The Japanese by Chedi Andermatt — Andermatt, Switzerland

It’s only natural to work up an appetite while skiing, though, normally, one is obliged to wait till the end of the run before dining. All the more reason to applaud Studio Seilern Architects’ new project high on the Andermatt slopes.

Conveniently located at the intersection of three cable car lines, the handsome stone- and timber-clad aerie, which holds two sunlit restaurants on its single level platform, was inspired by Manolo Valdez’s luminous carved stone sculpture of Horta de Ebro.

The Chedi’s chutzpah in opening a Japanese restaurant at this altitude is matched by Seilen’s serene design of the high-ceilinged volume, where the tectonic tableau visible through the oversized windows is anchored by pinewood panels, a sushi bar made of reconstructed stone, and Muoser furniture.

The best seats in the house are on the wide outdoor terrace overlooking the Andermatt Valley, though head chef Dietmar Sawyere manages to distract with a mix of bento boxes, omakase, kaiseki, and tempura.

ADDRESS

53 Gotthardstrasse
Top station Guetsch Express Cable Car
Andermatt

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