Hotel de Moiry

It was love at first sight when I came to Grimentz, a tumble of storybook, dark-timbered chalets accented with colorful flowers, sitting high in the Anniviers Valley. How fortunate that at the entrance to the old village is the delightful, family-run Hotel de Moiry, a whitewashed inn with handsome wood shutters. Even if you are unable to spend several nights here, this is an excellent place to enjoy even just a meal, as we did on our first visit to Grimentz, a hearty lunch of fondue, salad, and crusty dark bread, leaving just enough room for a slice of strudel. On warm days you eat outside on the terrace or, if the weather is inclement, in the cozy, traditional dining room before a blazing fire kept lit to make raclette. How fortunate that we were able to return to spend the night and enjoy a traditional raclette dinner of grilled cheese, potatoes, gherkins, and little onions, in the convivial company of a group of hikers spending a week walking in the mountains. There is nothing fancy about the hotel—it is genuine, old-time Swiss. Upstairs, the simple bedrooms have crisp-white walls and pine paneling and each is accompanied by a shower room.