Hotel Tannenhof, St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

Hotel Tannenhof is the most exclusive hotel in St. Anton, the legendary ski town of the Arlberg. A century-old house transformed into a contemporary hideaway, it has just seven suites, a gourmet restaurant with two Michelin stars and two Michelin Keys, a pool and spa, and a level of personal service you would expect from a private chalet.

Location: St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

The hotel is in Nasserein, a quieter part of St. Anton, with a private shuttle to the lifts and village. Guests can even arrive by helicopter at the St. Anton helipad. St. Anton is the heart of Ski Arlberg, the largest linked ski area in Austria, with around 300 kilometres of pistes connecting to Lech, Zürs and Warth, and a famously lively après-ski scene. Innsbruck Airport is around an hour by road, Zurich about two and a half hours, and St. Anton has its own railway station.

St. Anton is the birthplace of modern ski teaching, where the pioneer Hannes Schneider developed the Arlberg technique in the 1920s, and it remains a resort for serious skiers, with steep, challenging pistes, vast off-piste terrain and the Valluga summit at 2,811 metres. It is equally famous for après-ski: the Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh bars on the slopes above the village are legendary. The Flexenbahn cable car links St. Anton with Zürs and Lech, so one lift pass covers the whole Arlberg.

Suites at Hotel Tannenhof

There are only seven suites, each in a modern design that contrasts with the historic building, with high-quality materials, generous space and mountain views. The tiny number of guests gives the hotel the feel of a private home.

Each suite is different, and they are among the largest in St. Anton, with separate living areas, high-quality bathrooms and views of the mountains. The contemporary design, with clean lines, natural materials and art, contrasts strikingly with the hotel's century-old exterior.

Facilities at Hotel Tannenhof

The gourmet restaurant, holding two Michelin stars, serves creative Alpine cuisine and is one of the best in Austria. There is a pool and a small spa with sauna and steam rooms, treatments on request, a gym, concierge, valet and a shuttle service.

Dining at the Tannenhof is an event: the tasting menus showcase seasonal Alpine ingredients in creative, refined dishes, and the wine list is outstanding. With so few guests, the staff can tailor almost everything, from private ski guides and heli-skiing to helicopter transfers and private dinners.

The mountain moment

The Tannenhof moment is a day on the steep, deep slopes of the Arlberg, a stop for a drink at the famous après bars on the way down, then a private shuttle home for a swim and a two-Michelin-star dinner.

Strong skiers should try the run down from the Valluga, reached by a small cable car, or explore the off-piste of the Arlberg with a guide; few resorts in the Alps offer such a range of steep, challenging terrain. Afterwards, a late-afternoon stop at the Mooserwirt, where the music is loud and the terrace packed, is part of the St. Anton experience, before the calm of the Tannenhof.

Why Hotel Tannenhof is one of the best mountain hotels

Hotel Tannenhof earns its place for exclusivity and food. Seven suites, two Michelin stars and personal service make it one of the most special hotels in the Alps. It is extremely expensive, the spa is small, and it is not ski-in, ski-out. But for a private, gastronomic Arlberg escape, nothing in St. Anton compares.

For the other side of the Arlberg, see Hotel Gasthof Post in Lech.

The Tannenhof also shows how a historic building can be transformed with taste: the exterior keeps its traditional Tyrolean charm, while the interiors are modern, light and comfortable. Its combination of privacy, design and world-class dining is rare even in the most exclusive resorts of the Alps.

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When to go to Hotel Tannenhof

St. Anton's ski season usually runs from early December to late April, with the best snow from January to March. Christmas, New Year and February are busiest. Check the hotel's opening dates, as many St. Anton hotels close between seasons.

January and February offer the most reliable snow for the Arlberg's steep pistes and off-piste terrain, while March brings sunshine and long après-ski afternoons. Christmas, New Year and February are busiest. St. Anton's season usually ends in late April with the Rendl Beach Party and other end-of-season celebrations.