once you reach this magical winter wonderland, all kinds of snow-based activities await your team, with something to suit every mood: sledding, snow-shoe trekking, or an equally attractive social programme. After a warming drink by the open fire you and your group will enjoy delicious, beautifully composed menus and home-made desserts to round off the day. The rustic atmosphere that makes the restaurant so warm and cosy is replicated in all the bedrooms, making this the ideal place to spend the night.