For someone sharing a name with a ski resort, Gstaad Guy’s approach to winter is refreshingly unpredictable. “For winter, it’s actually not Gstaad,” he admits. “I prefer Gstaad in summer.”
The internet’s favourite observer of privilege has built a following by dissecting the rituals and codes of high society, but his taste, as it turns out, is quietly discerning. His ideal winter isn’t about the loudest après-ski or the newest chalet; it’s about rhythm, atmosphere, and a sense of place. From Alpine classics to unlikely urban retreats, these are Gstaad Guy’s five favourite winter destinations, chosen for how they make him feel, not just how they look on Instagram.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
“The number one winter resort is actually St. Moritz. I love St. Moritz.” It’s a fitting choice – timeless, immaculate, and steeped in history. Long before luxury became a lifestyle, St. Moritz perfected it. The air is thinner, the snow brighter, and the ritual of winter feels almost ceremonial: lunch at Badrutt’s, walks by the frozen lake, the quiet choreography of fur coats and sunglasses in mid-December. There’s no irony here, just a deep appreciation for a place that continues to set the standard.
YUNG suggests: Stay at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, a storied icon since 1896, overlooking the lake and slopes, blending Alpine heritage with refined luxury.
Andermatt, Switzerland
About an hour outside Zurich, Andermatt offers what the rest of Switzerland often doesn’t: stillness. “It’s a little higher than Gstaad – very quiet and really beautiful,” he says. The village has been quietly reinventing itself over the past decade, balancing discreet development with a commitment to authenticity. It’s the kind of destination that attracts those who prefer solitude to spectacle, and whose idea of luxury is space, both physical and mental.
YUNG suggests: The ChediAndermatt, an ultra-luxurious Alpine retreat mixing Swiss and Asian design. The suites are vast, the service seamless, and the atmosphere one of hushed indulgence.
Gstaad, Switzerland
Given that he built a persona around it, Gstaad still makes the list. “It’s number one in summer,” he insists. In winter, though, it can be unpredictable, a touch too crowded, a little too performative. Still, its appeal endures: the chalet façades dusted with snow, the small-town familiarity of seeing everyone you know within a ten-minute walk. Gstaad remains what it has always been, a microcosm of taste and tradition, caught between nostalgia and relevance.
YUNG suggests: The AlpinaGstaad, a contemporary Alpine luxury at its best, with sleek design, exceptional privacy, and views that make it worth never leaving.
Dubai, UAE
Here comes the curveball. “Dubai in winter is really beautiful,” he says. “It’s becoming the fourth global capital.” For a man so associated with European restraint, his fondness for Dubai makes sense in its own way: the energy, the people passing through, the feeling that something is always happening. “There’s this spontaneity,” he explains, the sense that a city can surprise you. And in Dubai’s case, it does – through its mix of ambition, warmth, and a different type of charm.
YUNG suggests: Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, the newest icon on Dubai’s skyline, combining bold architecture, world-class dining, and a sense of effortless modern grandeur.
London, UK
“London between September and December is the best place on earth,” he says, but between January and March, don’t even think about it. “People complain about the weather – that it’s grey – but I think it’s so charming in winter.” It’s not the weather that defines its appeal, but the atmosphere: the lights strung across Georgian streets, the fireplaces in old townhouses, the quiet ceremony of everyone trying to stay warm. Around Christmas, the city feels particularly magnetic, the shop windows glowing, the evenings stretching just long enough to make every gathering feel earned. “It’s cosy and historic,” he says. “There’s something really special about London in winter.”
YUNG suggests: Bvlgari Hotel London, understated yet unmistakably luxurious, with refined interiors, polished service, and suites made for design-minded travellers.
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