Bürgenstock resort

Lucerne, Switzerland

The lowdown A £440 million renovation has made this Swiss resort the destination on everyone’s lips. Best for Cool-seekers and ski families looking for the alpine resort du jour.

This historic retreat has once again become the hottest address in chilly Switzerland. From its origins in the 19th century to its heyday in the Sixties as a celebrity hang-out frequented by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren, Bürgenstock Resort has continually reinvented itself to remain at the peak of alpine hospitality. Today the resort is made up of four distinctly different hotels. At the top of the pile is the ultra-contemporary Bürgenstock Hotel, a wonderful example of cutting-edge architecture and design. Not far behind is the Palace Hotel, a belle époque mountain masterwork. Striking a more modest note are the discreetly elegant Waldhotel and Taverne 1897, a rustic chalet offering a slice of the trad Swiss experience. The most anticipated element of the resort’s renewal is its Alpine Spa, a monumental shrine to tranquillity complete with an infinity pool that overlooks the snow-covered landscape. After a day in the sauna or on the slopes, you’ll return to no less than 12 dining options. From the Asian delicacies of Sharq, a restaurant that hangs precariously from the edge of the crag, to the French fine dining of Ritzcoffier, all tastes are taken care of. With its world-class facilities and glamorous reputation, there are few better places to see or be seen.

Book it Double rooms from approx £250 (buergenstock.ch).