Rupert Parker Enjoys Hotel Das Central’s Alpine Luxury In Sölden, Austria.
Hotel Das Central is a family affair, now in the capable hands of Angelika Falkner, whose father welcomed the first guests 55 years ago. It sits right in the heart of the village yet retains a sense of calm away from the bustle of the main street. Expertly blending five-star hospitality with a relaxed vibe, you can saunter about in your ski or hiking gear then slip into something more glamorous for dinner.
Adventure is quite literally at the doorstep. In winter, there’s access to 145kms of prepared slopes and 31 state-of-the-art chair lifts and cable cars. In summer, 1,600kms of marked and signposted hiking trails criss-cross the nearby mountains.
There are 125 individually styled rooms and suites, including junior suites with panoramic mountain views, wellness suites with private spas, and lavish penthouse suites up to 105m². As part of the hotel’s 2023 renovations, 31 brand-new rooms and suites were added to the property.
We stayed in Wellness suite Söldenkogl which blends alpine luxury with modern design. Sleek wooden floors and rustic colours blend seamlessly into the natural world outside. The extensive balconies, overlooking the mountain stream, not only have spectacular views of the Ötztaler Ache and Söldenkogll, but also include a private spa area with sunroom and sauna.
The modern bathroom has both walk-in shower and deep bathtub, double washbasins and Valentina & Philippa natural care products. An enjoyable surprise is the all singing/dancing Japanese toilet with heated seat. Of course flat screen TV, private safe, free Wi-Fi, Nespresso coffee machine, fluffy bathrobe, spa bag and bath slippers all come as standard. A nice touch is the hiking backpack hanging beside the door.
After an action-packed day in the mountains, the star attractopm is the new state-of-the-art Rooftop Summit Spa on the 4th and 5th floors with an impressive 17m infinity pool. It appears to float among the Alpine mountain peaks, suspended in the air, 17m above Sölden. Complementing the pool is a rooftop whirlpool on the adjacent sun terrace.
The Summit Sauna Area includes a brine steam bath, Finnish event sauna, bio panorama sauna, and cold water plunge pool, all with mountain views. The spa offers holistic massages, beauty treatments using natural and organic ingredients, and a new cryotherapy chamber – try, if you dare to take the -110 °C plunge experience. It promises regeneration and wellness.
Hotel Das Central has three main restaurants. You can enjoy a gourmet breakfast and an evening 5 course tasting menu in the hotel restaurant Feinspitz. Every night is a feast, there are salad and antipasti stations and service is impeccable. Even better, owner Angelika Falkner tours the tables to enquire about your stay
For finer dining choose the acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant Ötztaler Stube and indulge yourself. Head Chef Stefan Speiser crafts seasonal haute cuisine, ingredients locally sourced and sustainable, culminating in stunning desserts. And don’t miss out on the wine pairings, both from Austria and the rest of the world
The third restaurant, Marend Stube is a more intimate, traditional, pine-panelled room, with traditional heart-carved wooden chairs and a-la-carte menu. Snacks and light meals are available during the day at the Summit Bistro & Bar. There’s also a Bar & Cigar Lounge.
You can also dine high above the hotel. Accessible via Sölden’s Gaislachkogl gondola, Ice Q is perched at 3,048 m, making it the highest gourmet restaurant in the Alps. It was a location for James Bond’s Spectre and delivers exquisite culinary creations inside a gigantic glass cube. Next to it is 007 ELEMENTS, which offers a comprehensive cinematic walk through the making of the film and 007 history.
Back in the hotel, soaking in the rooftop pool surrounded by snow-capped mountains, I can’t help thinking that Das Central delivers 5 star pampering and much more. After all, where else can you spend a day on the slopes, then relax in your private in-room sauna before dining in true Michelin style?
Mountain images (C) Rudi Wyhlidal
Tell Me More About Hotel Das Central: High-Altitude Adrenaline With Five-Star Relaxation In Sölden, Austria
Hotel Das Central Auweg 3, A-6450 Sölden, Ötztal, Tirol, Austria.
Tel.: +43 5254 2260-0 info@central-soelden.com
Double rooms at Hotel Das Central start from €250 per person per night, based on two sharing on a half-board basis.
Innsbruck Airport is just one hour’s drive away and EasyJet flies direct from Gatwick.
The Gatwick Express is the fastest way to the airport from central London.
