Design Hotels Stories: Sophisticated Mountain Retreats

A zen oasis carved out from Shangri-La’s rugged terrain. Ski-in ski-out access to idyllic pistes in Georgia’s Koktha-Mitarbi region and in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. Secluded relaxation in one of Europe’s most hidden valleys, and a luxurious upstate New York sanctuary. No matter their geographic location, these eight properties reflect and revel in their mountain landscapes.

The Sunyata Hotel Meili in Shangri-La, China, was carved from a former Tibetan home cradled in a remote hillside and pays homage to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. Design details like rough-hewn furniture and uneven concrete walls reflect Yunnan province’s mountain terrain, while Tibetan references abound in elements like Buddhist murals and deep wooden window frames. Rooms Hotel Kokhta in Bakuriani, Georgia, also reflects the textures of its natural surroundings and Georgian heritage through interiors crafted from chestnut wood, terracotta, and local stone. Located in the highlands of the Koktha-Mitarbi region, which was initially developed for Olympic training, the ski-in ski-out resort has some of country’s finest slopes right at its doorstep. 

Set on a 23-acre mountainside site with sweeping views, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge provides a luxury retreat in the natural splendor of New York’s Catskill Mountains. All guestrooms feature dark maple floors, vintage rugs, and bespoke furniture, while many have large windows and private decks, and some have their own fireplaces. Nearby are the slopes of Hunter and Windham Mountains, snowshoe trails, apple orchards, and local microbreweries. Across the Atlantic, tucked away in Andorra’s Incles Valley, one of Europe’s most hidden vales, L’Ovella Negra Mountain Lodge offers an intimate escape. The community-minded lodge takes a slowed-down approach to hospitality and with only four rooms, encourages guests to do the same. The lodge’s central fireplace, low lighting, and abundance of candles create the perfect ambiance for rest and relaxation, although snowshoe trails and ski slopes are also just a stone’s throw away.

At Wiesergut in Hinterglemm, a 14th-century estate has been masterfully renovated to include a glass passageway and floor-to-ceiling windows with unparalleled views of the Austrian Alps. The onsite restaurant focuses on elevated Alpine cuisine crafted with locally sourced ingredients, and the spa offers sublime wellness treatments alongside views of the mountains and Glemm Valley beyond. In Lana, in the South Tyrol region of Italy, 1477 Reichhalter is housed within a 500-year-old historical structure that has also been updated with contemporary design details, although the original façade remains an integral part of the property. Nestled in the heart of the Etschtal Valley, the nearby Mount Vigiljoch is lined with forests and wooden gabled farmhouses, while the Tappeinerweg trail is a 19th-century landscaped botanical path with over 400 labeled tree and shrub specimens.

Two properties in Zermatt, Switzerland, a town with access to 38 Alpine peaks, each offer distinct experiences. With over 50 guest accommodations and multiple buildings, Cervo Mountain Resort is a micro-community and is the only property in the area to provide ski-in ski-out access. The four onsite restaurants focus on locally sourced ingredients, and a sophisticated après-ski program features live music and DJ sets paired with perfectly crafted cocktails. At The Omnia, American modernism meets European craftsmanship throughout one statement-making structure. Here, 30 individually designed rooms with warm wooden detailing, and suites with private fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, are paired with contemporary lodge-style common spaces. At the in-house Michelin-starred restaurant, Executive Chef Tony Rudolph maintains the authenticity of Alpine cuisine while giving it a contemporary, seasonal twists.