Kandersteg hotel

Hotel Victoria-right in center of town… 5 min walk to train station and 15 min walk to cable car.

We have stayed at the Adler a couple of times, 20 years ago, on our way to the inn up at Oeschinensee. It was OK, but were we to go back to Kandersteg I would look to a higher rated hotel, such as the Bernerhof or the Ermitage. The recent reviews on the Adler sort of confirm my impression that they are not particularly warm or generous—-particularly the one about getting scolded for drinking water from one’s own water bottle at dinner. I completely belief the story, because (1) the guy admits that he pulled the “this is how we do it in America” card, and (2) I had a similar experience with the so-called “Welcome Drink” that they offer guests (one night a week) before dinner. I was staying there with my hiking club from Seattle. The owner was pouring glasses of wine into small champagne flutes, and mine got filled last. The bottle of wine ran out when my glass was half-full and he walked away, presumably to get another bottle, but he did not come back. When he started pouring for others, I went over to ask him to top up my glass and he snapped “I am not buying you your dinner drink!” It was pretty embarrassing.

Actually, since the mountain inn we like so much up at the lake is no longer taking overnight guests, we are unlikely to return to Kandersteg. And last time we were there (2018), and could stay at the inn, the lake level was so low it was a bit depressing. Not the place I remembered at all. I hope that at least has been remedied.

Thanks Michael and Lola!

Yes, I agree it is bad manners and against “the rules” in many restaurants to drink from one’s own water bottle instead of ordering water from the server. But the owner/manager handled the indiscretion badly.

The review says they ordered fondue for dinner, and for beverages she ordered a Coke and he a whiskey. The fondue was salty, and she wanted a drink of water instead of a sip of her Coke, but the server was nowhere around. So she took a drink from her water bottle (apparently they had come straight to dinner with their daybacks from hiking). When the manager saw this and scolded them, they asked for two glasses of water, and he said no, they should have ordered that with their meal and other beverages. The man pulled out his “that’s not how we do things in the US” comment (which of course is irrelevant and the wrong thing to say anywhere). The manager proceeded to argue with him about that, and then left.

They did manage to get the server to bring them 2 glasses of water (which I presume were added to the bill, since a charge for tap water is usual in Switzerland).

Regarding hotels I am leaning towards Bernerhof for our family of four (two adult children) after reviewing the three recommended - although they all look great. Thanks again for the recommendations.
If anyone has direct experience with this hotel would love your two cents. Considering we will hopefully be out hiking for most of our time - just looking for a pleasant room and atmosphere , good, local food and family owned (ideally).