Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort review

Bliss!  That’s the only way I can describe my recent stay at the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort in Lenk, Switzerland.

The name of this five star Superior property gives you some idea regarding what to expect – from exquisite fine dining to indoor and outdoor pools, pampering beauty and wellness treatments and beautiful rooms – and it certainly delivered big time.  

But more than that, it was the genuinely warm welcome and friendly service we experienced throughout our stay that made it feel more like staying with family. Five star hotels (not that I have stayed in many) are often known for their pretentiousness and staff that are rather business-like and cold.  

Not at the Lenkerhof. The staff were genuinely happy to be of service and went out of their way to do whatever they could for us and every single guest, whilst still maintaining the hotel’s philosophy of providing a relaxed atmosphere.

My review of the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort shares my memorable experience, plus all you need to know about the hotel. Read on so you can start planning your stay at this exceptional Swiss property in Lenk!

BONUS: There’s an exclusive discount offer for Holidays to Switzerland readers. See below for details below on how you can get 15% off your stay.

About Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort, Lenk

Now a Relais & Châteaux property, the hotel was originally built in 1689 as a bathing hotel with access to the Hohliebi Spring, making it one of the oldest guesthouses in Switzerland.

The popularity of bathing hotels in 1864 saw the addition of a new spa centre and additional bedrooms. In 2000, the hotel was purchased by Swiss entrepreneur Jürg Opprecht and his family still own the hotel to this day.

With a total of 83 rooms, ranging from singles to Suites, including the Luxury Panorama Suite with spa, there is something to suit everyone.

All except nine of the rooms have balconies, there are two barrier-free rooms, as well as interconnecting rooms. Two of the hotel’s Premium Junior Suites also feature bunk beds should you be travelling with children.

All rooms include a Nespresso coffee machine and free non-alcoholic drinks from the mini bar, and there is free WiFi throughout the hotel.

The hotel has benefited from numerous renovations since Opprecht purchased the property but his vision for a youthful, informal yet luxurious hotel remains one of the reasons the Lenkerhof is such a highly regarded and much-loved 5* Superior hotel.

Sympathetic renovations mean the past and present combine effortlessly here, with hospitality a well established tradition. Over the past 10 years in particular, the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort has won an array of awards for food, facilities, and service. 

Sustainability is a priority at the Lenkerhof, and the hotel holds the following certifications: EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) • Swisstainable Level II • Tripadvisor’s ‘Eco-Leader Gold’ Award

Our room

Premium Junior Suite

Our stylish, comfortable room at the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort was a Premium Junior Suite. 

The accommodation was beautifully presented, with lovely furnishings. It was also very spacious. A King Size bed was provided, along with a pillow menu, a coffee machine, a flatscreen TV, an iPod dock, WiFi, a mini bar, and a safe.

The 41m²  suite was furnished with a couch, a chair, a coffee table, a desk, and a private balcony, giving us ample space for sitting both indoors and out. 

There are views of the pool, gardens, and mountains from these rooms, and we loved looking out over the spectacular local scenery. As we stayed during autumn, the already gorgeous view was made even more impressive thanks to the golden leaves on the trees in the hotel’s gardens.

The bathroom was also generously sized and well-appointed, with a separate WC, a bath tub and a shower, twin washbasins, and plenty of storage, plus luxury toiletries, fluffy bathrobes, and soft slippers. 

You can expect boutique-style accommodation at the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort, with polished wood flooring, tactile fabrics, and pops of colour and pattern. It creates an exclusive yet relaxing feel, and we found this the ideal setting in which to unwind during our stay in Switzerland. 

Hotel facilities

Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort occupies a peaceful yet convenient position in Lenk. 

Hotel amenities include a cosy lounge area with an open fire and library, an internet station in the foyer, a wine cellar, and a cigar lounge. The bar and lounge area also features a Grand piano.  Live music is performed each evening, except Mondays, with a different musician providing the entertainment every month.

Artworks and sculptures are also dotted around the grounds and throughout the hotel, including works by the hotel’s former owner who passed away in 2021.

There is also a Kids Club, called the Alpine Playstation, which offers supervised childcare from 1pm to 9.30pm.

The Lenkerhof is ideal for anyone renting a car while seeing Switzerland, as the hotel offers parking both outdoors and under cover in the garage. A fee is payable for the latter. 

If you want to explore the area on two wheels, then the hotel’s bike room, repair facilities, and e-bike charging points should come in useful. There’s even an area where you can clean bikes.  The ski room is also invaluable during the winter sports season, and you can also arrange tuition and hire equipment on site. 

The park-like grounds are also a pleasing place to spend time. Here you’ll find upper and lower pool decks, sports courts, a play park, herb and vegetable gardens, beehives, a decorative rose pavilion and even a footpath to Lenk. 

7sources Spa

Whether you want to stay active or unwind completely while staying away from home, the Lenkerhof offers a wealth of fitness and spa facilities. 

There is an indoor pool as well as an open-air pool (with massage jets), heated to 34°C, which has stunning mountain views, various saunas – both textile-clad and textile-free – and steam baths. 

Adjacent to the sauna area are a number of lounges just waiting for you to relax and unwind with a refreshing herbal tea or a healthy snack.  Lounges are also provided outside the spa and pool area for those who wish to breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Children are permitted in the pools during the day (with parental supervision) and there’s even a Wet n’ Wild slide and climbing tower in a room beside the main indoor pool area.

For those who like to keep up their fitness routine, there’s also a well-equipped gym at Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort.

Use of the pools, saunas and fitness room is free of charge for all guests. 

In the Spa, an extensive menu of beauty, wellness, and pampering treatments is available, from luxury facials to full body massages. 

The 7sources name is derived from the  “seven wells” flowing from an Alpine meadow above Simme Falls, supplying water to the River Simme. The idea that water is central to life is reflected in the spa’s ethos, amenities, and treatments.  

During my stay, as well as soaking in the outdoor pool each day, I booked a couple of treatments with the professional staff in the spa, including a fabulous massage.

Food and Beverages

We could tell from the name alone that Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort takes its food very seriously, and we weren’t disappointed. Everything we tasted was exquisite in both presentation and flavour.

There are three exceptional restaurants you can dine at during your stay. The hotel prides itself on using locally sourced and Swiss products where possible, including delicious edibles from the herb and vegetable gardens.

Oh da Vie

Oh de Vie, with 15 Gault Millau points, is the smaller and more intimate of the two on-site restaurants and serves a range of refined dishes with a Mediterranean influence. 

The beautiful Belle Époque setting adds a dash of nostalgia, and you can dine on an à la Carte or Gourmet Package basis each evening, or drop in for a good value lunch. In summer, dining out on the outdoor terrace is an option.

We chose the 4-course Gourmet package option which offered a choice of three dishes per course.  I started with the burrata, followed by Mediterranean red mullet, ricotta, eggplant and polenta croquettes, and tiramisu.  Each dish was mouthwatering and, accompanied by a glass of wine or two from the hotel’s cellar of over 600 bottles, was a dinner to remember.

A daily lunch menu is also available from 12 noon to 2pm.

Spettacolo

With 16 Gault Millau points, Spettacolo is the premiere restaurant, showcasing Swiss fine dining at its very best. With large windows looking out over the hotel’s beautifully manicured grounds (and a terrace for summer dining), the setting definitely matches the exceptional cuisine served.

Again, the gourmet package is the ideal way to impress your tastebuds as you can select between four and six dishes from an appealing selection of 15 different daily dishes. Starters offered on the night we dined at Spettacolo including veal tartare, pulled pork, and oxtail soup, whilst the main course selection included Atlantic halibut, French duck and Roe deer.  

I chose to start with Belper Knolle cheese from Jumi with pumpkin and pumperknickel bread, followed by oxtail soup with vegetables, then French duck with arancini, and lastly, a sesame, mango and chocolate dessert.

My husband’s dessert selection was the cheese buffet which includes a selection of more than 30 cheeses!  Naturally, well-matched wines are available to accompany every dish and the wait staff are very knowledgeable when it comes to win selection.

Such is the importance of a wonderful dining experience at the Lenkerhof, every evening the Food and Beverage Manager, Laurent, makes his way round every table to say hello and make sure the guests are satisfied.  It’s a simple but nice touch that makes every guest feel appreciated.

It’s in the Spettacolo restaurant that breakfast is served each morning.  With a huge selection of hot and cold dishes on the buffet (all included with your room rate), every palette will be satisfied.  Guests can also order various egg dishes cooked to their liking. The wonderful selection of cheeses also appear on the breakfast buffet, too!

In-room and bar dining

Should you prefer a more casual evening meal, the Lenkerhof offers both in-room dining and the option to dine in the bar/lobby area.  Again, there’s a wide selection of meals available with a more limited menu offered from 10pm.

Bühlberg

The hotel’s third eatery is their mountain restaurant on the Bühlberg. At more than 1,660 metres above sea level, it serves up satisfying, traditional Swiss cuisine including Rösti and Fondue – as well as a whole host of other menu options. 

The mountain restaurant can be reached by public bus or car and the hotel staff can assist with getting you there. If you are travelling with children, a large playground will keep the kids happy whilst the grown-ups gaze in awe at the specular panoramas. 

The restaurant at Bühlberg closes from (approximately) mid-October to mid-December and early April until early June.

As well as the outstanding food, we found the friendly and unfailingly helpful staff to be a highlight of dining at Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort. Service was attentive, yet never stuffy or pretentious. 

Other hotel benefits

Hotel guests are also given a Simmental guest card, entitling them to free bus travel within the Simmental and the Saanenland; complimentary train travel from Lenk to Gstaad or Erlenbach via Zweisimmen; and discounts on selected summer and winter activities. 

Where is Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort?

Lenk is around 20 minutes by train or 15 minutes by car from Zweisimmen in southwestern Switzerland. Located in the picturesque Simmental valley of the Bernese Oberland, the pretty village lies at the base of the Wildstrübel massif, and enjoys a scenic Swiss mountain backdrop. 

Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort is around 1 kilometre (half a mile) – or 10 to 15 minutes’ walk – from the village centre and train station. There is a path leading from the hotel grounds to the village, so you can be sure you’re heading in the right direction when taking a stroll.

How to get to Lenk by car and public transport

Lenk can be easily reached from both of Switzerland’s international airports.  Travel time by car from Geneva is around two hours 15 minutes, or two hours 30 minutes from Zurich airport.

If you’re travelling by train, it takes around four hours to reach Lenk from both Geneva airport and Zurich airport, depending on the connections. 

There is free outdoor and paid underground garage parking at the hotel. I recommend contacting staff in advance to ensure a space is available. Alternatively, airport shuttles can be arranged on your behalf.

What to do in Lenk

As an alpine resort, both downhill and cross-country skiing are popular during winter in Lenk, as well as snowshoeing and snowboarding. 

Once the snow melts, in summer, hiking, walking, and mountain biking are big news in Lenk. 

Beyond the slopes and trails, there are some wonderful waterfalls to see in this region, including the Simme Waterfalls and the Iffigfall. 

You can also ascend mountains such as Betelberg and Metsch to take in the fresh air and picture perfect views, or perhaps ride a Trotti bike (scooter bike) down the mountain. 

The pretty Lake Lenkerseeli is worth a visit (it has a great playground for kids), or you can simply stroll through the village or enjoy a drink whilst watching the world go by.

To do any of these activities, though, you’ll have to drag yourself away from the hotel’s wellness facilities – and that is difficult!

My verdict

The Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort manages to strike the perfect balance, offering superb facilities and service whilst remaining friendly and welcoming. I really can’t say enough good things about this hotel, and would return in a heartbeat.  In fact, it will be the first hotel I book when I’m planning my next visit to Switzerland.

The spa and restaurants are outstanding, and guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to room types. Whichever guest room you book, comfort, style, and service are guaranteed.   

Without a doubt, the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort is the best property I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying in, anywhere!

And as an added bonus, Lenk is somewhat lesser known than other parts of Switzerland, yet has so much to offer in terms of hiking, biking, winter sports, waterfalls, and more. Then, of course, there’s stunning scenery at every turn. 

I didn’t want to leave the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort and you won’t either! 

SPECIAL READER OFFER – Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort have generously offered our readers 15% off any room category if you quote the promo code FA26HTSWISS when booking on the hotel’s website.  This offer is bookable until 5 November 2026 for stays until 19 December 2026.

The author was a guest of Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort but this in no way influenced my opinion of the hotel.