4 Best Restaurants in Valais, Switzerland

Ideal for long lunches between sessions on the slopes or a panoramic break on an all-day hike, this place perched in tiny Findeln, between the Sunnegga and Blauherd ski areas, has astonishing Matterhorn views to accompany decidedly fresh and creative food. Franz and Heidi Schwery tend their own Alpine garden to provide lettuce for their salads and berries for vinaigrettes and hot desserts; the fluffy Matterkuchen, a bacon-and-leek quiche, fortifies you for the 30- to 40-minute walk down to the village.

High atop the Gemmi cable car station, this casual eatery with floor-to-ceiling windows affords stunning views of the mountains surrounding Leukerbad—a welcome sight while you dine on delectable Swiss specialties including several types of Rösti and cheese fondue. There’s also a good selection of regional wines, including many choices of half-bottles, which you can sample while catching some rays on the panoramic terrace.

In this restaurant within the gorgeous Le Crans hotel, chef Yannick Crepaux comes up with highly creative dishes with cutesy names (want to try “the rustling of our tumultuous kisses?”) using luxe Swiss and international ingredients, available either à la carte or in one of three tasting menus, including the Chef’s Table. Unexpected combinations may include rabbit with celeriac, fig, and black elderberry, or langoustine with rosehip, parsnip, and hay, each perfectly paired with wines from the voluminous list and poured against a backdrop of stunning mountain vistas.

This overflowing tearoom with exquisite pastries, run today by the third generation of the Taillens family, is a landmark beloved by locals and visitors alike and a must-stop before or after an activity-packed day. Light meals—salads, soups, and sandwiches—keep service clipping along at a fast pace; peruse the dessert cases for decadent concoctions of chocolate, fruit, sugar, and whipped cream.