Autumn suits the Engadin. The valley exhales after summer’s rush, and we prefer to be part of that rhythm. Our arrival by WindroseAir into Samedan always feels effortless—bags on the tarmac, dogs out first, air crisp and thin. For stays, we alternate between Suvretta House and Krone La Punt.
At Suvretta House, tradition hums softly in every corridor. Lake views from the suites, parquet underfoot, and service that anticipates rather than interrupts. It’s grand but never stiff; mornings begin with sunlight on the peaks and the faint scent of woodsmoke. When we crave something more contemporary, we retreat to Krone Säumerei am Inn, where James and Natascha Baron have created a small world of refined simplicity. Their house feels personal—an inn rebuilt with care, taste, and intimacy.
For us, eating in the Engadin means tuning into season and altitude. A favourite ritual is lunch after a forest walk up Suvretta mountain—ending at Clavadatsch Hut. The menu is short and honest: barley soup, rösti with mountain cheese, or warm apple tart. The terrace overlooks a sea of turning larches—perfect in October’s calm.
For dinner, Krone La Punt under Chef James Baron balances precision and warmth; his dishes tell you exactly where you are, without trying to impress. On evenings when the children set the tone, we head to Chesa Veglia in St. Moritz. The pizza from the wood-fired oven, especially the Dama Bianca, is always declared “the best ever” by Felix and Sophia.
Charlotte stops by Pur Alps before departure to stock up on Alpine teas and syrups, while I prefer the quiet of a nightcap by the fire—Pinot Noir from the Bündner Herrschaft, unhurried conversation, no background music.
Autumn in the Engadin is tactile: stone paths, pine needles, cold air that sharpens thought. We start most days with a family hike through Val Fex or around Lake Sils, cameras always at hand. Felix documents with his drone, Sophia collects leaves for her journal. When energy wanes, the Ovaverva Spa in St. Moritz strikes the right balance. Charlotte disappears for quiet hours in the thermal pools and saunas while the children race the waterslides—everyone emerges content.
https://www.engadin.ch/en/clavadatsch-hut/
https://www.krone-lapunt.ch/en/cuisine
https://www.engadin.ch/en/guide/restaurants-bars/chesa-veglia-pizzeria-heuboden/
Based in London, Charlotte and Alex van Linden travel frequently with their children, Felix and Sophia, and their two Labradoodles, Basil and Clementine. As a family, they seek out meaningful escapes—places with soul, seasonal cuisine, and room for both curiosity and calm. Their travel philosophy is simple: go quietly, learn something, and leave a light footprint.
