By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
The Carlton is the most intimate of the great St. Moritz hotels: a 1913 Belle Époque landmark above the lake, transformed into an all-suite hotel with just 60 suites, every one of them facing south over Lake St. Moritz and the Engadine peaks. Part of the Tschuggen Collection, it combines bold, colourful interiors by the designer Carlo Rampazzi, a three-floor spa and Da Vittorio, a two-Michelin-star Italian restaurant, with butler service and the warm, personal feel of a much smaller house.
The Carlton is the most intimate of the great St. Moritz hotels: a 1913 Belle Époque landmark above the lake, transformed into an all-suite hotel with just 60 suites, every one of them facing south over Lake St. Moritz and the Engadine peaks. Part of the Tschuggen Collection, it combines bold, colourful interiors by the designer Carlo Rampazzi, a three-floor spa and Da Vittorio, a two-Michelin-star Italian restaurant, with butler service and the warm, personal feel of a much smaller house.
Location: St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz sits at around 1,800 metres in the Upper Engadine, a high, sunny valley of lakes and larch forests in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, famous for its dry 'champagne climate' and more than 300 days of sunshine a year. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948, and its frozen lake hosts horse racing, polo and cricket on the ice each winter. The nearest major airport is Zurich, around three to three and a half hours away by road or train, and the journey on the Rhaetian Railway, over the Albula line, is one of the most beautiful in the Alps.
The Carlton stands on the hillside above the lake, a short walk from the centre of the village, with uninterrupted views across the water to the mountains. A hotel shuttle runs to the Corviglia ski area, and the hotel's limousine service is available around the clock.
Suites at Carlton Hotel St. Moritz
When the hotel was redesigned in 2007, the number of rooms was halved from 120 to 60 to create suites, and all of them face south towards the lake. They range from around 45 to 160 square metres, with sitting areas, generous bathrooms and, in many cases, balconies, and the interiors are vivid and playful, mixing rich colours, velvets and modern art with the building's historic bones.
At the top, the three-bedroom Penthouse Suite, at almost 390 square metres, has its own kitchen, an open fireplace and five terraces with views all around the valley.
Facilities at Carlton Hotel St. Moritz
The spa spreads over three floors and around 1,200 square metres, with an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool facing the mountains, saunas, steam rooms and treatment rooms. There is also a gym, a ski rental and ski school service, and a Kids & Teens Club.
Dining is a major draw. Da Vittorio, run by the Cerea brothers from their three-Michelin-star family restaurant near Bergamo, holds two Michelin stars and serves refined Lombard cooking, while the Grand Restaurant focuses on Engadine produce. In the Bel Étage, the grand lobby with two historic fireplaces and live piano music, afternoon tea is a daily ritual. The Carlton holds a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is waking in a south-facing suite, opening the curtains to sunlight pouring across the frozen lake and the snowy peaks of the Engadine, and taking breakfast on your balcony in the crisp mountain air.
After a day on the slopes of Corviglia, the hotel shuttle brings you back for a swim in the outdoor pool as the sun sets behind the mountains, before dinner at Da Vittorio, one of the finest Italian restaurants in the Alps.
Why Carlton Hotel St. Moritz is one of the best mountain hotels
The Carlton earns its place because it offers the grandeur of St. Moritz on an intimate scale. With only 60 suites, every one with the view, it feels personal and private, while its spa, its two-Michelin-star restaurant and its service match any hotel in the Alps.
It shares its owners with the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa. In St. Moritz, compare it with Badrutt's Palace, the Kulm and Suvretta House in our guide to the best luxury hotels in St. Moritz.
When to go to Carlton Hotel St. Moritz
The Carlton is a winter hotel, usually open from December to late March. January and February bring the great events on the frozen lake, including polo and horse racing on the ice, while March offers long, sunny days and excellent spring skiing. Book early for Christmas and New Year, when the hotel is busiest.
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Questions, answered
- Is the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz all suites?
- Yes. The Carlton has 60 suites, all facing south over Lake St. Moritz, from around 45 square metres to the 386-square-metre Penthouse Suite.
- Does the Carlton have a Michelin-star restaurant?
- Yes. Da Vittorio, run by the Cerea brothers, holds two Michelin stars and serves refined Italian cooking from Lombardy.
- When is the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz open?
- The Carlton is a winter hotel, usually open from December to late March.
- Who owns the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz?
- The Carlton is part of the Tschuggen Collection, which also includes the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa.
