Review: The Alpina Gstaad Hotel - the Luxury Travel Expert

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

Today: The Alpina Gstaad Hotel (Switzerland)

Hotel website: The Alpina Gstaad
Location: Google maps
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso

A discreet, exclusive icon, the cosmopolitan The Alpina Gstaad is a five-star, ultra-luxe hotel that has single-handedly redefined luxury and Alpine chic. Situated in the heart of nature, the eco-friendly hotel combines Swiss traditions with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services. The hotel’s chalet-style façade overlooks manicured gardens and the village of Gstaad, with foothills and mountains on the horizon. There are 57 rooms and suites, which are decorated with an elegant alpine aesthetic, using reclaimed wood and stone alongside contemporary furnishing. Guests can find serenity in the Six Senses Spa – a holistic destination spa informed by Asian wellness traditions that draw upon the energy of the Alps and the Bernese Oberland’s life-giving peaks and pastures. Dining options include Michelin-starred Sommet which offers a tasting menu of alpine cuisine; Megu which serves contemporary Japanese dishes, and Swiss Stübli which offers traditional Swiss fare.

The Alpina Gstaad features in my top 10 list of the best hotels & resorts in Switzerland.

Have you ever stayed at The Alpina Gstaad? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

Pros & things I like
Cons & things to know
My verdict
Tips for future guests & save money
Best time to visit
How to get there
Photos

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Alpina Gstaad is one of the top hotels in Switzerland’s postcard perfect village of Gstaad. Long known as a wondrous playground for the rich and famous, Gstaad provides a year-round Alpine vacation destination for couples, families traveling with children of all ages, jetsetters, celebrities, and groups of friends who are looking for a great time. The village is surrounded by towering mountains, holding vast expanses of varying terrain, ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Over 200 km (125 mi) of slopes, a modern network of chairlifts & gondolas, chic mountain bars & restaurants, and the only glacier ski area in the Bernese Oberland – Glacier 3000 – make Gstaad the preferred choice for snow lovers. In summer, the same mountain pathways – dotted with wildflowers and bell-collared cows – welcome hikers and mountain bikers, too.

Crowning Gstaad’s exclusive hilltop area of Oberbort, just five minutes from the center of the village, The Alpina Gstaad overlooks the beautiful Saanenland in the heart of the Bernese Alps. When it opened in 2012, The Alpina Gstaad was the first completely new five-star hotel to open in this traditional Swiss village for more than a century. It took the French and Swiss owners Jean-Claude Minram and Marcel Bach, who both live in Gstaad, 15 years to create the six-story hotel on a five-acre plot in adherence with the town’s strict building codes. The latter dictated the style of the hotel, which had to be similar to the local three-storey ‘Simmentaler’ architectural style. The hotel was built on the site of the Grand Hotel Alpina, which was demolished on April 11, 1995 and its construction costed approximately $336 million USD, with an average cost of $5 million USD per room.

Designed by local architectural firm Jaggi & Partner AG , The Alpina Gstaad is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Swiss architecture incorporating authentic local materials and time-honored Alpine style. Massive blocks of Ringgenberg limestone, the rich brown stone from local quarries, were hand carved for the entrance and ground floor. Hundred-year-old fir wood, gathered from old Alpine farm houses, decorates the façade. The gabled roof, embellished with dormers and peaks, is of natural slate. On the inside, warm reclaimed rustic timber forms the envelope to most of the spaces and there are many references to local customs and craft skills, from elaborately hand-painted ballroom doors in the manner of centuries-old farmers’ paintings to intricate patterning embroidered onto some of the armchairs. However, the overall line is sleek and the ambiance throughout is of a home-away-from-home.

Guests enter The Alpina Gstaad via a curving subterranean porte cochère – complete with waterfall and skylight – which leads to the hotel’s double story lobby atrium. The lobby’s ground floor features the reception & concierge area, a boutique, jewelry shop, ballroom, as well as the entrance to the Six Senses Spa (more on that below). Reached by a majestic staircase, the atrium’s upper floor represents a bar & lounge area, where huge windows allow for plenty of natural light and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. On both floors, the walls and ceilings are decorated with antique wood reclaimed from Swiss farmhouses and columns are covered in Moore & Giles leather embossed with a marquetry pattern. The atrium’s piece de resistance is its ceiling, which is adorned with a 350-year-old painting salvaged from an Italian church.

No two of the hotel’s 57 spacious rooms & suites are alike, with a wide variety of room categories to choose from (ranging from deluxe rooms to the penthouse residence). The room interiors – which were designed by London-based Hirsch Bedner Associates – feature reclaimed wood accents and an antique armoire sourced specifically to accent the otherwise contemporary decor. During my visit, I stayed in a Deluxe Suite on The Alpina’s Gstaad second floor. The suite featured two separate spaces which could be closed off or connected by a sliding door. A lounge area with fireplace and kitchenette was decorated with locally crafted accessories and a period bookcase. A spacious bedroom featured a large ensuite dressing room and bathroom equipped with a bath tub, double vanity, and walk-in shower. Large French doors opened up onto a spacious south-facing terrace with breathtaking views across Gstaad and the mountains.

One of The Alpina Gstaad’s many highlights is its holistic Six Senses Spa. Inspired by Asian traditions and drawing its energy from the Alpine heart of the Bernese Oberland, this unique oasis of serenity offers world-renowned treatments designed to indulge the senses. Subscribing to the Six Senses Spa philosophy of ‘Balancing Senses’, the wellness center has a natural feel with curved walls, water features, timbers and wells of sunshine. Occupying the hotel’s lower level with interiors by Thailand-based P49 Design and Associates, the spa has 12 treatment rooms, a hammam, salt room, and large indoor pool with loungers, two Jacuzzis and a kids pool (with slide). The spa also connect to the Jean Mus-designed garden one floor above, where the outdoor pool makes the most of the Alpine location, the water reflecting the peaks beyond.

Dining at The Alpina Gstaad draws upon authentic Swiss traditions in food and wine combined with modernist cooking techniques and creative presentations. There are three fabulous restaurants, all sharing a single floor of the hotel with floor-to-ceiling glass doors flowing onto an outdoor terrace:
- At Sommet Restaurant, Executive Chef Martin Göschel celebrates the finest products from Saanenland and Switzerland. His tasting menu has been thoughtfully crafted to showcase vegetables sourced exclusively from local producers as well as fish and meats hailing solely from Swiss farms. Gault Millau awards Sommet by Martin Göschel 18/20 points, and the Guide Michelin rates the restaurant one star for service, wine list and décor where rustic and modern beautifully harmonize. Each morning, breakfast (buffet + à la carte) is also served at the Sommet by Martin Göschel Restaurant.
- At Megu Restaurant, Head Chef and Sushi Master Tsutomu Kugota takes diners on a journey through some of Japan’s most pristine and rare ingredients and presentations. Gault Millau has named Megu as Switzerland’s top Asian restaurant. The restaurant interior, designed by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, incorporates antique kimonos, Alpine fir wood, accents of vermillion, slatted wood partitions inspired by the temples of Kyoto and traditional Japanese houses.
- The Swiss Stübli restaurant is the very embodiment of Alpine spirit, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. After a day of hiking or skiing, guests can indulge in some local specialities among rustic carved wood panelling, and a warm atmosphere. Classic and traditional Swiss dishes such as raclette or fondue, from all four corners of the nation, are reinterpreted and presented with a touch of modernity.

In addition to the diverse culinary offerings at its three restaurants, The Alpina Gstaad also features three sublime bars:
- Nestled in its own niche at Megu is a brand-new bar dedicated entirely to the world of Japanese whisky. The beautiful space decorated with handcrafted wood shingles offers Switzerland’s greatest collection of Japanese whiskies proudly displayed behind the bar, and also houses some of the most exclusive bottles in the world, including some unique references in Switzerland.
- Located on the lobby’s first floor is The Alpina Lounge & Bar, the social hub of the hotel, which offers classic cocktails and light fare. Enormous floor-to-ceiling window connects the interior with the bar’s outdoor terrace, where fire-pits are burning on winter days and summer nights.
- Right behind The Alpina Lounge is the Cigar Lounge, which takes its inspiration from the famous establishments of Havana. A warm color palette recollects glamorous 1930s settings. True connoisseurs can joyfully choose from a selection of over 60 different cigars stored in the walk-in humidor. From the classic deep-buttoned armchairs, guests enjoy unparalleled views across the Alpine peaks and rolling hills of the Bernese Oberland.

The Alpina Gstaad hosts its own permanent art collection installed throughout the hotel and grounds. It includes works by many of the leading artists of the 21st century, which explore the interplay between technology, identity, and the natural world. The property partners with arts organizations, sponsors artist residencies, hosts forums that bring together creative activists and cultural producers, and supports the creation of new artworks, particularly those concerned with environmental and social activism. From the beautiful and colorful artwork in the double story lobby atrium to some of the more quirky pieces in the bar and restaurants, the property really has an interesting collection of art. The Alpina Gstaad aspires to be a global platform for creativity and cultural innovation, a place where guests can experience the spectacular Swiss Alps, while they are inspired by engaging visual art, architecture, and stimulating cultural exchange.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The Alpina Gstaad’s Six Senses Spa is located on the hotel’s subterranean level and therefore lacks natural light & views (except for a large glass dome in the ceiling of the indoor pool). From the spa, you can access the outdoor pool one floor above (to take in the views and to breath in the fresh mountain air) but the pool’s water is only lukewarm, so in winter, you won’t be able to stay in the pool for a long time. Also, the spa does not have separate facilities for children and adults, which means that the (only) indoor pool area can get quite busy (and a bit noisy because of playing children) when you visit the property during the school holidays. IMHO, it’s the only thing where the Gstaad Palace Hotel – The Alpina Gstaad’s only true competitor in town – does a better a better job since the Gstaad Palace Hotel has a spa with an adults only area, large floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for great views, and two indoor pools, one of then continuing via a glass hatch out in the open air (with the water heated to a Jacuzzi-like temperature).

Most of The Alpina Gstaad’s standard rooms are north facing and the hotel only has few south-facing standard rooms. But although they don’t enjoy sunshine, the north-facing standard rooms have a wonderful forest and mountain view, and are well appreciated for their calm exposition. Nearly all south-facing units are much larger and therefore higher priced suites. So make sure to book the room type that best fits your preferences.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Wow factor: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall experience: exceptional 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: get complimentary VIP perks at The Alpina Gstaad when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like The Alpina Gstaad (and/or receive many free perks).

Room tip: most of The Alpina Gstaad’s standard rooms are north facing and nearly all south-facing units are much larger and therefore higher priced suites. IMHO, it’s worth splurging on one of the south-facing suites (since they come with their own private balcony).

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The Alpina Gstaad is a seasonal hotel: it’s only open during the winter ski season (mid-December to mid-March) and summer (mid-June to mid-September).

HOW TO GET THERE

The journey to the hotel by car takes two hours from both Geneva and Basel, you need roughly two and a half hours from Zurich. The train station in Gstaad is just 1 km (0.6 mi) away from the hotel. Gstaad also has an airport that welcomes private jets.