Condé Nast Traveller Middle East
SABINE GETTY
Still-life snowy peaks and warming hideouts with the high
impact bold-gem jeweller
I was born in Geneva and would spend most of my time beside the lake in the Parc des EauxVives. Growing up, I longed to live somewhere more exciting, but now I recognise how incredible Switzerland is, surrounded by wildlife and full of beautiful little towns, old chalets and converted barns. My favourite places are up in the mountains. Gstaad, where I go with my family every winter, is a standout. The town is dominated by the grand Gstaad Palace hotel, which sits at the top of the hill. Its lobby bar is always filled with people who look as if they’ve walked out of The Pink Panther. I also love St Moritz; the views across the Engadin valley are spectacular – lunch up there on a sunny day is extraordinary. The old town in Via Maistra is home to my go-to cashmere store, Lamm, which sells sweaters and scarves in every colour imaginable. When I’m keen to get out of the snow, I head to Café Hanselmann for a signature Swiss hot chocolate. For Italian food, Roberto is a time-warp institution in the centre of Geneva. And Road Runner makes burgers right in front of you. In the evening, I stop by rue HenriBlanvalet which is full of bars and has the tastiest Peruvian spot in town, Alma. My all-time top dish is wiener schnitzel with rice. Switzerland makes the best in the world and there’s a restaurant in Geneva, Auberge d’Onex, that serves an
enormous one called the elephant’s ear.
On the edge of captivating Lake Lucern and overlooked by the Rigi mountain, Park Hotel Vitznau is a historic castle. parkhotel-vitznau.ch