Restaurant Schlüssel - Schlüsselstube

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Restaurant Schlüssel – Schlüsselstube in Sargans: Swiss Country Cooking with a Bib Gourmand

Tradition meets modern Swiss country cooking

At Restaurant Schlüssel in Mels, the Kalberer family has been a fixture of eastern Swiss hospitality since 1974. The restaurant occupies a historic patrician house built in 1811. For 42 years, Seppi Kalberer stood at the stove, earning a reputation for classic French cooking rooted in local ingredients. His braised veal cheek became a regional legend, widely copied but never matched.

Today, his son Roger Kalberer carries the torch. One of Switzerland’s youngest top chefs, Roger trained at the country’s finest addresses — including Philippe Rochat’s Hotel de Ville and Andreas Caminada’s Schloss Schauenstein. He took over the family business in 2019, bringing a fresh, precise, and creative approach. His cooking is both hearty and light, blending tradition with contemporary lightness. As he puts it: “Nature is my inspiration. It constantly gives me new ideas for regional and seasonal dishes.”

The restaurant is divided into two distinct spaces: the Gourmet and the Bistro. The Gourmet offers a more refined experience, while the Bistro provides a relaxed setting for the same thoughtful cooking. There is also a garden and a wine cellar, the latter reflecting a serious wine programme. The atmosphere remains welcoming and unpretentious, with a young crew committed to genuine hospitality.

The Michelin Guide has recognised the restaurant with a Bib Gourmand, an award that celebrates good quality, good value cooking. It is a fitting endorsement for a kitchen that values precision and flavour over showmanship. Roger Kalberer’s dishes are precise, filigree, and deeply connected to the terroir of the region. He describes his style as a “purist” approach — cooking that is honest, flavour-driven, and respectful of ingredients.

Whether you visit for lunch or dinner, the experience is grounded in Swiss country cooking with a modern edge. The menu changes with the seasons, reflecting what is available locally. The result is a cuisine that feels both familiar and surprising, rooted in tradition but never stuck in the past.

Restaurant Schlüssel is open Wednesday through Saturday, serving lunch from 11:30 to 14:30 and dinner from 18:30 to 23:30. It is located at Oberdorfstrasse 5 in Mels, near Sargans. Reservations are recommended.