The Bellevue Palace

The Bellevue Palace in Bern attract's the Swiss capital's most discerning visitors; we were told during our tour of the presidential suite how ever President had stayed in the hotel over the years (apart from Barack Obama), and as the most luxurious five-star hotel in the city it made the perfect base from which to explore the capital. 

We let out an audible gasp when we reached our hotel room, towering over the river valleys, the balcony boasted unparalleled views of the countryside surrounding the city, with chalets sprinkled across the hills. From the larger than life floral display in the grand lobby to the entire wall decorated with gin bottles (full ones at that!), the style is grand palace meets Soho House, and as well as a fine afternoon tea, there is also a smaller much more cosy long bar where the cocktails are the best in the city (so we decided!). The area is packed with sofas and small table sections that give a welcoming club feeling; the perfect setting for enjoying some Swiss wine & charcuterie.

Just steps away, the Federal Palace of Switzerland became a light show spectacle; unlike anything we'd seen before, the opulent building was transformed into a burning building, or melting mansion, all by projectors beaming from across the square. If you're heading to the Swiss Capital between now and Christmas, it's an experience not to be missed!

SHOP THE LOOK

Plaid Dress by Superdry   |   Faux Fur Stole by Monsoon   |   Watch by Caravelle   |   Boots by Russell & Bromley   

We stayed at The Bellevue Palace in Bern, with flights from London Southend via SkyWork airlines.

xoxo

Falling for Bern

The last time I visited Bern, I was probably about 14 (I'll no doubt get a text from mum if this is in fact not correct!) and most definitely more interested in where my next Trolli Burger or Milka bar was coming from rather than being on the lookout for great food and cute little boutiques, so this trip was an eye-opener. I saw Bern for the first time, and, I think I fell a little bit in love with the city!

There was something so familiar about Bern, each corner we turned revealed another adorable cafe or view of chalets nestled onto the mountain side; the locals were all so friendly and eager to show off their city, and there is something so elegant about the Swiss. We were invited to a Matin�e concert performance in the Old Town's Konzerttheater - an experience that transported me back to a time when  we didn't need technology or fancy pyrotechnics to be entertained. A hefty city guide is on it's way for you, but until then, here's the outfit that I wore for our second day of exploring the beautiful city...

Gilet by Topshop   |   Roll Neck by Topshop   |   Skirt by ASOS   |   Fur Headband by Superdry   |   Bag by Mulberry    |   Boots by Russell & Bromley   

How would you dress for a day exploring the city?

xoxo

Bern Old Town

Last weekend I was invited to Bern, Switzerland, to discover the Art & Culture within the Swiss Capital - a trip I quickly accepted as not only would I be able to indulge in my Swiss Chocolate cravings, but also discover more to the city that I'd always seen glimpses of during ski holidays when I was younger, but never properly explored.

A capital city is usually a bustling city, larger than life with an unmistakable buzz and mayhem, but not in Switzerland. Bern is tiny, it has an unmistakeable Swiss charm - imagine Farrow & Ball green-grey buildings, sleepy clock towers and cobbled streets, wrapped up by the River Aare. In fact with a population of just 180,000 the streets are never busy, you'd never guess that it's the Swiss capital. Despite its cosy size, Bern lacks nothing in character - with majestic views of the Bernese Alps and boasting former inhabitants such as Albert Einstein and Paul Klee.

We spent the first day exploring the Old Town, wandering the wide scobbled streets lined with beautiful shuttered buildings - we could almost have slipped back a few centuries as we watched the sparkling fountains (including a rather disturbing one of an ogre snacking on a baby.) and explored the inner workings of a clock tower. 

SHOP THE LOOK

Our city walk took us riverside to the Nydegg Bridge, where we passed Bern's famous brown bears in there B�ren Park, before we climbed up to the Rosengarten. When I posted a snap that I was in Bern up on my Instagram, Swiss locals were quick to recommend the restaurant which overlooks the city, surrounded by a rose garden with more than 200 varieties of the flower. We enjoyed a three course lunch while overlooking the silhouetting city's spires and glassy green river.

WHAT I WORE

Jacket by Lipsy   |   Jumper by Jaeger   |   Leggings by Millie Mackintosh   |   Boots by Emu   |   Bag by Mulberry   |   Headband by Superdry   |   Glasses by Ray Ban   |   

Have you ever visited Bern? Let me know your favourite spots in the city!

xoxo

Alpine Adventure

Nightwear by Marks & Spencer

On Saturday morning, we rose bright and early, enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee in our (ridiculously comfortable) bed before making our way down for breakfast. Sitting outside, enjoying the fresh mountain air, Charlie and I enjoyed a bowl of home made berry Bircher Muesli, followed by a made-to-order plate of American pancakes, complete with crispy bacon and maple syrup. Charlie's Eggs Florentine did incur some slight food envy, but our day's activities meant that I had no remorse for clocking up the calories at breakfast time!

We took a taxi to the small nearby town of Launen, before embarking on the scenic walk to the majestic lake of Launensee. Every corner we turned revealed another postcard perfect vista. Against a crisp blue sky, the peaks of the surrounding Alps were sprinkled with just a hint of snow, dominating the landscape. Wild flowers were everywhere, and traditional Swiss chalets dotted across the fields. Charlie and I abandoned Google Maps (sorry, we're city folk!) and followed the trail signs pointing us in the right direction towards the lakes.

After almost two hours of wandering across fields, over waterfalls and through small towns, we came across the opening that we had been aiming for, and it took us no time at all to decide that the lake looked far too inviting not to jump in. I wore my Peter Pilotto swimming costume, and changed into my Superdry dress after drying off in the sun.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon in Gstaad, the Swiss ski resort in the heart of the Bernese Oberland that is quite unlike any other ski town. In place of dowdy knitwear shops and Intersport, there's a Louis Vuitton, Hublot and Prada. With the likes of Madonna, George Clooney and Valentino frequenting the resort, the place is a magnet for the super rich, and it's not hard to see why.

Back at Le Grand Bellevue, there was no time to change before our dinner reservation at Le Petite Chalet.  The charming log cabin located on the edge of the grounds of the Bellevue, it exclusively seats just 20 diners. Even in the middle of Summer, we instantly fell for the Swiss charm of the chalet, with it's log fire, Edelweiss printed table linens, and rustic pots and pans hanging from the walls. Serving the traditional Swiss dish of cheese fondue (we chose Vacherin & Gruyere, but there's also goat's cheese or truffle fondue on the menu) as well as the regional dish of raclette; firm cows milk cheese which is melted and then you scrape off and enjoy the delicious melted top layer.

The fondues were prepared before our eyes, and both the fondue and raclette were set up on our table, so that Charlie and I could perfect our bread and meat dunking, setting each other forfeits for any food that fell into the molten cheese.

We headed back to our room for an early night, ready for another day of Swiss adventures tomorrow.