Down-to-earth happiness high above Lake Lucerne

High up on the Bürgenstock, where the air seems a little clearer and the world a little quieter, you recently had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful culinary experience. Restaurant Verbena, run by none other than Christian Scharrer, masterfully combines superb craftsmanship with a comforting, down-to-earth honesty. It is a place you leave with a contented sigh – happy, full and thoroughly pampered.

Ambience

The first thing that takes your breath away as you enter the dining room is the prachtvoll view. Your gaze wanders far across the valley, and the atmosphere inside mirrors this tranquility perfectly: everything feels wonderfully clear, crisp, clean and pleasantly calm. It is a delightfully relaxed spot for a long, indulgent meal. If I may point out one tiny, charmingly grumpy detail: compared to the elegant interior, the terrace still looks a little bare and could do with a touch more love – but then, the restaurant is still young. Overall, however, the ambience is absolutely gezellig and invites you to linger.

Service

The service at Verbena deserves a very special mention. The team operates in an unhurried, attentive manner and with a palpable joy in welcoming guests. A real highlight was the sommelier, who advised you with wonderful energy and great expertise. While the standard wine list is a little on the small side, when you asked for the main wine list, it was brought to you in the blink of an eye and as a matter of course. Now that is what I call first-class service! Only the wine prices are – well, let us put it politely – highly ambitious. But then, you are far up in the Swiss mountains, so the prices naturally float up there too. Danke and merci.

Food & Wine

Christian Scharrer, who now works here at the Waldhotel after a glittering career in Germany's top gastronomy, brings his Black Forest homeland to the plate. And how! His handmade Maultaschen are an absolute triumph. Prachtvoll in size – three huge, perfectly shaped parcels –, served in a deep, aromatic broth and accompanied by a fine potato salad. While the latter was a touch too mustard-heavy for your personal taste, that is purely a matter of preference. The Maultaschen themselves were wonderfully seasoned and bore Scharrer's grandiose signature: modern comfort food of the highest order. A real gem for all lovers of Maultaschen!

The fresh pasta with chanterelles was truly enjoyed. Excellent textures, well-seasoned and with a lovely acidity – an all-round successful plate.

An absolute masterpiece was the incredible red risotto with smoked eel. It was technically superb and wonderfully creamy. Just one small fly in the ointment: the risotto unfortunately lacked that perfect bite to the rice, the famous al dente feel. Nevertheless, the combination with cherries and beetroot was simply fantastic and a real culinary high. The sea bass was also very good, if a touch overcooked for your taste – but the rest of the plate was excellently seasoned, making the fish dish a pleasure nonetheless.

For the sweet finale, there was a Black Forest gateau that left you absolutely thrilled. The presentation was simply outstanding – a visual and gustatory work of art! The subsequent cheese plate was also wonderfully curated and left nothing to be desired.

Location & History

The restaurant "Verbena by Christian Scharrer" is located in the modern Waldhotel, which is part of the historic Bürgenstock Resort in Obbürgen high above Lake Lucerne. Relaunched in March 2026 under the direction of top chef Christian Scharrer, the restaurant offers upscale comfort food in an architecturally striking building. The location captivates with its spectacular views of the Swiss Alps and its setting within a traditional luxury resort.

The restaurant is located in the Waldhotel, which opened in 2017 as part of the newly designed Bürgenstock Resort.

The building was designed by the renowned Italian architect Matteo Thun and boasts the world's largest gabion facade made of local limestone.

On 20 March 2026, the restaurant reopened under the new name 'Verbena by Christian Scharrer' with a modernised 'comfort food' concept.

Previously, the venue was called 'Verbena Restaurant & Bar' and was primarily geared towards health-conscious, Mediterranean vital cuisine for hotel and spa guests.

The restaurant is situated on the Bürgenberg, around 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, offering far-reaching views of the alpine landscape.

A three-tiered herb garden on the roof of the building supplies fresh ingredients directly to the restaurant's kitchen.

Verdict

Verbena comes highly recommended for anyone looking for excellently cooked, down-to-earth dishes with that certain something. Christian Scharrer shows a wonderful, approachable side to his culinary art here. With four out of five stars, your visit was a complete success – a delightful excursion with great service, sensational views and seriously good food. Nou nou, that was a lovely evening! You will definitely be back – and do read my detailed review of the Waldhotel itself soon. And you had booked dinner together with the room and were still allowed to order à la carte.