After 18 months the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz once again opened its doors in December 2007, offering an insight into the future of a long established hotel. Now completely refurbished, the hotel built in 1913 welcomes its guests as a boutique hotel with 60 Junior Suites and Suites – all with views of the lake of St. Moritz and the picturesque Upper Engadine beyond.
THE HISTORY
The Carlton Hotel St. Moritz has a long and colourful history: In 1913, the doors of this impressive building were opened for the first time. At Christmas of the same year the hotel welcomed its first guests as the fifth five star hotel in this elegant holiday resort, which was already well known at the time.
According to legend the property was originally planned as summer residence for the czar Nicolaj II., grand son of the czar Alexander II. However, it seems this was never confirmed; on the contrary, it seems in fact, this was a fantastical story made up by a former owner, hoping to raise the profile of the Carlton. In today’s media world, you would most probably call this a genius PR-story – especially as the connection between the hotel and the czar was never eliminated completely.
And also because Carlo Rampazzi, supervising interior designer for the complete refurbishment in 2006/2007, used the russian legend as his artistic inspiration, despite knowing that it was not more than a legend.
A fact is: After an exceptionally successful first winter season, the First World War began in 1914 and all guests left St. Moritz in a hurry. Even though the Carlton received some attention due to the fact that the Greek royal family lived during the whole war in exile at the hotel and in St. Moritz, times were very hard.
Only a few hotels managed to survive the duration of the war since they were mainly owned by large financial institutions after their owners went bancrupt.
This also applied to the Carlton, which then was owned by the Swiss Volksbank. In the 30s the hotel experienced for the first time real glorious years.
At the library in St. Moritz articles from the „Engadin Express & Alpine Post“ can be found which announce Afternoon Tea Times with celebrity guests from London, Amsterdam and Paris. Unfortunately, the Second World War brought these successful times to an end and the hotel was closed again in September 1939. The hotel re-opened its doors again after the war for the winter season 1947/1948.
Alfred Koch, the son of the engineer Valentin Koch-Robbi who built the hotel in cooperation with the well known swiss hotel architect Emil Vogt, became General Manager. But the respective bank was very sceptical towards the hotel trade in St. Moritz and decided to close the hotel again after a very successful Olympic winter season in 1948.
It took seven years before the hotel accommodated guests again. The family Ernst from Luzern, who also owned the Kulm Hotel in St.Moritz, bought the hotel and re-opened it. It seemed to be a success, at least for a short period of time.
This was followed by a series of ownership changes: The Niarchos group sold the house to an American consortium. Then the new owner Norbert Cymbalista sold it to the Banque de Paris and Paye-Bas. Although the hotel was lead by a number of inspiring and talented operators, the constant change of ownership could not be prevented.
Finally, an Armenian business man bought the hotel and invested significant amounts for the first time since it had been build in 1913. But even the new roof, the completely renovated facade and the new pool were not able to save the hotel. More money would have been needed to completely modernise the hotel.
In 1987 the Carlton finally found a new owner, who not only had the courage but also showed the necessary resilience to re-instate the hotel as a top property within the competitive set. Since then the Carlton Hotel has gained its place among the most attractive hotels in Switzerland. Its unique location in St. Moritz’s sunniest spot overlooking the lake makes the Carlton one of the most impressive hotels.
LIVING THE DREAM
With its refurbishment as a boutique hotel with 60 junior suites and suites the Carlton Hotel redefined the notion of personalised luxury. The suites exclusively remodelled and refurbished by interior designer
Carlo Rampazzi offer the highest standard of comfort and a superlative use of light and space. All 60 suites look out onto the frozen lake of St. Moritz and the alpine panorama beyond.
The walls are covered with works by Marc Chagall, the French artist of Russian origin. These are no ordinary paintings squeezed into frames. On the contrary, these reproductions
of Chagall’soriginals have been painted directly onto the walls of the room. The matching furniture and curtains give the room the unique feel of an artist’s studio.
The walls are said to have been painted by the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky . When he was a guest at the hotel, he awoke from a dream filled with sudden creative inspiration. With no paper to hand, he began
to paint the pictures in his head on the hotel walls. This story that has been handed down is truly fascinating. Perhaps Kandinsky’s murals will give you private or professional inspiration too. Give it a try.
The chefs of both the restaurants Romanoff und Da Vittorio - St. Moritz look forward to welcoming you again from 16 December 2016 to spoil you with their culinaric creations. The Executive, Gero Porstein and his team will now treat you with authentic Swiss cuisine, delicious Engadine specialities as well as
internationally well-known Swiss dishes at the Restaurant Romanoff. At the Da Vittorio – St. Moritz you have the opportunity to savour the haute cuisine of Enrico & Roberto Cerea, whose Da Vittorio Restaurant in Brusaporto has garnered no fewer than three Michelin stars!
With its meticulously restored interior with two open fires and a unique sun terrace, the Carlton Bar and Lobby boasts magnificent views over the frozen waters of the lake of St. Moritz. The bar and lobby is
the perfect rendezvous for pre- and after-dinner cocktails as well as tasty treats from our kitchens. Enjoy the Martini cocktails, the Engadine Afternoon Tea or one of our many coffee and cake specialities.
from 11:00 hrs
from 15:00 hrs
1 GUIDE MICHELIN STARS
18 GAULT MILLAU POINTS
This winter again the brothers Enrico and Roberto Cerea will be treating guests at the Carlton Hotel’s Restaurant Da Vittorio – St. Moritz to their trademark culinary excellence.The Restaurant Da Vittorio
on a delightful country estate outside the Italian town of Brusaporto near Bergamo has garnered three Michelin stars to join the elite of haute cuisine establishments.
11.12.2015 - 28.03.2016
19:00 - 22:30 hrs
Smart casual
+41 (0)81 836 70 00
At the start of the 2014/2015 winter season, Gero Porstein has been assuming responsibility for Carlton Hotel St. Moritz's exquisite cuisine and since then tickling the taste buds of guests of the five-star hotel while indulging his passion for the fine art of cooking. Whereas Restaurant Da Vittorio St. Moritz,
which is under the management of the Cerea brothers, will continue to celebrate Italian haute cuisine, the elegant Restaurant Romanoff Porstein focuses on fine authentic Swiss cuisine ranging from dishes well known internationally to specialities from the Engadine region.
07:00 - 11:00 hrs
19:00 - 22:00
Smart casual (Jacket and shirt)
Wellness for body, mind and soul is offered by the Carlton Spa with its 1200 luxuriously appointed square metres.
The modern, brightly illuminated area finished in blue-green Bisazza mosaic transports you away into other worlds. The spacious wellness world boasts a number of first-class facilities, such as the swimming pool, the saunas and steam baths, as well as the outdoor pool with its magnificent view.
Discover total peace and relaxation in the private Spa Suite or during a revitalising treatment using the most exclusive skincare products from Cellcosmet.
Discover a sense of wellness for your body, mind and soul, combined with incomparable views of the St. Moritz mountain panorama.
The fitness studio at the carlton spa is equipped with the latest technogym machines.
The introduction of steam in conjunction with high humidity is a boon for the skin, hair, upper respiratory tract and bronchial tube.
WINTER IN ST. MORITZ – TOP OF THE WORLD
St. Moritz’s Olympic ski runs and its extensive cross-country ski trails are famous all over the world. Skiers, snowboarders and cross-country enthusiasts are drawn to the Engadine by its natural beauty and quality infrastructure.
St. Moritz is also the venue for a variety of top-class events that make it a holiday destination unrivalled anywhere in the world.
The Olympia Bob Run is the oldest bobsleigh run in the world – as well as the only natural-ice track in existence that hosts international races.
Explore the rich variety of spectacular landscapes and ski to your heart's content.
Ice is guaranteed in the open air, and numerous curling clubs maintain excellent rinks and facilities.
Take off in a helicopter and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Engadin.
Anyone looking for a rather more leisurely day out can enjoy a romantic ride in a horse-drawn sleigh or carriage, exploring the idyllic side valleys or the spectacular landscape of frozen lakes along the way.
Snow-covered slopes sparkling in the sun, and a wide, high valley, bewitching in its multifaceted beauty.
One of the best snowkiting locations in the world: the key elements of space, snow, wind and sunshine rarely come together in such perfection.
As soon as the temperatures fall and the first snow has settled, the hiking paths and various pass roads are transformed into snowy-white trails that are perfect for tobogganing.
On a stroll across the frozen Engadin lakes, you really appreciate the great expanse of the high valley and especially at sunset, the magical quality of light in the Engadin.
CARLTON HOTEL – EVEN THE LITTLE ONES ARE BIG HERE…
So that no kid runs out of wishes, hotel's team has listed a few more activities that are attractive:
- Skating, Tobogganing
- Kids Ski School
- Kids Cinema
- Snowtubing Maloja
- Bathing fun at the Ovaverva
- Child-friendly ski resorts in Celerina and Zuoz (Tschainas and Chastlatsch)
- Snowpark Corvatsch
- Ice Track
- Children’s playground Muottas Muragl
CARLTON HOTEL ST MORITZ
Via Johannes Badrutt 11CH-7500 St. MoritzSwitzerland