Davos wine bar with Engadin views

Davos combines world-class skiing with intellectual prestige as host of the World Economic Forum. The town's wine bars offer excellent Swiss selections in a sophisticated atmosphere, with après-ski venues catering to both locals and global visitors.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Find Where Dr. Spengler Prescribed Wine as Medicine History · Free

   In 1853, German doctor Alexander Spengler discovered NO villagers in Davos had tuberculosis and created a revolutionary treatment: sleep on sun terraces + drink Veltliner wine. By 1890, the railway connected Davos to the world and 40 medical institutions operated here. Thomas Mann's wife came for treatment in 1912, and Mann wrote "The Magic Mountain" (1924) immortalizing Davos's sanatorium culture. Walk the Kurpark promenade near Hotel Europe where 150 YEARS of TB patients took their prescribed "wine walks" - and it worked (the altitude, not the wine). The irony is preserved in luxury hotels that were once sanatoriums.

   Backup: If weather is bad, take the Schatzalp funicular up to the hotel (CHF 10 return). In the Art Nouveau lobby, find the historical photo display showing patients on sun terraces with wine glasses (1900-1950). The hotel has a 110-year-old wine cellar you can see through glass floor panels near reception.

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2. 2 Taste Bündner Herrschaft Wines in the Highest City in Europe Wine · Price: moderate

   Davos sits at 1,560 meters - Europe's HIGHEST city. Wine doesn't grow here (too high, too cold), but 45km away, the Bündner Herrschaft produces world-champion Pinot Noir at 500m altitude. LOKAL Davos (Dorfplatz) pairs wild herbs from the mountains with wines from the valleys - the juxtaposition of drinking Bündner Pinot at 1,560m while looking at peaks where grapes CANNOT grow. Reserve dinner (lokaldavos.com, from 6pm), request a window table, and order Bündner Herrschaft Pinot Noir (CHF 12-18). Ask: "Which winery is this from?" Taste for slate minerality and Föhn wind warmth while eating wild herb salad from Davos mountains.

   Backup: If LOKAL is booked, walk to Restaurant Extrablatt in Kongress Hotel (Belle Époque Art Nouveau setting). They stock "excellent selection of Grisons wines." Request the sommelier's Bündner recommendation. The wine list has 20+ Graubunden producers.

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3. 3 Drink in a 100-Year-Old Stable That's Now Davos's Coolest Bar Adventure · Price: moderate

   This was a working stable for 100 years, now it's Davos's it-spot: Stall Valär near Jakobshorn gondola with 120 seats, dim lighting, wooden walls, and contemporary alpine design. The crowd: locals, WEF regulars who skip official dinners, and ski instructors who know where the actual good wine is. Arrive between 5-6pm (après-ski transition hour), grab a seat at the ground-floor bar, and order Herrschäftler (local term for Bündner Herrschaft Pinot Noir, CHF 14-20). Look up at the wooden beam ceiling - those are original 1920s stable beams. Ask the bartender: "Was this really a stable?" They'll point to where horse stalls stood.

   Backup: If Stall Valär is packed (happens during WEF and ski season), walk 3 minutes to Bolgen Plaza at Jakobshorn base. It's THE number one après-ski in Davos. Large terrace with 40 wicker beach chairs, dancefloor inside. Open Wed-Sun until 7pm. The scene: party-ski, not refined wine - but authentic Davos energy. Order Monsteiner Huusbier (local craft beer from 1,625m altitude brewery).

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4. 4 Dine in Thomas Mann's Sanatorium - Now a Historic Hotel Wine · Price: high · Optional

   This Art Nouveau palace opened December 21, 1900 as a "deluxe tuberculosis sanatorium" and operated until 1953. Thomas Mann based "The Magic Mountain" (1924) on Berghotel Schatzalp (1,861m above Davos). The hotel has a 110-year-old wine cellar served in the Piano Bar with historic X-Ray Smoking Room. Book the wine cellar dinner (CHF 175+ per person, minimum 4 guests, schatzalp.ch) - you dine IN the 110-year-old vaulted cellar surrounded by bottles dating to 1900. Request Swiss wines from the cellar's oldest stock and ask: "Do you have any Veltliner?" (the wine Dr. Spengler prescribed 150 years ago). Take the 1899 funicular from Davos Platz (runs until 10pm).

   Backup: If wine cellar dinner is booked, take the funicular up for drinks only (no reservation needed). Go to the Piano Bar (opens 4pm). Order a glass from the 110-year-old cellar (CHF 15-25). Sit by the window overlooking Davos lights 300m below. The sunset view + historic wine = worth the funicular ride.

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Insider tips

• The Schatzalp Hotel (accessible only by funicular) has an excellent wine terrace

• January WEF week sees premium wine events but also crowds and premium prices

• Parsenn ski area connects to Klosters for variety in your ski-and-wine day