Words by Sara Darling
As soon as you leave the (let’s be honest) overly long British customs queue at Zurich, you can forget your worries. Sit back and soak up the delightful duo of train journeys that whizz past the incredibly pretty scenery that makes up the St. Gallen Rhine Valley, and within an hour you will pull into the home of Zurich’s infamous Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. At the foot of the Pizol, the area has a long tradition for its thermal waters, and today boasts a first-rate wellness resort with adjacent top-class hotels, hot baths and golf courses, and are just what you need to get you in the zone for a relaxing spa and foodie break.
After five months of renovation, the original hotel has had a complete makeover, with fresh natural tones and the finest materials now creating a new kind of casual lifestyle and five-star luxury, where the abundant thermal water is reflected in various elements across the luxury suites and this historic gem oozes charm, grand architecture and impressive views.
The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is centred around Switzerland’s famous thermal springs which come directly from the Tamina Gorge, and the hotel revolves around this unique relationship with nature, so the spa is central to any experience. Although there are award-winning restaurants on site, you will probably notice more people milling around in their robes on the way to the spa; and the hotel prides itself on its unpretentious atmosphere.
Hotel
The resort was established in 1868, and is located between the pulsating city of Zurich and the invigorating, natural beauty of Switzerland’s unspoiled countryside. In the prominent position for a relaxing retreat, four interconnected hotels offer luxuries like an uber modern penthouse suite with wraparound balcony, which is often frequented by Premier League footballers, Roger Federer and, erm, Justin Bieber. You can even shop to your heart’s content in the rather exclusive, luxury boutique.
The overall look is classic and airy, with the single foyer welcoming all guests, overseen by a gigantic, ornate chandelier taking pride of place, which merges traditional and contemporary.
Room
The rooms at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz were freshly renovated in early 2023 and you can choose to have balconies facing the garden or the park, and the mod cons, including the divine waterfall shower make using the exclusive thermal spa toiletries a dream.
The refurbished rooms were overseen by Swiss architect Claudio Carbone, bringing a sense of modernity to the heritage hotel as well as celebrating the elements in their most natural form. With natural décor punctuated by calming modern art, the rooms are a delight; and although you wouldn’t expect to spend much time in them, the facilities are there should you need them.
Food and drink
Foodies will be delighted with the offerings at the hotel, although you may want to hide the weighing scales in your room if you plan to indulge in the Michelin starred restaurants.
From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, the cuisine has been thoughtfully curated for its wellness and indulgent properties. Stock up on the breakfast buffet at Olives d’Or or enjoy something more refined in the a la carte restaurant, verve by sven, which sticks to a theme of preparing seasonal, authentic and close to nature cuisine. This one Michelin star restaurant is also open for dinner, and the vibrant atmosphere is the perfect setting for hearty, healthy food, Alpine-style cocktails and handmade non-alcoholic drinks.
There are countless options for lunch, whether it’s picking up some takeaway sushi to enjoy on the terrace or a superfood salad and a smoothie, and you can also enjoy a snack menu beside the outdoor pool, however the main event is dinner, and Memories is the place to be.
Sven Wassmer, the man responsible for evoking great nights at Memories has left no stone unturned for a magical visit to his three-star Michelin restaurant. From the open plan, but surprisingly private, setting (the covers are tastefully separated by bamboo screens), the tasting plates are bold and full of contrasts. The open kitchen is as slick as the service, and the dishes which follow the micro-seasons are as fresh as they come. This pared back cuisine is worthy of even more awards, and you can enjoy tiny morsels of deliciousness in a seven, nine or 11-course tasting session.
Next to try should be the two Michelin star IGNIV by Andreas Caminada restaurant, fronted by head chef Joël Ellenberger, 27-year-old native of Zurich. Modernity meets fine dining as you and your party can enjoy sharing the joy of small plates comprising up to 30 different dishes, with a wine list to match.
With two other restaurants, Zollstube and Namum providing the full gamut of global delights, you might want to take advantage of the wellness facilities next.
To do
In 1535, when doctor and philosopher, Paracelsus, became the first doctor in Bad Pfäfers to testify to the healing powers of the thermal springs, wellness tourism was born. From 1840 the thermal water was piped down to the more easily accessible village of Ragaz, four kilometres away, so Ragaz quickly became a renowned health resort, and every guest has unlimited access to the hotel’s natural spa, which boasts a spacious sauna area including a Finnish sauna, steam bath and a textile salt sauna bath; you can then cool off in the impressive ice grotto. This is the largest infusion sauna in Switzerland made of Kelo-wood, and the Kneipp zone is made of precious natural stone.
If you’re feeling energised, why not do some laps in the Sports Bath, which has lanes for a proper workout, or just enjoy the private sun deck after your dip? There’s also a larger thermal bath open to the public (which is free for hotel guests). The most well-known in Switzerland, it boasts warm and cold water baths with water jet and shower features, and a sheltered Garden Pool in the shadows of the surrounding Graubünden mountains.
Once you’ve exhausted the spa, you can book in for a treatment. With a comprehensive menu of therapists for relaxation and wellness, and cosmetic treatments, you literally could leave feeling like a different person! However, it’s not just about holistic wellness, the recently refurbished hotel merges fine dining, golfing and a Medi Spa into a luxury resort, which also boasts oversized contemporary sculptures in the lawns.
Weekly activities are also arranged, and I enjoyed water aerobics and a mountain hike, making socialising as a solo traveller a breeze.
In a nutshell
Come to feel good, leave feeling even better!
Factbox
Address: Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Bernhard-Simon-Strasse 20, 7310 Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 303 30 30
Website: resortragaz.ch
Photography courtesy of Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.
