Gstaad has two excellent Japanese dining options — an unusual distinction for a Swiss mountain resort. MEGU at The Alpina is a full fine-dining Japanese experience with Michelin recognition and the largest sake collection in Switzerland. HUUS Hotel in Saanen offers a more casual sushi counter alongside its Mediterranean kitchen. Both are worth knowing about.
Gstaad's Japanese restaurant scene is a direct result of the resort's international clientele. Japanese visitors — executives, wealthy families, art collectors — have been coming to Gstaad for decades, and the demand for high-quality Japanese food in the valley drove the development of MEGU as a serious fine-dining destination. The altitude and climate of the Alps, combined with Switzerland's superb dairy and freshwater fish, create an unexpected but genuinely excellent set of local ingredients for a Japanese kitchen to work with.
MEGU is located at Alpinastrasse 23 within The Alpina Gstaad hotel. The restaurant was designed by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, whose interior combines raw Alpine materials (stone, wood, leather) with Japanese minimalism in a way that is visually spectacular. The sushi counter seats 8–10 guests in direct contact with the chefs. The main dining room accommodates 40–50 covers. MEGU is listed in the Michelin Guide and has been since shortly after The Alpina opened in 2012.
The omakase counter at MEGU is the defining experience. Chef Tsutomu Kugota selects 10–14 pieces of nigiri and hand roll based on what is freshest and best that day — the preparation follows classical Edo-mae style with Swiss refinements (Swiss-caught char, valley-raised Wagyu). The counter seats are the most sought-after in the restaurant and require advance booking. Budget CHF 180–260 per person for the omakase before sake pairing.
Beyond the omakase, MEGU's kitchen is known for: the snow crab and seared scallops with truffle miso (the most photographed dish in the restaurant); the Wagyu beef preparations — both Japanese A5 and Swiss-raised on the menu simultaneously; and the uni (sea urchin) preparations when available, which are some of the finest in Switzerland. The kitchen also produces excellent tempura and hot dishes for guests who prefer cooked preparations to raw.
The sake list at MEGU contains over 80 references, ranging from entry-level junmai to rare aged sake and premium ginjo prepared by small breweries in Niigata and Hyogo. The sommelier can guide a complete sake pairing (5 sakes, CHF 85 per person) that traces the progression from fresh, lightly aromatic styles to richer, more umami-forward bottles that complement the Wagyu and truffle preparations. For guests unfamiliar with sake, this pairing is the best possible introduction.
HUUS Hotel in Saanen operates a sushi counter within its main restaurant at Schönriedstrasse 74. The counter is less formal than MEGU and positioned as part of a broader Mediterranean-Japanese fusion offering. The sushi preparations are solid rather than exceptional — good quality ingredients, well-executed technique — and function as an attractive option for guests who want Japanese food in a more relaxed hotel atmosphere. Prices are CHF 30–60 per person for sushi plates.
MEGU's kitchen is notable for its integration of Swiss Alpine ingredients into a Japanese framework. Swiss char (Saibling) from the valley's mountain streams is prepared sashimi-style, as it would be in Kyoto or Tokyo with local river fish. The wild mushrooms of the Saanenland — chanterelles, porcini, morels — appear in dashi preparations and as accompaniments to wagyu. This fusion is not forced: Japanese cuisine has always incorporated local seasonal produce, and the Alpine terroir proves an excellent match.
MEGU is open daily for dinner during the winter season (approximately mid-December to March). Reservations through The Alpina central number at +41 33 888 98 66 or through our concierge. The restaurant is not open in summer (check The Alpina for current seasonal schedule). Dress code is smart casual — no ski gear. The counter seats book out fastest on Friday and Saturday evenings; these require at least 10 days advance booking.
MEGU works particularly well as the dinner component of a day that began with a morning on the mountain and an afternoon in The Alpina's Six Senses Spa. The light, precise nature of Japanese cuisine sits well after physical activity, and the sake pairing provides a gentler alcohol trajectory than a full wine programme. The walk from Gstaad village to The Alpina is 15 minutes; the hotel shuttle runs during dinner hours.
We call The Alpina in German or English, confirm the MEGU reservation, and note any special requirements (omakase counter preference, anniversary, sake pairing). The confirmation comes to you on WhatsApp with the address, dress code and parking details.
Gstaad · Japanese, Fine Dining
Cosmopolitan Japanese cuisine in an interior by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance. Sushi counter with Chef Tsutomu Kugota and the largest sake collection in Switzerland.
Saanen · International, Japanese
Mediterranean-inspired kitchen plus an in-house sushi counter at the design-led HUUS Hotel. Modern classics in a relaxed alpine setting.
MEGU is the main Japanese fine dining destination. HUUS Hotel in Saanen has a sushi counter as part of its broader menu. There are no other dedicated Japanese restaurants in the valley.
Budget CHF 140–260 per person for food (à la carte or omakase), plus CHF 85 for the sake pairing if requested. Total per person typically CHF 200–350.
Yes, with a minimum of one week's advance notice. The kitchen prepares a vegetarian sushi and composed dish programme. Notify us when booking.
Yes. The MEGU team guides guests through the omakase with explanations of each piece and preparation. The experience is designed to educate as well as please.
Yes — MEGU is open to non-hotel guests. Hotel guests get priority for the counter seats, but external reservations are accepted throughout the season.
Send one WhatsApp message. We call the restaurant in English, German, French or Italian, confirm the table, and reply with your booking details — usually within 10 minutes.
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