The iconic Äscher mountain restaurant is open for business again, after a new team has taken over management of the property. Originally built as a guesthouse in 1884, Äscher has become one of Switzerland’s most widely recognized restaurants as it appears to be clinging to the side of a cliff above the mountain village of Wasserauen. The previous owners left at the end of last season, saying that the building’s old infrastructure was unable to handle the large number of tourists coming to the restaurant every day.
Photo: Appenzellerland
Switzerland’s Iconic Cliff-Hugging Restaurant Is Reopening
Most visitors to Äscher arrive via cable car from Wasserauen, but more adventurous diners hike the steep path to the town of Seealpsee and then from there to the restaurant. Currently, several paths are still snow-covered, so if you plan on venturing to this cliff-hugging restaurant, you should check your route in advance.
The restaurant rose to prominence when it was named one of the five most interesting restaurants in the world by the Huffington Post in 2014 and then featured on the cover of National Geographic’s “Destinations of a Lifetime” special. Now, Äscher is incredibly popular with tourists from all over the world, as well as within Switzerland.
Äscher was slated to reopen last Thursday, but the opening was postponed due to the risk of avalanches. 
H/T: Lonely Planet