Alpine Ayurveda? Herbal-tea ice cream? Michelin-starred dining? Don’t expect a humdrum ski experience at Giardino Mountain, which has marked December 9 for its 2016/2017 winter season reopening. The Swiss resort claims it’s “ready and raring” to receive guests and help plan tailor-made itineraries for unforgettable getaways.
The view over The Terrace in summer
The aforementioned ice cream might seem like an odd choice for a ski trip, but seems to make sense when you picture cosy fire-side après ski – the dessert is actually part of the “Mama Watu” beverage, which includes a scoop of the Indian herbal-tea ice cream that changes the flavour of the drink as it melts. This sort of gastronomic creation is par for the course when you book a table at two-Michelin-starred Ecco by chef Rolf Fliegauf.
One of the hotel's Mountain Suites
The rather plush Cigar Lounge
Anyone who’s spent a day on the slopes will know that your attention quickly turns to satisfying your appetite, but hearty meals from Stüva will suffice – the traditional Swiss restaurant dishes up Engadine cuisine courtesy of executive chef Markus Rose, a regular proponent of the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival. The Chef de Cuisine has earned 15 GaultMillau points during his career, celebrating his specialty of modern Mediterranean cuisine, combined with Asian influences.
The pool at the dipiù Spa
During the festive season there’ll be plenty of live music and entertainment with landmark Christmas and New Year events, gala dinners and fireworks. Wellness is also paramount at Giardino Mountain’s salon, with Aveda products and stylists keeping you limber for your descents – or your evening drinks. And you can enhance that winter sun glow with treatments at the dipiù Spa, such as an Ayurvedic Abhyanga whole-body massage. It’s the only five-star resort in Switzerland that offers Ayurveda treatments, but the biggest attractions are the Alpine slopes themselves with nearby gondolas ascending to Corviglia on the eastern slopes of Piz Nair, overlooking St. Moritz in the canton of Graubünden.