A traditional eighteenth-century Engadine house, extensively restored in 2011 and as white as fresh mountain snow – as soon as you lay eyes on Giardino Mountain, you cannot help but feel you have discovered a real-life Alpine wonderland.
Nevertheless, this impressive exterior merely provides guests with an appetiser of what lies inside – there is, in fact, far more than meets the eye. Linked by underground passageways, the ensemble of seven historical buildings is home to a retreat that preserves the site’s history, respectfully exalting it with contemporary flair.
This combination of old and new has seen the former boarding school for girls transformed into a design hotel that offers its guests all the space they need to take a step back from everyday life and embark on fantastic experiences.
Traditional Engadine on the outside, cosmopolitan on the inside. A perfect mix of contrasts.
Today, the venue in Champfèr near St. Moritz is a mountain retreat offering casual luxury.
Giardino Mountain comprises seven Engadine houses and combines tradition and innovation.
The fireplace in the lounge, for example, resembles one that you might expect to find in a farmhouse. Directly next door, the modern bar welcomes guests with its soft lighting.
Rough-plastered stone walls and exquisite wooden panels provide a natural and warm contrast. The gleaming Mediterranean white of the houses gives them a bright and spacious appearance.
The hotel opened in December 2011 and is a Design Hotels member.
The interior of the hotel, whose main building was first mentioned in records from 1718, was redesigned by Bofor Design (Switzerland) and Bachhuber-Geissinger (Germany).
During the renovations, the basic historical structure of the buildings was successfully retained, for example the characterful wooden ceilings.
By using natural stone, elegant fabrics from Italian manufacturers and icicle-shaped lights, the interior designers transformed the former boarding school for girls into a power retreat offering casual luxury.
Its zeitgeist can be felt with every step you take: in the nonchalant bar, the multiple-award-winning restaurants and of course in the rooms and suites.
A particular highlight is the flower walkway – a seasonal piece of art made by Giardino.
In the 78 rooms and suites, Alpine chic meets Mediterranean nonchalance. Each and every room is boldly showcased by Italian fabrics and designer objects.
Due to the hotel’s historical structure, no two rooms are the same at Giardino Mountain.
Every room also has individual ties to the Upper Engadine landscape.
The wood from which the exquisite panels are made comes directly from the region, and the numerous black-and-white photographs reveal the glorious past of the area surrounding St. Moritz.
Always including breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, access to the dipiù Spa and complimentary shuttle service to and from St. Moritz station.
The Mountain suite is the crème de la crème of hotel's retreats. It showcases the perfect marriage of space and comfort over a positively stunning total surface area of 60 square metres. Open and spacious, yet with a cosy feel.
And those able to drag themselves away from the unique panoramic views of the mountains and lakes can enjoy the blissful crackling of the open fireplace. This is simply the pinnacle.
The Alpine suite is the more traditional member of suite family and can only be booked in winter.
Cream-coloured furnishings, elaborate wood panelling and the wonderful feeling of retreating from everyday life in an Alpine chalet.
Extending over 55 square metres, the cosy Alpine suite offers everything required for a perfect Engadine winter wonderland experience.
There is no better place to be snowed in.
The suites are spacious and inviting. Boasting a separate sleeping and living area, they extend over an average surface area of a regal 50 square metres. On your balcony or terrace, the surrounding mountains feel like your very own piece of the Alps.
And after you have had enough fresh air, the bathtub (sometimes located in the living area) is just what you need. Simply divine!
The south-facing small suite extends of 32 square metres and is the little gem of suite offering.
For high demands on small travel budgets (without balcony).
The Junior suites effortlessly combine modern luxury and Alpine nonchalance. Extending over an average of 30 fabulous square metres, the separate sleeping and living areas impress with their contemporary chic and cosy charm.
Some suites come with a balcony or terrace and with the bathtub directly in the room. More than enough space for big plans.
Large rooms provide you with the space to retreat and relax. Averaging an inviting 25 square metres in size and, in some cases, also featuring a balcony or terrace, these rooms provide everybody with their own private comfort zone.
Some rooms even offer a bathtub directly in the room. A good reason perhaps to not even set foot outside on one day.
Small rooms allow you to immediately immerse yourself in a cosy atmosphere. Spanning 18 square metres, these comfortable rooms make you feel at ease and offer everything you need.
Here, everybody starts the day as if reborn. The small rooms are also available as smaller single rooms.
The restaurants at Giardino Mountain are innovative and sometimes progressive. The culinary delights are developed on an ongoing basis but never lose their ties to the region.
The hotel is home to three different restaurants, and each is unique. Hide & Seek is inspired by the principles of Ayurveda and revels in taking inspiration from Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and Asian cuisine.
The Ecco St. Moritz gourmet restaurant is located in a former chapel. A white and gold room with artistic sgraffiti on the walls.
And Stüva is located in the entrance area of the historical part of the building – at lunchtime and in the evening, hearty Graubünden specialities are served here.
The Giardino hotels offer Ayurvedic cuisine at its best. Authentic and locally sourced, it uses the power and the effects of local herbs and spices.
Sometimes it is sweet, sometimes salty, occasionally bitter, sometimes spicy and sometimes sour.
Above all, it is individual: during their treatments, Ayurveda guests receive a diet tailored to their personal constitution, which can in itself already help to regulate a wide range of disorders.
2 GUIDE MICHELIN STARS
The Ecco restaurants in Ascona and St. Moritz already have a reputation for unique culinary virtuosity blended with a purist approach to taste – and both have two Michelin stars to prove it.
With his food concept, Ecco founder Rolf Fliegauf artfully combines the natural flavours of seasonal ingredients to create the unmistakable Ecco cuisine: distinctive, intense, unexpected.
Wednesday - SundayFrom 19.00h
The time for hiding is over. Modern cuisine is authentic, unpretentious and local.
But at Hide & Seek there is still zest for the new and exotic. Inspired by the principles of Ayurveda, menu combines sweet, salty, bitter, spicy and sour as the basic elements of cuisine.
Local ingredients, regional herbs and invigorating spices create new and exciting flavours with delightful simplicity, and once you have discovered this unique approach to dining, nothing else will do.
You need more. More enchanting aromas and textures – crispy, soft and tender, pure, healthy and ever so slightly sexy. Those seeking the key to complete and utter happiness on a plate need look no further.
At Hide & Seek, focus is placed on the stimulation of four taste qualities: sweet, salty, sour and bitter components are integrated in every dish.
An interplay between spices, herbs and seasoning completes the food. Many recipes are inspired by Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and Asian cuisine – the ingredients, however, are all sourced from the local region.
Hotel guests who value a perfect breakfast buffet are also not disappointed at the Hide & Seek restaurant – it always looks superb.
07.30h - 11.00h
From 19.00h (last orders: 21.30h)
At lunchtime and late in the evening, the Hide & Seek Bar takes the culinary lead at Giardino Mountain.
It offers an especially nonchalant setting: during the winter, the open fireplace crackles away, while in the summer it provides a cool place to escape the heat.
And the lounge atmosphere allows you to forget the outside world for a moment. The bar is also the stage for special events, be they culinary or musical in nature.
Quite simply something for all.
10.00h - 00.00h
Exotic sounds and enticing aromas come together in the “extended version” of the Indian Night of the exotic Far Eastern specialities buffet from the Asian continent.
A hint of Bollywood at the heart of the mountains.
At Hide & Seek BarFrom 19.00h
First picking the veggies and herbs, then back in the kitchen with the chefs to create something delicious.
And at the kitchen party afterwards, everyone will make sure that nothing is left over. Learning can taste so good.
At Hide & Seek KitchenFrom 15.00h
The luxury of a cigar is the time that you spend enjoying it. The ideal atmosphere for this pleasure in life is created in the smokers’ lounge: elegant and quiet.
Leather club chairs can be found here, with dark-wood humidors flanking the room and a wide range of Habanos and Davidoff cigars rounding off the experience.
Sometimes you need something down to earth. Engadine cuisine is just the ticket for this. Made for life in the mountains, at high altitudes and when surrounded by rugged nature.
While mountain life has changed over the centuries, the regional cuisine has persisted.
Local, hearty and simply delicious. A piece of Engadine culture on your plate that allows you to conquer any mountain the following day.
Stüva – a traditional Engadine restaurant with rustic wooden panels and corner benches, true archetypes of the Alpine world – is located in the entrance area of the historical part of the Giardino Mountain building.
At lunchtime and in the evening, hearty Graubünden specialities are served here. The kitchen team procures the products used to prepare these dishes from local suppliers. For dessert, locals recommend the nut cake served in a glass: “It is legendary.”
Lunchfrom 12.00hDinnerfrom 18.30h
The clink of fresh ice cubes in a glass, the tempting aromas wafting over from the barbecue, or simply a spot of sunbathing – summer is a feast for all the senses.
The lounge terrace brings all of this together and thus serves as the “Giardino sun deck”. The bar, barbecue and Dedon lounge bring you a little closer to the sun every day.
Japanese cuisine once again pays a visit to the Engadine: marvel at the preparation of sushi and sashimi before putting your chopstick skills to the test.
The sushi buffet is continually replenished throughout the evening. Itadakimasu!
At Hide & Seek RestaurantFrom 19.00h
DI PIU DAY SPA
“di più” comes from Italian and can be roughly translated as “a little more”. More innovation, more professionalism and more Mediterranean dolce vita.
This means that in the dipiù Spas, you can look forward to more than simple relaxation.
Sink into a world of equilibrium, beauty and vitality with the lifestyle therapies, sauna oases, gym facilities and variety of rest and relaxation areas on offer at the dipiù Spa in St. Moritz – all wrapped up with professional consulting and premium treatment products tailored to the skin type and physique of each individual guest.
AYURVEDA BY GIARDINO
In a world that is becoming more and more hectic, all need spaces to restore power, mindfulness and tranquillity. Only in this way can be maintaining personal health over the long term.
Using modern cures and treatments, Ayurveda by Giardino pursues precisely this objective.
The therapeutic and non-medical health programme provides guests with holistic well-being for body and mind – well-being that can be achieved through nutrition that is appropriate for the individual’s type, physical activity and mindful relaxation.
There is no need to go without anything and no unpleasant processes – instead, the approach offers great enjoyment and a sense of ease.
Easy-to-digest foods, relaxing and therapeutic massages and exercise serve to remove detrimental toxins, stimulate the body’s self-healing powers and rejuvenate the tissue.
At home, your newly acquired knowledge can even be easily integrated into your day-to-day activities. For sustainable relaxation that you can take home with you.
The specialist team of Ayurveda by Giardino has developed a diverse programme of different cures that address various problems, such as excessive stress, an unhealthy lifestyle and age-related phenomena.
CLASSICAL AYURVEDA
Classical Ayurveda teachings are the basis for the world’s oldest holistic art of healing and have their origin in Asia.
Ayurveda means “the science of life”, and its approach is timeless: according to Ayurveda teachings, every individual has their own specific mixture of three different energies, the doshas: vata, pitta and kapha – comparable to the elements air, fire and water.
They shape body and mind. Illnesses are the result of disruptions to the individual patterns in the form of an imbalance.
The objective of Ayurveda is to remedy this imbalance or prevent it from arising in the first place. By balancing the body and mind, the health should be guaranteed into old age. The connection between physical health and spiritual well-being has recently been confirmed by conventional medicine.
Ayurveda by Giardino is based on a Mediterranean dolce vita: carefree enjoyment, intensive relaxation and a natural feeling of well-being.
The experts at the Aveda Hair Salon are happy to provide you with advice and support with the following services: hair treatments, cut and styling services,aveda hair colours with natural ingredients, make-up and bridal stylings.
Whether you’re in Zurich, St. Moritz or Ascona, all of the dipiù Spas are characterised by their unique approach, including the use of a wide range of natural products.
For total relaxation a day pass for the dipiù Spa is perfect. Enjoy the pool and sauna area with its steam bath and Jacuzzi and choose from one of the many treatments on the spa menu for maximum relaxation.
During each session on this power station, every sporting objective is being met, overall wellbeing is increased and targeted muscle development supported.
Quality products are used in oil treatments. Oil is a secret weapon in Ayurveda, and its health-enhancing effects when used in massage, Shirodhara and other special treatments are scientifically proven.
Teaming up with the private clinic Gut, which is specialised in orthopaedic and trauma surgery, the Giardino Mountain is able to offer its guests medical benefits.
The weekly yoga sessions or frequent retreats help to relax, let go and save time to be completely with itself.
Giardino Mountain is located in the Swiss Alps’ most breathtaking setting – the Engadine. The high valley is one of Europe’s highest inhabited valleys.
A stunning natural landscape of rugged yet harmonious beauty awaits everybody who makes their way to the Alpine region between Corvatsch and Julier.
The lake scenery, Alpine meadows, Swiss pine forests and glaciers set the tone here during the summer months.
In winter, it is the snow that dominates. The ski area around St. Moritz can look back on a proud sporting history.
It has achieved worldwide fame as the host of Olympic Games and the Alpine World Ski Championships.
It in fact really doesn’t take much: simply perfect snow and a breathtaking setting.
Scaling the peaks and speeding down the slopes, with a stunning view and a clear head: the Engadine is naturally quite sporty and provides the ideal setting for activities and training at any level.
Whether in summer or winter, holidaymakers and sports enthusiasts ready to get outdoors and get active will find a wealth of prepared trails and slopes all around the high valley in one of Switzerland’s most enthralling natural sceneries.
The Giardino Mountain power retreat is located right in the middle of the action, and as a sophisticated starting point offers everything you need to recharge your batteries. Simply unbeatable as a team.
Whether acute wanderlust, a chronic case of excess energy or a progressive urge to set out on a journey of discovery, Power Guide is the right choice for satisfying any sporting mood.
The Power Guide, being the local expert among the Giardino employees, knows the region and everything it has to offer like no other.
As your personal tour guide, trainer or coach, the Power Guide knows the perfect outdoor sports and activities for all hotel guests. Always available, always full of good ideas, and never boring!
Breathtaking panoramas on Alpine mountain bike routes, high-adrenaline fun on the descents of the flow trails or effective high-altitude training in the high valley.
On narrow skis and with dynamic, powerful movements, guests can still zip along the 230 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails that cut through the Engadine winter wonderland.
The Engadin Golf Club is one of the largest in Switzerland and its golf courses are the most attractive for miles around. There are four completely different courses to choose from.
Discover picturesque side valleys on horseback, following mule trails through aromatic coniferous forests and across flower-filled alpine meadows.
You can easily combine a tour of the galleries in St. Moritz Bad and the village centre with a stroll along the lake.
266 GaultMillau points make St. Moritz an absolute paradise for food connoisseurs. World-class cookery is presented in the many exclusive restaurants, which are particularly abundant in the valley.
Virgin snow, icy silence and the unbeatable feeling of being the first to leave your tracks on the mountainside – this is heli-skiing.
The high valley of the Engadin with its wonderfully varied network of trails – 580 kilometres in all – is heaven for hiking.
Engadin St. Moritz is a paradise for alpinists, both proficient and less experienced.
Children aged between 5 and 14 traditionally kick off the St. Moritz Triathlon weekend: swim, ride their bikes and run on the polo field. Cheered on by hundreds of spectators, they are greeted there by Olympic champion Nicola Spirig.
Devotees of this increasingly popular sport will find an exceptional variety of trails in the Upper Engadin – a network of 225 kilometres.
Get your running shoes on and off you go. In addition to its diverse terrains, Giardino Mountain also offers its own training trails that have been developed in cooperation with Olympic triathlon champion Nicola Spirig.
Via Serlas is not only Europe’s highest shopping avenue, it also boasts the highest density of top brands: traditional sports outlets, souvenir and gift shops, and exclusive delicatessens.
Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy a total of 88 spectacular slopes at the four large ski resorts of Corviglia/Piz Nair, Corvatsch, Diavolezza/Lagalb and Zuoz as well as at five smaller resorts.
Here, out-of-the-ordinary leisure and sporting activities, cultural highlights, a wide variety of shopping facilities and world-class events are guaranteed.
The St. Moritz Triathlon for the sprint distance: a swim of 500 metres in Lake St. Moritz, a bike ride of 20 kilometres in the Upper Engadine and a 6-kilometre run through the picturesque Staz forest make for a unique course.
The superb conditions on idyllic Lake Silvaplana at 1,800 metres above sea level have been an open secret among windsurfing and kitesurfing aficionados.
At Giardino Mountain, every one of your family members will be able to recharge their batteries without exception.
Explore the Alps together on exciting excursions, try out new sports, enjoy delicious and healthy food or let off steam in the vast space offered by a free extra room.
And while the little ones play at the Kids Club or Freestyle Academy, parents can take a deep breath and unwind in the spa.
The Giardino carefree packages allow for even more relaxation, as they do not require any planning, research or additional training as a group leader. They are age-appropriate, varied and pretty cool. Holidays without long faces.
KIDS GUIDE
The Engadine is actually like a big adventure playground: enormous, never boring and with something for everybody.
The Kids Guide at Giardino Mountain knows exactly where to find the region’s most exciting corners that offer the most fun.
The professional for explorations and adventures knows Giardino Mountain and its surroundings like the back of their hand.
Bubbling with ideas, the Kids Guide and Power Guide together ensure that something is going on every day.
Whether indoors or out and about, the Kids Guide is an expedition leader, jester and storyteller all in one. While their kids are having fun, adults have to fend for themselves.
KIDS CLUB
Everything that a club needs: the chance to meet others your own age, talk about your favourite comic characters and make true friendships.
The Kids Club in the heart of Giardino Mountain offers everything needed for a successful day’s holiday without mum and dad.
Here, children aged two and above can play, let off steam in the ball pool, enjoy arts and crafts and paint colourful pictures of their holiday experiences – all under careful supervision, of course.
They also have the chance to recharge their batteries during a joint lunch. All-inclusive holidays. FREESTYLE ACADEMY There are things that parents simply have no clue about. These include chilling out, PlayStation marathons and fantasy film trilogies.
However, it really isn’t so bad, as the Freestyle Academy at Giardino Mountain is there to fill this knowledge gap.
Kids and teens can improve their skills here in the supreme disciplines of chilling, gaming and binge watching.
And to ensure focused learning, there is of course a “No entry” policy for parents.
GIARDINO MOUNTAIN
Via Maistra 3ChampfèrSt. MoritzSwitzerland