The Gstaad Palace will open its doors for the winter season on 15 December 2025. This winter, Gstaad will not only be white as snow – it will also be pink as a panther. Exactly 50 years ago, the European premiere of Blake Edwards’ Hollywood blockbuster The Return of the Pink Panther was held at the hotel on Oberbort hill, where most of the film was shot and produced. To celebrate this anniversary, the film will be shown again at two exclusive screenings in the Salle Baccarat. The 5-star superior hotel will also serve up musical performances to suit every taste and a range of culinary highlights. Guests can enjoy these at the new Le Grand restaurant, during a legendary New Year’s Eve dinner that will transport them back to the world of the early 20th century, or at the traditional seafood brunch.
Exactly 50 years ago, Peter Sellers – playing the clumsy Inspector Jacques Clouseau – stumbled through the revolving doors of the Gstaad Palace. The famous film also celebrated its European premiere at the hotel above Gstaad, where most of it was shot. It was Peter Sellers himself who brought the Palace and its legendary GreenGo nightclub to the big screen. General Manager Andrea Scherz still clearly remembers how, aged six, he stood at the entrance for hours, watching Blake Edwards and his stars with great excitement: ‘It’s probably one of my most vivid childhood memories, and it’s not something you experience every day: being there when such a great film is being made, basically right on your doorstep. Fifty years later, the film has lost none of its greatness or humour.’ To celebrate the anniversary, The Return of the Pink Panther will be screened twice during the winter season in the Salle Baccarat at the Gstaad Palace: on 22 December 2025 and 19 January 2026. This cinematic highlight is a must for hotel guests and Pink Panther fans alike.
A culinary journey through winter
The second major highlight of the upcoming winter season is the completely renovated and redesigned main restaurant with the memorable name Le Grand. The newly designed menu is now available and offers a wonderful selection of dishes, ranging from Alpine-inspired risotto and trendy poke bowls to Simmental tomahawk steak. Table service remains the restaurant’s speciality and is greatly appreciated by guests, whether they’re enjoying freshly carved salmon or spaghetti al Gildo prepared to cinematic perfection. A special evening will be celebrated at the Gstaad Palace on Christmas Eve. On 24 December, the Lobby Bar will be filled with a festive Christmas atmosphere, complete with live music and a stylishly decorated Christmas tree that has even been featured in the Swiss television channel SRF’s current documentary series. Christmas dinner starts at 7 pm. The Palace’s New Year’s Eve celebration has a ‘Vintage Circus’ theme, transforming the hotel into an early 20th-century ballroom. This will be an evening where guests can indulge in nostalgia and experience a place where time stands still for one night.
The new year gets off to a relaxed start at the Gstaad Palace with the legendary seafood brunch, another one-of-a-kind Gstaad bestseller. Those who miss the first seafood brunch can return any Sunday in February to catch up. Other highlights include Marinara-style mussels and chips every Wednesday at Gildo’s Ristorante . Even when you’re in love, you should always make space for culinary delights. The Gstaad Palace invites you to a Valentine’s dinner: this candlelit tête-à-tête will be an unforgettable experience, with a carefully composed menu accompanied by the finest champagne.
Outdoors and indoors: experience Gstaad winter in all its wonder
The Gstaad Palace has created a selection of jaw-dropping winter moments especially for its guests. The best way to experience the tranquillity of Saanenland in winter is on a pair of snowshoes. A helicopter flight over the snow-covered peaks from Wildhorn to Videmanette, known as Rüeblihorn by the locals, is anything but ordinary. Freeriding in untouched powder is a unique adventure, almost like being in the Rocky Mountains. After a day in the snow, the Palace Spa provides relaxation with a sauna, a whirlpool under the starry sky or a cup of tea by the warming fireplace. Or invest in your health by booking the Gstaad Palace Signature Wellness Activity programme. This programme focuses on longevity and consists of two sessions: a short workout with a personal trainer, followed by 10 minutes in the Himalayan sauna and a cold shower. It is rounded off with a Cellgym session and a lymphatic massage.
A winter soundtrack for every taste
The Gstaad Palace has its fair share of musical highlights, too: on Christmas Eve, the Scherzo ensemble will enchant guests with classical masterpieces played on the balalaika. One of the highlights of New Year’s Eve is the arrival of the Treichler Club Gsteig. At midnight, these men and women literally ring in the New Year with their huge cowbells. During the seafood brunch in February, guests can enjoy the unmistakable folk music of local artist Andreas Kolly. Also in February, on the 8th and 22nd, it’s time for Dixieland. The Dixieland Bulls Band returns to the Gstaad Palace to delight guests with a touch of New Orleans on the Oberbort.
Winter highlights to put in your calendar:
