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Badrutt’s Palace vs. Kulm: Two Legends of St. Moritz
When people talk about the great hotels of St. Moritz, one name usually comes to mind first: Badrutt’s Palace. But there is another legend just a short walk away — Kulm Hotel St. Moritz — and if you know St. Moritz well, you know that the choice between the two is not quite as straightforward as it might seem.
✓ VIP benefits and preferred partner amenities
✓ Strong relationships with both hotels
✓ Personalised attention and extra care throughout your stay
✓ Help choosing the hotel and room that best suits you
✓ Assistance with special requests, dining and experiences
✓ No booking fees
Both are iconic. Both have extraordinary histories. Both have that unmistakable sense of classic St. Moritz style. And both are right in the heart of the resort, with beautiful views over Lake St. Moritz and the surrounding mountains.
The difference is really about atmosphere and the kind of St. Moritz experience you are looking for.
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel St Moritz is probably the more famous of the two internationally. Founded in 1896 by Caspar Badrutt, it has become synonymous with the glamorous side of St. Moritz and has welcomed generations of celebrities, royalty, fashion figures and international personalities.
There is a certain energy to the Palace that is difficult to replicate. If you enjoy a fashionable crowd, beautiful people, long lunches, après-ski, cocktails and that wonderful “see and be seen” feeling, Badrutt’s Palace is the natural choice.
It is lively without losing its sense of history, and there is always a feeling that something is happening. For clients who want to be part of the St. Moritz scene, I would probably choose Badrutt’s.
What many people do not realise is that the story actually begins with Kulm Hotel St Moritz. In 1856, Johannes Badrutt and his wife Maria Berry rented what was then the Pension Faller, the building that became today’s Kulm Hotel. Two years later, Johannes Badrutt purchased it and renamed it Engadiner Kulm. It was the first hotel in St. Moritz and became closely connected with the birth of winter tourism.Later, his son Caspar Badrutt founded Badrutt’s Palace.
So when you stay at Kulm, you are staying at the beginning of the Badrutt story — and, in many ways, at the beginning of St. Moritz as a winter destination.
A hotel built on innovation
One of the things I particularly love about the Kulm story is how pioneering Johannes Badrutt was. The Badrutt family turned the Kulm into a hub of innovation. In 1879, Badrutt installed electric lighting in the hotel’s Grand Restaurant, powered by a hydroelectric plant he built himself. A decade later, the hotel became home to Switzerland’s first public telephone network, with 24 local connections. This pioneering spirit became part of the hotel’s DNA. Kulm was not simply watching St. Moritz evolve — it was helping to create it.
This is where I think the two hotels become particularly interesting.
Badrutt’s Palace is more lively. It is glamorous, fashionable and social. If you want to see and be seen, meet people and feel part of the St. Moritz buzz, it is difficult to beat. Kulm is a little quieter. It still has plenty of energy and plenty going on, but there is a greater sense of space and privacy. It is particularly appealing to clients who want to enjoy everything St. Moritz has to offer without necessarily being at the centre of the social scene every evening.
They simply have different personalities. And Kulm is certainly not quiet when it comes to culture. One of the things that makes Kulm particularly interesting in summer is its connection with Festival da Jazz.
The festival takes place throughout July and brings an impressive programme of international jazz artists to St. Moritz. Kulm offers dedicated Festival da Jazz experiences, including a limited number of VIP Jazz Night tickets with dinner, transfers, front-row seating at the Dracula Club and a post-concert drink. For clients travelling to St. Moritz specifically for jazz, Kulm is therefore a particularly interesting hotel to consider.
And when arranging a stay, I would always speak with the hotel about what they may be able to arrange around the concerts — particularly for clients who want the best possible experience.
Another reason this is such a difficult choice is that both hotels are exceptionally well located. You are in the very heart of St. Moritz, close to the boutiques, restaurants and village life, while still enjoying those beautiful Engadine views.
So you are never really choosing between convenience and seclusion. You are choosing between two different interpretations of the St. Moritz lifestyle.
* A glamorous and fashionable atmosphere
* A lively social scene
* To see and be seen
* The feeling of being at the centre of St. Moritz
* A hotel with a strong celebrity and international social scene
* A slightly quieter atmosphere
* More privacy and discretion
* Classic Alpine elegance
* An extraordinary sense of history
* A hotel that feels connected to the origins of St. Moritz
* Easy access to the cultural and sporting side of the resort
Badrutt’s Palace may be the name that most people immediately recognise. But Kulm deserves to be every bit as much on the radar. It has the history, the location, the views, the glamour and the St. Moritz heritage — with a slightly more discreet and private personality.
Badrutt’s Palace is perhaps the choice for the client who wants to be in the middle of the St. Moritz scene. Kulm is for the client who wants to enjoy the scene while retaining a little more privacy.
Both are exceptional. Both have that wonderful old-world St. Moritz glamour. And both are, in their own way, legends. The real question is simply: Which version of St. Moritz feels more like you?
At Sojournelle, we have an exceptionally strong relationship with both Badrutt’s Palace and Kulm Hotel. For my clients, that means the relationship does not end when the reservation is made. Depending on the stay and the programme available, I can arrange the relevant preferred-partner benefits, perks and VIP amenities — but just as importantly, our relationships with the hotels mean that my clients receive extra attention and personal care throughout the booking process.
For a destination like St. Moritz, where small details can make a big difference, that personal relationship matters.
CONTACT
E: laura@sojournelle.com
M/WA: +370 652 00309
