16 Best Restaurants in Graubünden, Switzerland

Come to this formal yet welcoming restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains, for an interesting mingling of regional and international ingredients with an Asian flair, such as duck from Vals with dumplings, and frozen yogurt made with local milk and Junmai sake. Chef Mitja Birlo forages wild herbs, mushrooms, and berries to use in his dishes; pair his innovative nine-course tasting menu with either wines from around the world or juices made from local ingredients such as blueberries and cherries.

A cozy bistro and the region's top place for fondue, this "café des artistes" dates back to the late 1880s, when it served as the town firehouse. After an art deco overhaul, it became a long-standing haunt for those seeking out snails, regional mushrooms, and age-old recipes for cheese and meat fondues. A convivial atmosphere with plenty of regional wines makes for a relaxed dinner. There is also a children's menu. 

In a chic, minimalist Alpine space—a mix of original wood-beamed ceilings, whimsical chandeliers, and cozy throws on the chairs—about a 20-minute train ride or 15-minute drive north of Pontresina, Paolo Casanova devises modern Italian menus using unique local ingredients such as lichen, dandelions, and pine cones, depending on the season. Creative combinations may include deer venison tartare with pickled quail eggs and sage powder, or marmot tortellini with plantain wildflower and mountain pine oil, all beautifully presented and paired with Swiss wines from the fabulous wine list. Order à la carte, or if you can’t decide, you can’t go wrong with the four- or eight-course tasting menu.

This friendly, touristy restaurant up the hill from Klosters stands proud in its majestic setting, with a large, open terrace offering incredible valley and mountain views. As for the food, there is a wide selection of dishes to choose from—most using regional and sustainable ingredients—but be sure to try their seasonal game specialties. Inside, decor runs to mounted animal trophies and old-world exposed beams; outside is the breathtaking mountainscape.

For a candlelit, romantic Swiss meal with a truly spectacular view, take the funicular up to the restaurant at the Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl. The rustic-chic setting and expansive terrace provide perfect outlooks to the lakes and mountains as you dine on local and seasonal specialties. Though there's a large selection of meat and game dishes (in season), fish-lovers and vegetarians will also find satisfying choices. Bring your appetite, because the portions are large and the food is hearty. The large wine list includes lots of fine choices from Graubünden vineyards.

In a 17th-century rustic-luxe Bauernhof (farmhouse) whose raw beams, aged wood, and native carvings have been self-consciously restored, the Chesa Veglia (run by Badrutt's Palace hotel, which is just up the street) is divided into three restaurants: an upscale grill (Grill Chafaö), which uses an original stone oven; a cozy Stübli (Patrizier Stuben); and a pizzeria (Pizzeria Heuboden). Menus include a good range of Continental and local cuisine—with sky-high St. Moritz prices, except for the more casual, family-friendly pizzeria (which, true to St. Moritz style, still uses premium ingredients like truffles and Grison air-dried meat in addition to the classics). The grill, open only in winter, features live piano music in the evenings, and there are two bars where you can people-watch over a drink before or after your meal. When Elizabeth Taylor and other legendary VIPs headed to St. Moritz, this was their favored watering hole, and it still attracts a smart and stylish crowd in season.

For seasonal Engadine specialties served in a charming setting, try lunch or dinner at the Colani Stübli, inside the Hotel Steinbock. The restaurant serves regional dishes such as barley soup, Rösti, and Capuns (meat-filled dumplings wrapped in Swiss chard), but really shines in the autumn, when the kitchen prepares exceptional game and chestnut dishes. One item not to miss all year-round: the polenta "Engadiner Art," a filling cornmeal dish with bacon and local cheese. Though the menu is heavy on meat, there are a number of vegetarian items, too. The Stübli has been modernized in keeping with Engadine style—think lots of wood and warm colors—and the service is fast and friendly.

With its pine-paneled interior and crackling log fire, this traditional Engadine restaurant has all the coziness of Grandma's house: it's more homespun than glitz and glamour, and reasonably priced and low-key for couples or a small group of friends. The specialty is a decadent champagne fondue, though other favorites are veal liver with Rösti and, in winter, escargots. During summer months, there are tables out front that offer partial views of the lake and, as an added bonus, the La Gondla Après Ski bar—in an old gondola, not 10 steps from the restaurant door—is open daily in both summer and winter.

The decor fits the name, with a tile floor, old French posters, dried flower bouquets hanging from the ceiling, and newspaper cuttings on the walls. The menu leans French, with sautéed duck liver and bouillabaisse, but there is relatively lighter fare, including salads and sashimi. The larger room is flooded with sunlight and bedecked in greenery with an immense view across the valley, but come sundown the call from the cozier warmth of the front parlor draws those looking for romantic lighting and convivial chatter.

Their tagline “wildkraüter & feuerwasser” translates to “wild herbs & firewater,” and indeed, the kitchen at this cozy eatery with a hip industrial vibe and expansive terrace offers a fine selection of salads composed of local herbs and vegetables along with cocktails, a large choice of Swiss beers, and a smaller selection of Swiss wines. They also serve up Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as halloumi with buckwheat and roasted chickpeas, tabouleh, hummus, and tzatziki, along with burgers and a soup of the day—all a nice break from the usual fondue and Rösti.

Young and old meet in this friendly, trendy place with a great big mural featuring the restaurant's specialty: chicken. The special dishes change daily, and the popular lunchtime menu and Sunday brunch are reasonably priced. Besides the tasty half or whole chicken dishes (available only at dinner), diners will find a wide selection of meat selections; vegetarians are also well catered to. The large, shaded outdoor terrace with a bar playing hit music is a great place to cool off in the summer.

A homey, rustic eatery slightly outside Klosters offers up an eclectic menu of traditional Swiss dishes, international plates, and—a rarity in this region—Asian recipes, all family-friendly and without fuss or fanfare. Stone-clad floors and wall-to-ceiling Arvenholz (the traditional pinewood interior of the region) ensconce you in the warmth and comfort of a true mountain abode. Diners can enjoy a range of Thai and Indian curries as well as sushi and sashimi, along with sausages and fondue, followed by homemade cakes—it's all somehow reminiscent of a family gathering at the kitchen hearth. In the summer months, you can choose to dine in the relaxing outdoor garden.

For one of Graubünden's—if not Switzerland's—top food experiences, make a beeline to world-renowned chef Andreas Caminada's tasting-menu-only restaurant, within a charming castle in the mountain town of Fürstenau. Diners can choose from three- to five-course menus at lunch and dinner, all featuring seasonal, local ingredients presented in beautiful and imaginative ways; delightful wine pairings include producers from both Switzerland and neighboring countries such as Germany as well as more traditional choices. Reservations (taken up to eight months in advance) are absolutely essential. You can also stay overnight in one of nine comfortable guest rooms; the stunning grounds include an outdoor pool with lovely views.

With a focus on the highest-quality ingredients and a simplistic, Mediterranean cooking style that allows each individual taste to shine, dining here is a true culinary experience, though be prepared to spend almost as much on a meal as on a hotel room. Though the menu changes seasonally, it always includes a tempting mix of fish, game, meat, and poultry dishes, with a blend of local and international ingredients. To finish off, try the chocolate mousse made with olive oil; the result is a deeply rich, unctuous dessert, which miraculously remains as light in your stomach as it was in your mouth. The seven-course tasting menu is actually an excellent value when compared with the à la carte dining.

Well priced for the area, this bright, genial restaurant has nothing swanky about it—lots of wood, ancient moldings in the form of grapes, and a welcoming wood fire where meat is roasted while you watch. In addition to grilled meats and whole trout, there are delicious and varied homemade pastas served family-style from crockery bowls. The owners look after the grill, and their touch with Italian-Romansh cooking is light and straightforward.

This homey wine bar offers both simple and more elaborate gourmet meals, depending on your interest. Inside, the massive wooden winepress is the star; outside, it's the beautiful garden terrace with views of the surrounding vineyards. Snack on a Bündnerfleisch Teller (meat plate) or Alpkäse (cheese plate), try some local pastas or meats, or soothe your sweet tooth with homemade goodies. Don't miss the selection of local wines for sale.