Eating out Toggenburg
Eating out in Toggenburg: our favourite tables
Photo: Hotel Restaurant Schönau, Wildhaus
From a cosy tavern to a gourmet table: where we most love to eat in Toggenburg, the Gade in Unterwasser, the Pizzeria Schönau with its goat window, and the Bodega Noi in Lichtensteig.
The lovely thing about a stay in Toggenburg: you get to choose. In our fully equipped kitchen a fondue or raclette is soon bubbling away, but sometimes you simply want to sit down and be cooked for. And for that, the valley has a few addresses we genuinely love to recommend. From cosy to celebratory, all a short distance from our house in Alt St. Johann.
The Gade: the cosy tavern in Unterwasser
Just a few minutes from us, in Unterwasser, is the Gade, a “mini Beiz” (little tavern) in the best sense. Down-to-earth, warm, honest. The heart of it is meat cooked on a hot stone, with fresh salads and homemade desserts. In fine weather you sit on the view terrace looking out at the mountains; on cooler evenings, inside by the crackling fireplace. Exactly the right place to round off a day’s hiking, unfussy and warm-hearted.
The Pizzeria Schönau: with the goat window
A tip for families (and anyone who’s kept a child’s heart): the Pizzeria Schönau in Wildhaus, a few minutes’ drive up the valley. From here you look straight out at the Churfirsten, and inside it’s all rustic and full of wood. There’s really good pizza, but also Swiss classics like Rösti and fondue.
The secret star, though, is the goat window: in the pizzeria there’s a window into the stable through which you can watch the goats, Mara, Zara and Zorro are their names. For children it’s the highlight, and honestly the grown-ups enjoy a look too, while the pizza comes out of the oven.
The Bodega Noi: the special table in Lichtensteig
When it should be a special evening, the drive to Lichtensteig is worth it, that pretty little town a good half hour down the valley, and also the home of cheese world champion Willi Schmid. There you’ll find the Bodega Noi, a restaurant and bar with a Gault Millau distinction. Head chef Nikos Stergiou cooks with a refined lightness, alongside a carefully curated wine cellar and a proper cocktail bar. Stylish inside, with a garden space outside. A place for a quiet, indulgent evening for two or for raising a glass with friends. Booking is a good idea, and it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Photo: Bodega Noi, Lichtensteig
And the cosiest table? Yours.
Lovely as a meal out is, the most relaxed evening of good food often happens in your own holiday apartment. Both apartments, Louisa’s Loft and Louisa’s Gallery, come with a fondue and raclette set, and the village shop is only two minutes away. How to turn that into a real Swiss cheese evening, with cheese from a world champion, we tell you in our piece on Willi Schmid and the Toggenburg Cheese Valley.
Out or at home: you’ll certainly work up an appetite in Toggenburg. We’re always happy to share our current favourite spots when you’re staying with us.