The Hotel Meisser is a beautiful, historic hotel in the charming Swiss village of Guarda. Can you tell us a bit more about what makes it so special?
It’s certainly a unique location up in the mountains. We are right in the middle of the Swiss Alps at high altitude where the air is clean and crisp. We overlook the valley from the hotel with winding hiking trails from right outside our door. It’s a really special place for winter holidays, too, as it’s so pristine and bright with snow.
What can guests do from the hotel? Do you have a favourite walk?
You step out and you’re right in the middle of nature. You can grab a toboggan or walk and visit the coffee houses in town.
My favourite walk at the moment is an 11km loop around Munt, which is high-altitude, but not too challenging and with panoramic views. There’s a ski station just 20 minutes away by public transport as well as cross-country skiing tracks and a 3km ice path. My family and I love tobogganing the most though, it’s great fun.
The hotel itself has a rich heritage dating back to 1893, can you tell us more about how your family came to own and run the hotel?
It’s a family story that started five generations ago. My great grandmother worked at a hotel where she met my great grandfather, who was not from the Engadine Valley. They married and moved to where she was from, which was not very usual for the time, bought an old farmhouse and remodelled it into a hotel.
You can still see the farm structure of the hay barn today, which is the historic dining room overlooking the valley.
I was 14 when I decided to take over the business – my father had two hotels but I always liked Guarda where I feel at home. Mostly because of the mountains we look out on to, the Lower Engadine – they look like the Dolomites – I was always drawn towards them.
You can still see the farm structure of the hay barn today, which is the historic dining room overlooking the valley.
I was 14 when I decided to take over the business – my father had two hotels but I always liked Guarda where I feel at home. Mostly because of the mountains we look out on to, the Lower Engadine – they look like the Dolomites – I was always drawn towards them.
What do you think guests enjoy the most about their stay with you?
We have comments like “It took us 80 years to find the best hotel in the world” and “perfect as usual”. It’s the entire experience: the accommodation, the staff, the hospitality, the dining, and breakfast – everything comes together and that’s what they appreciate so much. Guests describe us as the “perfect holiday spot” and we have a lot of regular guests.
It took us 80 years to find the best hotel in the world.
We’ve spoken a lot about winter, how does it compare to summer in the Engadine Valley – what’s magical about each season?
We have the four seasons here: winter is snowy, bright, and cold with fireplaces lit in the hotel lounge, hot chocolate, and cakes.
Spring is a unique time of year for the special variety of flowers that grow here – it’s really incredible. Summer here isn’t too hot up in the mountains, so during the day it may reach 28-30oC, but at night you can sleep comfortably.
Autumn, though, that’s my personal favourite – I love September and October, they’re beautiful months. The larch trees turn yellow alongside the green pines – it’s just beautiful, often sunny, and so clear you feel like you can touch the mountains.
Spring is a unique time of year for the special variety of flowers that grow here – it’s really incredible. Summer here isn’t too hot up in the mountains, so during the day it may reach 28-30oC, but at night you can sleep comfortably.
Autumn, though, that’s my personal favourite – I love September and October, they’re beautiful months. The larch trees turn yellow alongside the green pines – it’s just beautiful, often sunny, and so clear you feel like you can touch the mountains.
The region is also renowned for its produce – does the hotel have a signature dish?
It’s all related to the seasons. We try and balance local produce on the menu, but all prepared in a four-star way. It’s a set menu but you can always change dishes, it’s no problem. I would say our signature dish is saddle of venison that we flambé at the table – it’s an optional extra we offer during autumn and winter, but well worth it.
And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the future?
We’re concentrating on guest experience; that’s always our main focus. We also have the Meisser Lodge for wellness retreats and the Meisser Romantica for couples to enjoy a cosy retreat, too. But we have lots of plans – more on that soon!
Hotel Meisser - quick overview
Location: Guarda, Switzerland’s Engadine Valley (one of the country’s best-kept secrets!)
An Inntravel perfectly-picked hotel since: 20+ years
Listed as a Swiss Historic Hotel: converted from a farm building into a hotel in 1893. The dining room, for example, still has the Art Nouveau-style stucco ceiling. Everything has been remodelled and furnished in-keeping with traditional Engadin style.
Facilities:
Lounge with open fire
Winter sport equipment rental (snowshoes, toboggans, hiking poles etc).
Bike hire in summer.
Dining room where you dine on your 4-course set menu using locally-sourced and seasonal produce.
Panoramic garden with sunbathing lawn.
How to get there: Fly to Zürich airport – you can then travel by train and bus to Guarda – or you can take the train from London to Zürich (our travel experts can arrange this for you).
Location: Guarda, Switzerland’s Engadine Valley (one of the country’s best-kept secrets!)
An Inntravel perfectly-picked hotel since: 20+ years
Listed as a Swiss Historic Hotel: converted from a farm building into a hotel in 1893. The dining room, for example, still has the Art Nouveau-style stucco ceiling. Everything has been remodelled and furnished in-keeping with traditional Engadin style.
Facilities:
Lounge with open fire
Winter sport equipment rental (snowshoes, toboggans, hiking poles etc).
Bike hire in summer.
Dining room where you dine on your 4-course set menu using locally-sourced and seasonal produce.
Panoramic garden with sunbathing lawn.
How to get there: Fly to Zürich airport – you can then travel by train and bus to Guarda – or you can take the train from London to Zürich (our travel experts can arrange this for you).