Restaurant in Saanen, Switzerland
Michelin-recognized value in the Gstaad valley.
A Michelin Bib Gourmand holder in a converted bell foundry, 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT is Saanen's clearest case for quality without the €€€€ price tag. Owner Nik Buchs runs a sourcing-first kitchen where entrecôte and veal cutlet do the heavy lifting, backed by an extensive wine list that includes organic and biodynamic producers. At €€ and a 4.7 Google rating, it earns the booking.
Picture a former bell foundry in the quiet village of Saanen — stone walls, art on every surface, the smell of something slow-cooked. That atmosphere is real, and it earns its keep. But the reason to book 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT at Mittelgässli 16 is simpler: at the €€ price point, it holds a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand and a 4.7-star Google rating across 343 reviews. In the Swiss Alps dining scene, where most recognised restaurants demand €€€€ budgets, that combination is worth your attention.
The former bell foundry setting is not window dressing. The building gives the room a physical character that purpose-built restaurant interiors rarely achieve — industrial bones softened by a mix of rustic and contemporary touches, and walls hung with artwork that genuinely rewards a closer look. The result is a room that works for a relaxed weeknight dinner but also holds up for a celebration. It does not feel like a bistro making do; it feels like a considered place to spend an evening. For a special occasion in Saanen without the formality of a high-end tasting menu room, this is the practical choice.
Owner and chef Nik Buchs runs a menu described by Michelin as producing dishes that are pared-down and exceedingly flavourful. The editorial angle here matters: country cooking at this level is not about simplicity for its own sake. It is about the quality of what goes into the pan. When Michelin highlights classics such as entrecôte and veal cutlet as popular choices, they are signalling that the kitchen is confident enough in its sourcing to let the main ingredient carry the dish. That approach only works when the sourcing is sound. At €€ pricing, the fact that those cuts are the house signatures tells you the kitchen is not padding margins with lower-quality proteins dressed up in technique.
The wine list reinforces this sourcing-first philosophy. An extensive list that includes organic and biodynamic producers is a deliberate choice, not a trend gesture. It suggests the same attention applied to meat and produce carries through to the cellar. For a restaurant at this price tier, that is a meaningful signal. Comparable country cooking restaurants at the same price tier in northern Italy , such as 21.9 in Piobesi d'Alba or Andrea Monesi at Locanda di Orta in Orta San Giulio , follow a similar logic: let the ingredient lead, keep the technique honest.
Saanen sits in the Bernese Oberland, in the same valley as Gstaad. Winter brings the ski crowd and summer brings hikers; both seasons fill the better-known tables fast. 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT, at €€ pricing, is easier to book than its Bib Gourmand status might suggest , but do not take that for granted in high season (late December through March, and July through August). A midweek dinner in shoulder season (November or early June) gives you the leading combination of atmosphere and availability. If you are visiting specifically for a special occasion, book ahead regardless of timing.
Michelin's language here is specific: "very friendly and attentive." In Swiss restaurant terms, that is not a given. The Bib Gourmand is awarded for quality and value together, and service is part of that equation. The down-to-earth tone Michelin describes fits the space and the price point without feeling like a compromise on attention.
See the comparison section below for how 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT stacks up against Saanen and broader Swiss dining peers.
If you are building a longer stay around the dining, Saanen and the surrounding valley have range. Sonnenhof and Belle Epoque are the other local tables worth knowing. For the full picture, our full Saanen restaurants guide covers all current options, and our Saanen hotels guide helps with where to stay. If you want to extend the trip beyond dinner, bars, wineries, and experiences in Saanen are all mapped.
For Switzerland's most decorated tables if you are travelling wider, the reference points are Hotel de Ville Crissier in Crissier, Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl in Basel, Memories in Bad Ragaz, 7132 Silver in Vals, Colonnade in Lucerne, Da Vittorio in St. Moritz, Einstein Gourmet in Sankt Gallen, and focus ATELIER in Vitznau.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT | Michelin Bib Gourmand (2025); Diners will feel right at home in this charming and inviting restaurant. Set in a former bell foundry, the atmosphere is welcoming and delightfully down to earth. The blend of rustic and modern styles is interesting, and the art on the walls is sure to draw the eye. You can look forward to very friendly and attentive service, as well as pared-down and exceedingly flavourful dishes prepared by owner Nik Buchs. Popular choices here include true classics such as entrecôte or veal cutlet. The extensive wine list also includes organic and biodynamic wines. | €€ | — |
| Schloss Schauenstein | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Memories | Michelin 3 Star | €€€€ | — |
| focus ATELIER | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| IGNIV Zürich by Andreas Caminada | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| La Table du Lausanne Palace | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
A quick look at how 16 ART-BAR-RESTAURANT measures up.
The name includes 'BAR' for a reason: bar seating is part of the concept at Mittelgässli 16. It suits solo diners or a drink alongside the food. The €€ price point means committing to a full meal at the bar costs you nothing extra versus a table, so the format works whether you want a quick stop or a longer sit.
This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, which means the guide recognized it specifically for quality at a fair price — the €€ range in a valley where many restaurants skew expensive given the Gstaad proximity. The setting is a former bell foundry in Saanen village, the cooking is country-style, and owner Nik Buchs runs the kitchen. Walk in expecting straightforward, flavourful plates rather than elaborate tasting formats.
The venue's identity, as described by Michelin, centres on pared-down country cooking — classics like entrecôte and veal cutlet — rather than a multi-course tasting format. If you want an elaborate progression of small courses, this is not the right room; look at Schloss Schauenstein or Memories for that. Come here for generous, well-executed plates at €€ pricing in a setting with real character.
Yes, if your idea of a special occasion is a genuinely good meal without the ceremony or price tag of a destination fine-dining room. The Bib Gourmand recognizes both the quality and the welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere — Michelin specifically calls the service 'very friendly and attentive.' For a milestone celebration where the restaurant itself is the centrepiece, a higher-rated Swiss address would serve better; for a relaxed, memorable dinner in the Gstaad valley, this is a solid choice.
Michelin flags entrecôte and veal cutlet as the popular choices, and both fit the country cooking format that Nik Buchs has built the menu around. The wine list is worth attention: it includes organic and biodynamic options, which is less common at this price point in the Bernese Oberland. Stick to the classics rather than looking for adventurous small plates — that is not the kitchen's register.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
