High in the snowy Swiss Alps, nestled inside one of Europe’s most prestigious hotels, you’ll find an utterly intriguing restaurant – The Japanese by The Chedi.
It’s not often that you encounter a two-Michelin-starred modern Japanese restaurant in a ski resort, yet that’s just one part of what makes this restaurant so alluring.
A staple on our European driving tours, The Chedi has offered us many dreamy evenings of fine dining, and I want to give you a flavour of this truly unique destination with this insider’s guide.
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Why Andermatt is one of Switzerland’s brightest hidden gems
The village of Andermatt in the heart of the Swiss Alps has long been a favourite of mine as well as the team and our guests. It’s difficult not to fall in love with such a charming alpine village, with its postcard-perfect views, world-class facilities, and affable locals.
Featuring the largest ski area in Central Switzerland, it’s naturally a winner with skiers, snowboarders and winter sightseers, while hikers, bikers and even golfers enjoy this verdant area in the summer months. Andermatt is also perfectly positioned as a base for motoring enthusiasts wanting to enjoy the thrill and beauty of some of Switzerland’s most iconic mountain passes, including Grimsel, Furka and Susten.
After a busy day of exploring this hidden gem village, you can retreat to one of many stunning hotels in the area. My personal favourite is a sumptuous five-star architectural masterpiece named The Chedi.
It’s exactly what I want from an ultra-luxe ski-chalet hotel, with cosy log fires, exemplary service and plush rooms, and The Chedi’s spa is worth the trip alone. Yet it’s an evening spent at the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant that lingers long after we’ve departed.
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Mastering Japanese in the Swiss Alps
In such a traditional Swiss village around 1,450 metres above sea level, The Chedi stands out for its unusual marriage of alpine chic and Asian design. The Asian influence peppers the entire hotel, from the latticework panels and paper lamps to the intriguing artwork dotted around the rooms. This taste of Asia undoubtedly peaks at the restaurant, The Japanese by The Chedi.
This highly respected establishment perfectly blends the flavours and styles of both East and West. Helmed by twin brother chefs Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon, the restaurant fuses European fine-dining with Asian specialities, including sushi and sashimi, and has earned two Michelin Stars and 17 Gault-Millau points for such superior quality.
The brothers’ venture has been so well received, in fact, that the pair have now opened a brand-new sister restaurant, The Japanese by The Chedi at Gütsch. Holding another Michelin Star, this enticing eatery sits even higher at 2,300 metres above sea level, with unparalleled views of the magical Urseren valley.
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Vibe check: ambience
You enter the Japanese restaurant through the hotel via an unassuming pair of traditional noren curtains, leading to a peaceful pathway lit by lanterns nestled among large smooth pebbles.
This traditional and intriguing entrance opens to a chic and minimalist dining space, with dark woods and natural stone fittings that create a warm and inviting atmosphere – just what you want when the external temperature is often below freezing.
Much like the hotel itself, the Japanese restaurant feels upmarket but unpretentious. It’s sophisticated and smart, but you can relax and not worry about making a faux pas with the cutlery.
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Style of cooking, signature dishes and more
The Japanese by The Chedi offers both an à la carte and modern omakase menu, and it’s the latter we choose for our guests. This four-to-six course tasting menu gives the chefs freedom to showcase their favourite dishes of the region, which results in some true wonders.
While the menu changes, you’ll find dishes such as Norwegian lobster with miso, pumpkin and citrus; Kagoshima wagyu, chanterelles, Bimi broccoli, and Koju Negi vinaigrette; and Balfego Tuna Daikon, Mioga, and Shishito pepper. The flavours are unsurprisingly out of this world and each dish is cooked to perfection.
If you’re looking for something to sip, then you are quite literally spoiled for choice. The restaurant offers one of Switzerland’s most extensive wine collections, with a 2,000-bottle wine library that’s on the cusp of overwhelming. You’ll also find the best selection of sakes in all of Europe.
To best enjoy this variety, I definitely recommend opting for the flight board, which allows you to enjoy multiple sakes, wines, or both, in one indulgent sitting. It’s also difficult to ignore that this beautiful hotel also has its own dedicated cheese room – a feature lacking in many five-star hotels!
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Why we include The Chedi and its two-Michelin-star restaurant on our tours
We include the village of Andermatt on several of our European and Swiss driving tours for both its gorgeous location and proximity to some of our favourite alpine roads. Of course, as we spend the night in this enchanting town, there’s never been any question of where we retire for the evening, and that’s the Japanese restaurant and the gorgeous hotel in which it sits.
The Chedi is the embodiment of the feeling we strive to deliver on our tours – opulent, exclusive and with a definite wow-factor, while still remaining light, fun and relaxed.
We also love to incorporate experiences where interesting people are doing interesting things, and what better example than a highly celebrated and awarded Japanese restaurant helmed by two young chefs in the middle of the snowkissed Swiss alps. It’s a little surreal, but we adore it.
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How our guests react to the experience
An evening at The Chedi’s restaurant always leaves our guests pleasantly stunned. Both new and returning guests on our tours tell me how they love such diversity in their dining experience. Being in an alpine paradise, they naturally expect the classic haute cuisine of the region, yet this is elevated when married with the sensory twist of Japan’s unique flavours and ingredients – not to mention the sake.
Combined with the stunning setting and first-rate service, The Chedi and its restaurant are pure class and have quickly become a highlight of our Swiss tours.
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Discover The Japanese By The Chedi and Switzerland with Ultimate Driving Tours
The best way to experience this sublime restaurant is naturally after a day of navigating latest-release supercars around the fabulous Swiss Alps. You can join us for two nights at The Chedi and a gastronomic evening at The Japanese by The Chedi on our luxury Swiss supercar driving tour.
To learn more about this tour or our collection of exclusive European tours, talk to our friendly travel concierge team today.
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