The Gstaad tradition
Japanese in Gstaad, and why it's worth the detour
Gstaad has become an unlikely Japanese dining destination. The anchor is MEGU at The Alpina Gstaad — a full-program Japanese fine-dining restaurant with a serious sushi counter, kaiseki-style tasting menus and an omakase program. MEGU runs at 15-16 Gault Millau points and is the most sophisticated Japanese restaurant in any Swiss mountain resort. A handful of other Gstaad kitchens serve Japanese-influenced dishes or have sushi chefs on staff, but MEGU is the center of gravity.
History & context
MEGU opened with The Alpina Gstaad in 2012 as part of a global luxury-hotel expansion of the Megu brand (originally New York). The Gstaad outpost quickly established itself as the best Japanese in the Alps. The sushi program is run by a team trained in Tokyo and rotates its fish supply through European channels with specific overnight shipments from Tsukiji / Toyosu.
What to order
At MEGU: omakase sushi counter (best seats in the house, 8-12 courses), the signature MEGU tasting menu, black cod miso, Wagyu teppan. Elsewhere in Gstaad: individual Japanese dishes (sashimi plates, tempura, teriyaki) at a handful of international-style restaurants. The top-tier sake list is at MEGU — worth asking for the sake pairing with the tasting menu.
Booking & practical
MEGU books 3-6 weeks ahead in peak winter, 1-2 weeks otherwise. The sushi counter (8 seats) is particularly hard to book — request it specifically. Dress code smart-casual, jacket appreciated. Other Japanese-serving restaurants in Gstaad are much easier to book (1-3 days).
