If the prospect of log fires, opulent decor and intimate dinners with stunning views is your idea of heaven, a romantic Alpine getaway is calling. Just add lazy days in hammams and soaking your limbs in a hot tub after hours of skiing, and it’s time to book a St Moritz helicopter. The following three destinations offer the best spas and opportunities for dining in a romantic restaurant in Alpine scenery on Valentine’s Day or beyond.
Romantic Alpine getaway to Courchevel
Courchevel is all about exclusivity and top-class service. The best way to reach the dizzy heights of Courchevel 1850 is by helicopter. Not only will you avoid traffic delays and hours sitting in a car, but you will glide over snow-blanketed peaks and rustic alpine villages as you descend onto the highest tarmacked runway in Europe. Romantics make a beeline for L’Apogée Courchevel, a 5-star hotel in the ultra-exclusive Jardin Alpin area. It’s just two kilometres from the Three Valleys ski resort, but these details don’t matter when you have access to a ski-in/ski-out ramp.
Le Spa de L’Apogée’s treatments are legendary and include caviar facials, honey hydration, hot stone treatments and bespoke massages. During your romantic Alpine getaway, relax in the blue mosaic pool or salt sauna before heading to the on-site beauty room and hair salon to look your best for a night out.
Courchevel leads the way in terms of romantic restaurants in alpine settings. Le 1947 provides a cosy ambience for an intimate meal. As the only restaurant in Courchevel with three Michelin stars, the Savoie cuisine is of the highest standard. Le Chabichou is another Michelin-starred restaurant that foodies flock to and it makes an ideal place for a Valentine’s Day meal. Michel Rochedy and Stéphane Buron’s delectable dishes emphasise fresh, natural ingredients and can be enjoyed in the elegant dining room or on the terrace.
Romantic Alpine getaway to St Moritz
St Moritz is the epitome of a romantic Alpine getaway. Its fairytale position complete with a palatial hotel (Badrutt’s Palace) and a lake, which is frozen in winter, combine with top-notch accommodation and services to create an idyllic destination. Badrutt’s Palace dominates the skyline of the resort and adds to its magical appeal. It has a classic charm, sophisticated decor and six restaurants, including Chesa Veglia, an award-winning 1658 chalet that was transformed into an eatery beloved by foodies. Its warm pine interiors and vintage furnishings and cutlery make it a truly romantic spot that has attracted A-listers and locals alike. Badrutt’s Palace has a predictably lavish spa with an indoor pool that is famous for its granite diving rock and panoramic views.
Talvo is a Michelin-starred restaurant that has a rich history of catering for VIPs. The converted 17th-century farmhouse is a bastion of classic European cooking and traditional local cuisine. Lovebirds enjoy dining in the gallery, an upper-level space with an intimate atmosphere with views of the larger lower dining room.
St Moritz has an abundance of romantic restaurants in alpine buildings. Giardino Mountain Hotel’s two-Michelin star Ecco On Snow occupies a breathtaking spot in the hills above Lake Maggiores. Chef Rolf Fliegauf takes a purist approach to flavours and seasonal ingredients and serves unpretentious dishes in a space that combines classic comfort with contemporary design. For a date with a difference, head skywards to La Marmite, the highest restaurant in the Alps (2,484 metres) with mountain views as far as the eye can see. The menu has sumptuous options like oysters, caviar and truffle dishes.
Romantic Alpine getaway to Annecy
Annecy is an ideal choice for non-skiers and makes a good all-year romantic Alpine getaway destination with its picturesque lakeside setting. The forest-covered hills and snow-capped mountains are an ideal backdrop to strolling and cycling around the lake. Just 10 kilometres south of Annecy, the turreted 12th-century Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard is so magical it is rumoured to have inspired Walt Disney’s famous Sleeping Beauty castle.
The nearby Le Palace de Menthon is a 5-star hotel perched on the eastern shore of Lac d’Annecy. The lavish belle epoque style hotel exudes elegance and has its own tiny harbour for guests arriving by boat. The spa has a hot tub, sauna and hammam, but its indoor pool really steals the show with its spectacular views.
Restaurant le Viu’s terrace has equally good views of the lake and Chef Sébastien Lefortier prepares modern French cuisine in a chic setting of rich burgundy and plum furnishings. Quail eggs, roasted pigeon breasts and smoked herring caviar are just a few of the impeccably presented delicacies on the menu.
