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Restaurant Recommendations for 25th Anniversary

Hi everyone - my wife and I will be traveling to Switzerland in late June for our 25th Anniversary. It will be our first time there (and my wife’s first time in Europe).

We are staying in Wengen as our home base for ten days, and will have a Swiss Travel Pass for our stay. I’m looking for some recommendations for a nice restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. Cost is not a huge factor - we are open to spending 200 or so CHF per person for a nice dinner with wine. The restaurant doesn’t specifically have to be in the Wengen area as we are open to overnighting somewhere else if it makes sense.

We’re open to most any cuisine, but like many Americans, generally favor Italian and steak (beef) as our go-to fancy options here at home. Our anniversary falls on a Tuesday if that matters.

Please pass along any favorite spots. Thank you in advance and we cannot wait to visit and enjoy!

Posted by
2633 posts

If you’re in Wengen and like Italian food, be sure to check out Pasta & More. The food and service was excellent!!! I would probably pick another place though for the big anniversary dinner.

Posted by
1443 posts

Grats on the anniversary! I would ask a local, your hotel concierge, or even someone at the TI. Maybe consider an evening in Bern for more high-end options (it's about 110 mins away from Wengen by train).

Posted by
16028 posts

Hotel Bären is reputed to have the best restaurant in Wengen, with an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients. We I enjoyed every dinner when we stayed there. Here is a link to their menu, which does include steak:

https://www.baeren-wengen.ch/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fruehlingskarte-1.pdf

However, for a celebratory meal like this, it might be fun to head over to Grindelwald by cablecar (up to Maennlichen) and gondola (down to Grindelwald). Check the operating times on the lifts; you probably would need to return by train.

I really like to dine outdoors when the weather is nice, and have had two great outdoor meals in Grindelwald. One was on the terrace at Hotel Spinne, right in town. You feel like you are practically at the base of the Eiger. The other was on the deck at Hotel Bodmi, above Grindelwald on the Terrassenweg. The Gleitschirm pilots (paragliders) land in the field nearby and have a special table reserved on the deck. It makes for a fun atmosphere.

Check the respective website for photos. I couldn’t fine menus online for you.

Posted by
16028 posts

Here’s another idea: take the boat from Interlaken Ost to Grandhotel Giessbach at the far end of the lake. Ride the funicular up to the hotel, explore the waterfall, then enjoy your celebration at the restaurant, maybe on the terrace if you like. Reservations essential.

https://www.giessbach.ch/en

Here is the menu (again with an emphasis on fresh and local, Swiss meat and produce, and they do serve steak):

https://www.giessbach.ch/images/pdf/Klassiker-Karte-ENG-22.pdf

You can return to Wengen by train from Brienz, using the hotel shuttle bus to reach the station (confirm this in advance).

Posted by
367 posts

I agree with Carrie that the food and service at Pasta & More in Wengen is great. However, I don't think the atmosphere, although very nice, is particularly special. That said, I was there on a foggy early May evening, and I think they might have an outdoor area with views. If true, that would be special.