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Schloss Schauenstein

Fürstenau

A fairy tale dining experience of fine Swiss hospitality and produce

On the Pass

Marcel Skibba and Andreas Caminada

Why go? Schloss Schauenstein could have been plucked from the pages of a storybook. Housed in a remote castle perching atop a mountain in Fürstenau – the smallest town in the world – it encapsulates the Swiss Alps at their most atmospheric. Opened in 2003, the oak-panelled restaurant also hides nine charming boutique bedrooms, while its romantic locale and fine-tuned menu makes it a destination-dining experience worth making a trip for.

Who’s behind it? Local boy Andreas Caminada, who fell in love with fine dining after visiting Jardin des Sens at the age of 20. His restaurant empire includes Igniv, which has outposts in St Moritz, Bad Ragaz, Zurich and Bangkok; casual Remisa near Schloss Schauenstein; Casa Caminada, featuring an all-day restaurant and guestrooms; and Oz, a vegetarian fine dining restaurant he opened in June 2021 in Fürstenau. He also heads up a chef foundation to foster new talent (Fundaziun Uccelin) and publishes a biannual bookazine, Caminada Documenta, where he discusses his culinary inspiration. The other pair of creative hands in the Schloss Schauenstein kitchen belongs to head chef Marcel Skibba, a trusted protégé of Caminada.

The dining experience: An enveloping, evocative dining room and friendly service give way to a menu of exciting incarnations of modern Swiss cooking. Ranging from characteristic preparations with a single ingredient to a mélange of intricate, surprising flavours and nuanced presentation, it epitomises Swiss precision. The menu enriches the senses, with dishes like trout with kohlrabi and dill, deer cooked with wine and yogurt, and beautiful beef served with local flowers.

Bonus point: Thanks to a truly forward-thinking vision that encompasses the castle’s gardens, kitchen and restaurant, Schloss Schauenstein obtained the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2019.

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