10 restaurants to give you a flavour of Valais

Housed in a charming wooden chalet and surrounded by Alpine meadows, forest and mountains, Pension Albrun is the very essence of traditional Swiss hospitality. The menu also reflects traditional dishes, but these sit side-by-side with modern cuisine, offering a culinary experience to suit all palates. Book a spot on the terrace to make the most of those stunning Alpine views.

Add some cosmopolitan charm to your Flavours of Valais experience at Channa, where the pretty inner courtyard will make you feel like you’re dining in the Med. Channa’s menu also has some Mediterranean flair to it, thanks to Italian favourites like pasta, pizza and risotto, although there are plenty of Swiss staples and Valais specialities, too, such as Channa’s house fondue, served with saffron for a gourmet twist.

Any restaurant that you arrive at by cable car is going to be pretty special and that’s precisely what Auberge du Mont-Gelé is. The panoramic terrace offers breath-taking views across the Rhône Valley and a huge stretch of the Alps. Menu-wise, you’ll find Swiss favourites like fondues, platters and rostis, plus daily specials – just try not to gaze at the views for so long that you forget about your food.

It doesn’t get much more local than at at Wirtshaus Godswärgjistubu, where vegetables and fruit from the venue’s garden and surrounding forests are used to create seasonal four-course menus that change regularly – as such, there are plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans here. There’s also a sense of history to the restaurant, as the building dates back to 1636, although its creative cooking these days couldn’t be more contemporary.

With eight types of fondue and raclette made from the famous Valais AOP Bagnes, Raclett’House is a welcome window into Valais’ culinary history. What’s more, as it’s housed in a former ski chairlift café, the views across Val de Bagnes (from 1,100 metres high) are exceptional.

It turns out that regional specialities taste even better when they’re accompanied with a mountainside view at 1,008 metres and a glass of local wine, as you’ll discover at the restaurant of Hotel Bahnhof. And if you fancy walking off a few of those newfound calories afterwards, you’re in the middle of a hiking haven, Sonnige Halden.

Sit back and enjoy the charms of Anzère, a small Alpine village with plenty of character. As you admire the mountain views from the restaurant’s pretty, flower-filled terrace, take your pick from a wide range of dishes that showcase Swiss gastronomy alongside global flavours. Even if you’re not on the terrace you’re still in for a treat, as the chalet-style décor inside is super-cosy and inviting.

Get back to nature while you eat at this cute, family-run restaurant nestled amongst some of Valais’ finest scenery. The focus here is firmly on local products, including wild plants picked fresh from surrounding meadows – the perfect opportunity to get a true taste of the region, in dishes like the panna cotta with ‘garden blackberries’. And let’s not forget the views across the Rhône Valley, the Valais Alps, the Matterhorn and the Dent-Blanche.

If you’ve never dined in a castle before, now’s your chance – and if you have dined in a castle, you’ll still definitely want to try out this Medieval venue, which boasts great views out over nearby Sierre. There are traditional dishes galore to enjoy here, plus an extensive wine list featuring over 650 varieties, which you can buy to take home if you find one that really hits the spot. The restaurant also recommends ending your meal with its pear flambé with pear liquor and sorbet – we recommend following their recommendation.

Set within a striking, ornate former hotel building from 1906, Restaurant de la Gare has been operating for over 30 years and is proud to shout about its seasonal, local produce. This includes asparagus (a Valais speciality that’s famous around Switzerland) in spring and juicy strawberries from the mountains when they’re in season. Afterwards, soak up some history at the Abbey of Saint Maurice, a sixth century marvel just minutes away from the restaurant.