Snow is falling when we drove into the town of Gstaad, passing traditional chalets, small hotels and farm houses. Minutes later we skirted a street of glittering shop windows – Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Moncler – before the route climbs up. After some twists and turns, along a dramatic tunnel, we arrived at our stay, the Alpina Gstaad. We were warmly welcomed in and our bags and ski equipments were taken care of.

Once inside, we can’t help but gushing at the grand entrance presented in front of us. A wide staircase leading to the lounge, bar and restaurants lies ahead with large, beautiful fresh flower arrangements on each sides. Hanging from the ceiling over the main staircase is a Late Baroque painting (circa 1780, we were told afterwards).

For decades the jet-setting ski-crowd has been flocking to Gstaad, Switzerland, but it’s been a century since a luxury five-star hotel has been opened until The Alpina Gstaad, which opened its door in 2013. Overall interior design of the hotel is rather modern, paying homage to the Switzerland's alpine chalet style while upgrading it to contemporary elegance. A relaxed atmosphere of luxury, where old and new style congregate in perfect harmony.

We were given the suite with views out towards snow-covered slopes of Schönried with chalets dotted about here and there. The rooms have a good size of 33 square meters and a private terrace on which you can sit out and admire the view. Our beds were large with soft beddings. Over the bedside tables are two oversized cowbell shaped lamps. The bathroom is spacious and feels bigger thanks to the large mirror and the neutral beige tones. There are both bath as well as walk-in shower with dual shower heads. It was such a pleasure to shower under the large rain shower head. Any amenities that you might need and can think of are supplied in the rooms, from tooth brush to body scrub pad. All the towels are engraved with the unmistakable Alpina signature. Fluffy robes and thick, comfy felt slippers are also provided. However, what you don’t find in the bathroom are the disposable travel-sized toiletries, thanks for the sustainable efforts that The Alpina Gstaad has been making in the past years. They didn’t stop just there. We also noticed LED lights throughout the hotel, restaurants menus with locally sourced produce, no water in plastic bottles, low flow shower heads and faucet. and etc. As guests, we were really glad to see the hotel is trying to help the planet while still making our stay comfortable.

There are four restaurants in The Alpina Gstaad (headed by the head chef Martin Göschel), Michelin starred Megu and Sommet, Swiss Stübli with traditional Swiss cuisine, and laid back Alpina Lounge & Bar. For breakfast, we ate at the Sommet, which has a contemporary setting with striking artworks and serves buffet. There are plenty of choices to select from fresh pastries to custom-ordered smoothies. À la carte is offered as well if you want something fancy. We ordered a waffle with fresh berries and maple syrup and were give a most delicious golden brown square waffle with Alpina signature engraving. For dinner, we tried both Megu and Swiss Stübli. Megu is a modern Japanese restaurant with in a perfect combined Swiss and Japanese style setting. We ordered from a set menu and every course was divine. Not only the dishes were packed with interesting flavors, but also the presentation was mesmerizing. The stand-out dish was the very special “Kagero Yaki” Wagyu beef flambéed with cognac on a stone grill. On top of that was the impeccable services from the staff. We savored every bite with the ultimate joy. In Swiss Stübli, we had a much more laid-back, warm, cozy, and delicious nonetheless dining experience. The restaurant is incredibly charming with the traditional Swiss decors (the ceiling beam is from 16th century). In line with the Alpine spirit of the restaurant, we had a traditional Swiss Fondue Chinoise, a broth-based fondue with various types of meat. We also sat down in the Alpina Lounge and Bar and chatted with the General Manager Tim Weiland, who has a wealth of experience, having worked for more than 20 years in luxury hotels around the world. We tasted the hotel’s own Alpina Gin, which is made with various herbs from the Swiss Alps. Together with a tropical tonic water, it is a perfect sundowner.

Of course, while in Gstaad, we are obliged to check out its world-known ski resort. Thanks to the considerate arrangements from the concierge, all our ski requirements were being taken care of in the ski room and some were loaded into the shuttle, which then brings us to the ski lift “Wasserngrat”, a mere 10 minute drive away. The view from the slope is absolutely breathtaking. To make the experience better, we enjoyed a wonderful, traditional Swiss hearty lunch of cheese fondue at the Berg Restaurant Wasserngrat with a breathtaking view to the Swiss alps and the village of Gstaad. After the lunch, we found ourselves incapable of skiing anymore due to the full tummy. There was only one way for us to go, which is down and back to the hotel.

Back to our rooms, we changed from heavy and puffy ski jackets to swim suits and bath robes, and headed down to the Six Senses Spa. This is not just another hotel spa, the Six Senses Spa delivers a holistic approach towards rejuvenation and healing. You can see and feel how the five elements of earth, fire, water, air and space are spread out in different section of the spa. Our favorite hanging out areas were indoor and the outdoor pools. The indoor pool features a large swimming pool with a huge round skylight and two jacuzzis. The outdoor has a stunning panoramic view to the mountains and surrounded by snow. Both are incredible beautiful and fun and we ended up going back and forth between them.

There are so much more offered by The Alpina Gstaad that we did not get a chance to fully experience. Cigar Lounge for my husband, the wine bar, Indoor Cinema (private party only), Tree House (for the little guests), and many more. Guess that would be something for next time.

After our stay, I can assure you that if you were to pick The Alpina Gstaad for your winter holidays, you will most definitely be “wowed”. One of the very best luxury ski hotels in the European Alps.