Suvretta House
A historic five-star mountain hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland, known for Belle Époque character and direct ski access.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Suvretta House is a five-star luxury hotel on the outskirts of St. Moritz in the Swiss Engadin. Opened in December 1912, the property occupies a prominent position above the town and is recognized for its Belle Époque architecture, formal hospitality, extensive leisure facilities, and access to the Corviglia ski area. The hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and has traditionally operated as an independent, family-associated resort rather than as a standard international chain property. The property's origins predate the hotel. An English shipbuilder commissioned Villa Suvretta for his wife from Swiss architect Karl Koller, but later sold the villa to Charles Sydney Goldman, a British parliamentarian and businessman. Goldman acquired additional surrounding land and subsequently joined forces with Swiss hotelier Anton Bon to develop a large resort hotel. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on 22 April 1911, and the hotel opened on 16 December 1912. Its original scale was substantial: it reportedly contained 250 rooms, 370 beds, 110 bathrooms, and a wide range of public rooms, including library, billiard, bridge, music, smoking, tea, banquet, and dining spaces. Anton Bon and his wife, Marie, established the hotel's operating culture. After Anton Bon's death in 1915, Marie continued to shape the property's atmosphere, combining traditional European service with the modern comforts expected of an early twentieth-century grand hotel. Their son Hans Bon became director in 1916. The hotel's setting and reputation attracted prominent visitors and cultural events. In 1919, the ballroom hosted Vaslav Nijinsky's final public performance, an event that remains part of the property's historical identity. Suvretta House also became closely associated with winter sports. In 1935, one of Switzerland's early ski lifts was inaugurated at the hotel, connecting the Suvretta area with Randolins and providing direct access toward Corviglia. The property is described as St. Moritz's only ski-in/ski-out hotel. Its mountain-sports offer has expanded to include ski storage and lockers, an on-site ski shop, guided winter activities, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and children's ski instruction. In summer, the hotel promotes hiking, Nordic walking, sailing, golf, yoga, Pilates, tennis, and other outdoor activities. The hotel closed between 1941 and 1946 during the Second World War. Subsequent generations of the Bon family retained ownership or operating involvement, while the building and facilities underwent successive renovations. Management changed to Dorli and Rudolf F. Muller in 1968. The property later added a swimming pool, spa, winter ski room, sports areas, and other guest amenities. In 1963, Suvretta House acquired additional land to preserve the surrounding downhill slopes from development. In the twenty-first century, the resort has remained seasonal, generally opening for the winter period from early December to early April and again for the summer period from late June to early September. A major renovation completed in 2017 refreshed interiors under designer Sue Freeman while retaining the historic architectural language. The same year, the hotel received the Prix Bienvenu from the Swiss Tourism Association. Around 2018, management and ownership were associated with the extended Bon/Candrian family, with Esther and Peter Egli managing the property after taking over from Helen and Vic Jacob. The modern hotel has been described as having 181 accommodation units, consisting of 171 rooms and 10 suites, although capacity and configuration may change over time. Facilities include an indoor pool, wellness centre, spa, outdoor Jacuzzi, adult-only sauna and steam-room areas, tennis courts that can become an ice rink in winter, shops, several restaurants, a bar, and mountain dining venues. The Grand Restaurant emphasizes formal service and historic interiors, while Suvretta Stube offers a more flexible dining…
History
Suvretta House developed from Villa Suvretta, a residence designed by Karl Koller for an English shipbuilder. The villa was later acquired by Charles Sydney Goldman, who purchased surrounding land before partnering with hotelier Anton Bon to create a substantial resort. Construction began on 22 April 1911, and the hotel opened on 16 December 1912. Its original facilities reflected the grand-hotel model of the era, with hundreds of rooms and beds, numerous bathrooms, formal dining and banquet rooms, a library, billiard and bridge rooms, a music salon, and spaces for smoking and tea. Anton and Marie Bon established the hotel's early operating identity. Following Anton's death in 1915, Marie continued to guide the property, and their son Hans Bon became director in 1916. The hotel's ballroom gained cultural significance in 1919 when Vaslav Nijinsky made his final public appearance there. The property also attracted internationally prominent guests, including members of royal and political families and well-known actors. Winter tourism became central to the hotel after a ski lift opened at Suvretta in 1935. The lift connected the hotel area with Randolins and enabled access to Corviglia, helping establish Suvretta House as a ski destination. The hotel closed from 1941 to 1946 during the Second World War. It later underwent multiple renovations and additions, including a swimming pool, spa, ski facilities, sports areas, and expanded recreational infrastructure. In 1963, the hotel acquired further land to protect its ski slopes from development. Ownership and management remained linked to several generations of the Bon family and related interests. Dorli and Rudolf F. Muller took over management in 1968. Helen and Vic Jacob managed the resort from 1989, followed by Esther and Peter Egli from 2014. A renovation completed in 2017 updated the interiors while preserving the historic character, and the hotel received the Swiss Tourism Association's Prix Bienvenu that year. Today, Suvretta House operates as a seasonal luxury resort. It normally serves winter and summer seasons rather than remaining open throughout the year. Its offer combines approximately 181 rooms and suites, formal and informal restaurants, mountain dining, wellness facilities, indoor swimming, tennis, winter ice activities, guided alpine programs, ski storage, a ski shop, and children's services. Its distinctive market proposition is the combination of grand-hotel heritage and direct ski-in/ski-out access in St. Moritz.
- 2017
Renovation completed and Prix Bienvenu awarded
[1]A renovation program was completed, and the hotel received the Swiss Tourism Association's Prix Bienvenu.
- 2014
Egli management era begins
[1]Esther and Peter Egli took over management from Helen and Vic Jacob.
- 1968
Management changes
[1]Management passed to Dorli and Rudolf F. Muller.
- 1963
Additional land acquired
[1]The hotel acquired more land to help protect downhill ski slopes from development.
- 1946
Postwar reopening
[1]The hotel resumed operations after its wartime closure.
- 1935
Suvretta ski lift opens
[1]A lift to Randolins connected the hotel area directly with the Corviglia ski region.
- 1919
Nijinsky's final public performance
[1]Vaslav Nijinsky performed publicly for the last time in the hotel's ballroom.
- 1912
Hotel inaugurated
[1]Suvretta House opened on 16 December 1912 with approximately 200 invited guests.
- 1911
Construction begins
[1]The groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel took place on 22 April 1911.
Products and positioning
Independent five-star alpine resort combining historic grand-hotel character, formal Swiss hospitality, wellness, family programming, and direct ski access.
Hotel accommodation
Rooms and suites
The hotel offers historic-style rooms and suites arranged throughout its six-floor building. The accommodation is oriented toward longer luxury stays, with many rooms offering mountain or surrounding landscape views and some including balconies. The reported configuration is 171 rooms and 10 suites, for 181 units in total.
Fine dining
The Grand Restaurant
The Grand Restaurant is the hotel's formal dining venue. Its interior reflects the property's historic grand-hotel style, with a large dining room, decorated ceiling, wood panelling, and carved architectural details. The restaurant has traditionally maintained a formal dress expectation.
Hotel dining
Suvretta Stube
Suvretta Stube provides a less formal dining setting within the main hotel and is used for breakfast and other meals. It complements the formal Grand Restaurant and the property's mountain restaurants.
Mountain dining
Mountain restaurants
Restaurant Chasellas and Trutz extend the hotel's food-and-beverage offer into the surrounding alpine terrain. Chasellas serves hikers and other daytime or evening guests, while Trutz is located at higher elevation and is accessible by ski lift.
Spa and recreation
Wellness and leisure facilities
Facilities include a 25-metre indoor pool, wellness centre, spa, outdoor Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms, and an adult-only cold-plunge area. Tennis courts can be converted into an ice rink in winter, while the resort also provides guided fitness and outdoor activities.
Winter sports · 1935
Ski-in/ski-out services
Suvretta House is positioned as St. Moritz's only ski-in/ski-out hotel. Its winter offer includes direct lift access, private ski lockers for guests, an on-site ski shop, ski-room facilities, guided activities, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and children's ski instruction.
Brand decisions
2017
Modernize interiors while retaining heritage characterOtherBackground
The historic property required modernization while continuing to compete as a luxury grand hotel.
Action taken
A renovation completed in 2017 refreshed the interiors under UK designer Sue Freeman.
Aftermath
The hotel retained its Belle Époque identity and received the Prix Bienvenu from the Swiss Tourism Association.
1935
Invest in direct ski accessStrategyBackground
The resort needed stronger integration with the growing winter-sports economy of St. Moritz.
Action taken
A ski lift was inaugurated between Suvretta and Randolins, creating a direct link toward the Corviglia ski area.
Aftermath
The lift helped establish the hotel's enduring ski-in/ski-out positioning.
Sources2 sources
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