One Of Switzerland's Most Iconic Alpine Eateries Boasts Jaw-Dropping Views, Per Rick Steves

Perched on the tip top of Schilthorn, a mountain summit in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, is Piz Gloria — a restaurant that offers 360-degree views of the Alps. Here, diners don't have to compete for their preferred view. The establishment rotates on an axis, completing one turn every 45 minutes. The feature ensures all visitors are able to see the 200+ surrounding mountain peaks. 

Travel expert and television personality Rick Steves described the rotating restaurant on his website as "thrilling." "The experience never gets old," Steves added. "I sip my coffee slowly to enjoy one complete circle." Though its location among the high peaks of the Swiss Alps is a distinctive feature, that and its rotating dining room are not the restaurant's only unique aspects. Piz Gloria is a famous James Bond filming location, and it's taken that notoriety seriously. Visitors can find nods to 007 throughout the establishment.

Much of the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" takes place at Piz Gloria, which in the movie is the base of operations for the villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. One climactic scene ends with the building being blown up. Though it's been 55 years since the film crew used Piz Gloria for the movie, the restaurant still boasts many 007 references. 

The logo stretches across the exterior of the building, and if you order a cappuccino, "007" will be stenciled across the top in cinnamon. A theater in the building's lower level shows clips from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." The menu is dotted with Bond references, including the spaghetti James Bond, the 007 martini, and a James Bond brunch. Even the restrooms reference the spy franchise. After one visit to the restaurant back in 2016, Rick Steves posted a video to his website showing stalls embellished with silhouettes of either James Bond or one of his love interests, known collectively as "Bond girls." "The station is bursting with the James Bond theme ... even the public toilets," Steves wrote on his blog. "This must be one of the most memorable toilets anywhere."

Schilthorn, the summit that's home to Piz Gloria, is 9,744 feet high, and it takes a bit of effort to get there. From the village of Stechelberg, Switzerland, visitors can board the Schilthorn Cableway. The ride on the cable car takes 32 minutes from the village to the summit. It includes opportunities to get out at three other stops: Gimmelwald, Mürren, and Birg. Each of the stops offers recreational activities of their own. You can pursue the hike of a lifetime in Mürren or stroll around Gimmelwald, Rick Steves' favorite Swiss village.

The cable cars arrive every 30 minutes to Stechelberg, starting at 7:55 a.m. and ending at 3:55 p.m. Be sure to check with the cableway operator before your trip, particularly if you're traveling soon. The cableway is under construction, and Schilthorn won't be open to visitors until March 2025. Once you are able to reach the top, jaw-dropping views await you. One visitor said on Google Reviews that it was "stunningly beautiful" and "well worth the trip to get there." On clear days, visitors to Piz Gloria can see as far as the Black Forest in Germany and the Mont Blanc massif mountain range in France.