Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
Prominently overlooking the storied slopes of the Swiss Alps, The Alpina Gstaad is an exciting addition to the jet-set mountain resort of Gstaad, Switzerland. Despite being the new kid on the block, The Alpina has already achieved iconic status as one of the region’s most elegant and progressive destinations. Putting a contemporary spin on the Swiss mountain retreat, The Alpina seamlessly juxtaposes tradition with modernity. This is reflected in not only the hotel’s originative design and world-class amenities, but through an overall brand ethos that redefines luxury as a portal to stimulating artistry, individualized wellness, and refined pursuits of leisure.
Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
The Alpina is the youthful and energetic heart of Gstaad, a picturesque and historic mountain town that is steeped in both glamorous lore and long-standing traditions. A combination of bold architecture and elegant interiors, The Alpina draws inspiration from both the classic Swiss chalet styles of the region and stylistic elements from various parts of Asia. The result is a blend of cozy Alpine chic and Eastern zen which come together to create a habitat perfectly suited for holistic and restorative well-being. Designed by Jaggi, a local architectural firm, the traditional exterior gives way to The Alpina’s ultra-contemporary interior upon arrival. A limestone subterranean porte cochere opens up to a gleaming lobby that also serves as the social hub of the resort and home to the lively Alpina Lounge, a mountain chic salon complete with a roaring fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, and postcard views of the surrounding Bernese Mountains. Whimsical antiquities and contemporary art by some of the world’s most renowned talents co-exist with provocative works by established and burgeoning artists from under-represented countries around the world.
Image Courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
These types of unexpected juxtapositions are displayed throughout the space, the most prominent of which is the lobby ceiling, an expansive 350-year-old painting salvaged from a chapel in Italy. The aesthetic delights don’t stop there. Design aficionados will appreciate walls decorated with antique wood reclaimed from Swiss farmhouses and soaring columns wrapped in Moore & Giles leather, embossed with marquetry-style patterns. Designed by London-based Hirsch Bedner Associates, the Alpina’s 56 rooms and suites pay homage to local heritage through many subtle and charming design details. Local hand-carved stone, live-edge hardwoods, and other natural materials such as leather, linen and cashmere soften the precise lines, while hand-painted antique armoires ground the lofty suites. Lending a sense of balance, and the feel of a home away from home.
Image Courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
An ideal destination for luxury wellness travel, The Alpina offers a range of specialized amenities. Many of which can be found at the resort’s uber-chic in-house spa, Six Senses Gstaad, which offers some of the world’s finest wellness treatments and restorative therapies. Inspired by both Asian holistic health traditions and Swiss inspired therapies, spa programs begin with Six Senses’ Integrated Wellness Screening. The evaluation, which includes a visual assessment and pulse reading by one of the spa’s expert naturopaths, takes a unique and personal approach for each guest. This level of individuated focus ensures that each guest receives an appropriate treatment program for their specific needs. In addition to traditional massage and beauty treatments, Six Senses Gstaad offers time-honored Asian wellness and healing therapies such as reiki, chakra balancing, energy healing and the signature Tibetan Healing program which includes varying combinations of massage, Tibetan singing bowls, moxibustion, cupping, Ku-Nye massage and Hor-Me therapy.
Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
The holistic approach to wellness at The Alpina extends beyond the realm of the spa and into numerous options geared towards active lifestyles. Surrounded by some of the world’s finest ski slopes and hiking trails, The Alpina is a perfect base for an active and restorative mountain holiday throughout the year. During the winter season, guests can wile away the days schussing down some of the region’s 150 miles of pistes. In the summer months, The Alpina’s indoor and outdoor pools are the perfect settings to restore the body and clear the mind with crystal clear air and breathtaking views of the Bernese mountain peaks and pastures. Guests seeking more active options for fitness can choose from a range of classes, including tai chi, Pilates, HIIT cardio, barre and a range of yoga sessions including Tibetan, vinyasa and hatha.
Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
Whether participating in The Alpina Gstaad’s 5-day Mountain Detox retreats, finishing a morning of yoga, an afternoon of skiing or hiking, or just simply enjoying the ambiance of the Alps, one is bound to work up an appetite. Fortunately, The Alpina’s three stellar restaurants offer a range of options for nutritional therapy diets and more indulgent culinary cravings. Celebrated chef, Martin Göschel is the creative force behind The Alpina’s award-winning restaurants, Megu, Sommet, and the Swiss Stübli. Göschel and his team have developed a number of innovative takes on wellness-focused cuisine, including The Alpina’s ‘Six Senses Life Cuisine’ menu. A curated selection of health-centric dishes that are available alongside the main menus of The Alpina’s restaurants. For those looking to savor something a bit more decadent, world-class dining options abound, starting with the one Michelin-starred, Megu. Head Chef Tetsujiro Ogata and Sushi Chef Tsutomu Kugota bring true authenticity to an exciting menu comprised of dishes that boast some of Japan’s most prized and rare ingredients.
Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
The restaurant’s interior, designed by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, provides a perfect setting for enjoying the best of Japanese traditional and fusion cooking — not to mention Switzerland’s largest sake collection. Incorporating antique kimonos, slatted partitions hewn from local reclaimed wood, hues of cherry blossom and flashes of gold, space is equally inspired by both Kyoto’s regal temples and traditional Japanese domiciles. In delightful contrast to Megu’s elegant minimalism, The Alpina’s Swiss Stübli restaurant is traditional alpine chic at it’s most exuberant. A warm and welcoming atmosphere complete with stained glass windows, rustic wall-to-wall carved wood paneling and vintage ski posters creates the perfect backdrop for the Swiss Stübli’s modern reinterpretations of Swiss classics. Including an exceptional fondue spread and the Swiss Stübli’s signature raclette. Rounding out the triad is Sommet, The Alpina’s three Michelin-starred restaurants and arguably the jewel in The Alpina’s culinary crown. Offering a range of international concepts with a subtle nod to traditional Swiss cuisine, Sommet aims to impress on the highest level with exceptional tasting menus and an extensive selection of wines — including a sommelier curated collection of over 400 rare and vintage bottles from across the world.
Image courtesy of The Alpina Gstaad
Inspired by the energy of its natural environs, Gstaad’s timeless allure, and the robust lifestyle of the Swiss Alps, The Alpina Gstaad combines Swiss refinement, conscious design, and well-chosen amenities to create an alpine holiday experience that represents the best of tradition and modernity. By redefining artistry, wellness, and active leisure, The Alpina Gstaad has created a brand of contemporary luxury that is truly one of a kind.
The Alpina Gstaad is located in the village of Gstaad in southwest Switzerland in the German-speaking canton of Bern, easily accessible by rail or car from Bern, Zürich and Geneva. International airports serve all three cities.
Private jets and helicopters may access the small airport in nearby Saanen, 6.5 km from The Alpina Gstaad. Transfers by helicopter or limousine on request.
info@thealpinagstaad.ch
