The Alpina Gstaad, Gstaad, Switzerland

The Alpina Gstaad is one of the most celebrated luxury hotels in the Alps, a grand modern chalet on a hillside above the village of Gstaad, the most discreet and glamorous of Swiss ski resorts. Opened in 2012, it was the first major luxury hotel built in Gstaad in around a century, and it combines traditional Simmentaler craftsmanship with contemporary art, outstanding dining and a vast spa.

Location: Gstaad, Switzerland

The hotel stands in the Oberbort area on the edge of Gstaad, at around 1,050 metres in the Bernese Oberland, a short walk or ride from the village's car-free Promenade, lined with boutiques, galleries and cafés. Geneva Airport is around two hours away by road, and Bern about an hour. Gstaad Saanen airport handles private flights.

Gstaad is set in a gentle, green valley surrounded by wooded slopes and peaks, rather than dramatic high mountains, and the Glacier 3000 area, with its peak walk suspension bridge between two summits, is a short drive away.

Gstaad has long been a favourite of royalty, celebrities and the international elite, drawn as much by its discretion as its beauty. Its car-free centre, traditional wooden chalets and strict building rules have preserved its village character, and its calendar of events, from polo on snow to tennis and music festivals, gives it a lively social life without the brashness of some resorts.

Rooms and suites at The Alpina

The hotel has 56 rooms and suites, along with private apartments and chalets on the estate. Interiors celebrate local craftsmanship, with hand-painted doors, embroidered armchairs, goat-hair rugs and reclaimed timber, combined with contemporary art and modern comfort. The reception desk is carved from a single giant fir tree.

Many rooms have balconies and views across the valley to the mountains. The suites are among the largest in the Swiss Alps, and the private chalets offer the ultimate in space and privacy for families and groups.

Service is a major strength, with a high ratio of staff to guests, and the hotel's art collection, featuring contemporary works alongside Tibetan and local pieces, adds interest throughout the public spaces. Families are welcome, with a children's club and activities, and the apartments and chalets offer the privacy of a home with the services of a five-star hotel.

Facilities at The Alpina

Food is a major draw. Sommet, the gastronomic restaurant, holds a Michelin star and a high Gault&Millau rating, serving refined, seasonal cuisine, and MEGU brings acclaimed Japanese cooking to the mountains. There is also a lounge, a bar, a cigar room and a private cinema.

The Six Senses Spa is one of the finest in the Alps, with an 85-foot indoor pool, an outdoor pool, saunas, steam rooms, a salt room and a long menu of treatments, along with a fitness centre. In winter, the hotel's ski concierge arranges passes, instruction and transport to Gstaad's slopes; in summer, there is hiking, cycling and tennis.

For après-ski, the hotel's bar and lounge, with fireplaces and views across the valley, are the place to be, and the cigar lounge and wine cellar offer quieter retreats. The hotel can also arrange helicopter flights, private ski guides and excursions across the Bernese Oberland.

The mountain moment

The defining Gstaad moment is a sunny winter day on the slopes of the Gstaad region, followed by a long lunch at a mountain restaurant, then a stroll along the Promenade as the chalets glow in the evening light. Gstaad's charm lies in its unhurried, understated elegance.

For a more dramatic mountain experience, head to Glacier 3000, where the Peak Walk, a suspension bridge between two summits at around 3,000 metres, offers views across the Bernese Alps to the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc on clear days.

Why The Alpina is one of the best mountain hotels

The Alpina Gstaad earns its place as one of the defining luxury hotels of the modern Alps, combining craftsmanship, contemporary design, superb dining and a world-class spa. It is extremely expensive, and Gstaad's skiing is gentler and lower than resorts like Zermatt or St. Moritz. But for those seeking discreet, polished luxury in a beautiful, unspoilt valley, it is outstanding.

Its design is particularly impressive: local planning rules required the hotel to follow traditional Simmentaler architecture, and the result feels rooted in its valley, with timber, stone and local crafts throughout, rather than the generic luxury of many international hotels.

When to go to The Alpina

The Alpina has winter and summer seasons; check opening dates when booking. Winter, from around December to March, brings skiing, the glamorous Christmas and New Year season, and events such as polo and music festivals in the region. Summer, from June to September, brings hiking, cycling and the Menuhin Festival of classical music, and the valley is lush and green. Spring and autumn are the quietest times.