Bernese Oberland

Romantik Hotel
Schweizerhof HISTORIC HOTEL $$$
(%033 854 58 58; www.hotel-schweizerhof.com;
Dorfstrasse; s/d/ste with half-board Sfr295/510/640;
pis) The grand dame of Grindelwald, this
plush art nouveau hotel has stylish rooms
with gleaming slate-fl oored bathrooms. The
spa is a big draw, with massage jets, treatment
rooms, a teeth-chattering ice grotto
and a pool with wide-screen mountain vistas.
The restaurant (mains Sfr26 to Sfr44) uses
home-grown vegetables and herbs.
Alpenblick HOTEL $$
(%033 853 11 05; www.alpenblick.info; Obere
Gletscherstrasse; dm Sfr40-45, d Sfr140-180; pW)
In a quiet corner of town, 10 minutes’ stroll
from the centre, Alpenblick is a great budget
fi nd, with squeaky-clean, pine-fi lled rooms.
Basement dorms are jazzed up with bright
duvets. There’s an American-style diner
(mains Sfr15 to Sfr19) and a terrace with
glacier views.
Residence HOTEL $$
(%033 854 55 55; www.residence-grindelwald.ch;
Dorfstrasse; s Sfr100-110, d Sfr170-190; p) This
homey chalet is tucked away in a serene
part of the village with brilliant views to
Wetterhorn. Decorated in neutral hues with
’70s-style trappings, rooms aren’t special
but they are spotless. The best rooms have
geranium-smothered balconies.
Mountain Hostel HOSTEL $
(%033 854 38 38; www.mountainhostel.ch; Grundstrasse;
dm Sfr37-44, d Sfr94-108; piW) Near
Männlichen cable-car station, this is an
ideal base for sports junkies, with well-kept
dorms and a helpful crew. There’s a beer
garden, ski and bike room and TV lounge.
E-bike rental costs Sfr50 per day.
Downtown Lodge HOSTEL $
(%033 828 77 30; www.downtown-lodge.ch; Dorfstrasse;
dm/s/d Sfr38/50/90; iW) Central,
clean and welcoming digs. Dorm buildings
resemble military barracks, but the facilities
are comfortably above par with a bistro,
shared kitchen, TV lounge, games room
and free internet.
5 Eating
Bars, restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets
line central Dorfstrasse.
Onkel Tom’s Hütte PIZZERIA $$
(%033 853 52 39; Im Graben 4; pizzas Sfr13-33;
h6pm-midnight Thu, noon-midnight Fri-Tue) Tables
are at a premium in this incredibly cosy
barn-style chalet. Yummy pizzas are prepared
fresh in three sizes to suit any appetite.
The encyclopaedic wine list fl icks from
Switzerland to South Africa.
Memory SWISS $$
(%033 854 31 31; mains Sfr21-30; Dorfstrasse;
h11.30am-10.30pm) Always packed, the
Eiger Hotel’s unpretentious restaurant
rolls out tasty Swiss grub like rösti,
raclette and fondue. Try to bag a table on
the street-facing terrace.
C & M FUSION $$
(%033 853 07 10; mains Sfr23-36; h8.30am-
11pm Wed-Mon) Just as appetising as the
menu are the stupendous views to Unterer
Gletscher from this gallery-style cafe’s sunny
terrace. Enjoy a salad, coff ee and cake,
or seasonally inspired dishes like venison
stew with dumplings and bilberry-stuff ed
apple.
Pizzeria da Salvi PIZZERIA $
(%033 853 89 89; Dorfstrasse 189; pizza Sfr17-23;)
This cheerful Italian in Hotel Steinbock rolls
out delicious wood-fi red pizza. There are 110
diff erent kinds of grappa on the menu.
6 Drinking
Espresso Bar BAR
(Dorfstrasse 136; h2pm-1am) Full to the gills
in winter, the misleadingly named Espresso
Bar in the Hotel Spinne draws a boisterous
beer-guzzling crowd. It also harbours
kitschy Mexican-themed Mescalero (hMon-
Sat winter, Wed, Fri & Sat summer) with a DJ and
occasional live music.
Avocado Bar BAR
(Dorfstrasse 158; h3-10pm Mon-Fri, 2-10pm Sat &
Sun; W) This is a young ’n’ fun place to kick
back on a leather pouff e with a post-ski
schnapps or people-watch on the terrace
in summer.
8 Information
The tourist offi ce (%033 854 12 12; www
.grindelwald.ch; Dorfstrasse 110; h8am-noon &
1.30-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon & 1.30-5pm Sat &
Sun) in the Sportzentrum hands out brochures and
maps. There’s an accommodation board with a
phone and a coin-operated internet terminal outside.
The post offi ce is next to the main train station.
8 Getting There & Around
See p122 for train fares. Grindelwald is off the
A8 from Interlaken. A smaller road continues
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JUNGFRAU BERNESE OBERLAND REGION EATING GRINDELWALD