Hotel Review: Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz, Switzerland

St. Moritz is the birthplace of winter tourism, but this hotel was originally built to cater for guests coming to take the waters of the carbonated and iron-rich Mauritius Spring. You can still find the springs in the basement of the hotel but now it’s also home to a luxury spa and swimming pool.

Kempinksi with two towers

The hotel has been enlarged since 1864, adding two characteristic towers in 1905 and of course, it’s been recently extensively renovated. You’d expect nothing less in one of the most exclusive destinations in Europe.

Who for

You’re not going to be slumming it here, rather you’ll be mixing with the rich and famous, rubbing shoulders with the international jet set. However, it’s surprisingly informal unlike the more fussy establishments in the centre of St. Moritz and relaxation is a priority.

Accommodation

Kempinski Room

184 rooms and suites on six levels offer understated elegance and, as well as the usual facilities, there’s a desk space perfect for business or leisure. You take your choice from Classic Single Room up to the Presidential Suite and mountain views are the highlight.

Facilities

Guests can get a taste of history with a glass of the mineral-rich Mauritius Spring water directly from the source. Kempinski the Spa covers over 2,800 sq. m and has four saunas, a steam bath, a laconium, a range of relaxation rooms and an atmospheric indoor pool.

Kempinski Pool

There’s also a gym, treatment rooms, Kneipp baths, an alpine garden. Ladies get their own spa complete with relaxation rooms and three saunas. Furnished with wood from the Engadin Valley the combination of glacier water and mountain herbs all combine to create a rich alpine ambience.

Further amenities include the kids’ club with supervised indoor and outdoor activities, an in-house ski school and sports shop, as well as 24-hour room and concierge services. There are four function rooms with natural light are for meetings and events.

Food and drink

Three restaurants offer a wide range of dining. The Grand Restaurant Les Saisons serves a copious breakfast buffet and in the evening, there’s an international menu including the authentic Indian cuisine of Chef Khatik from Jaipur. The Enoteca has 14 Gault Millau points and offers refined Swiss and Mediterranean food.

Best of all, Chef Matthias Schmidberger at the Cà d’Oro has a Michelin star and his dishes reflect his passion for European culinary art and the best produce.

I enjoyed his six-course tasting menu which included oysters, razor clams, lobster, sweetbreads, rack of lamb and exquisite desserts.

The hotel’s Lobby Bar offers a menu including classic dishes, sushi and authentic Indian.  Afternoon is time for tea, accompanied by miniature-sized sweet and savoury delights. In the evening there’s live music to accompany their unique cocktails.

The Smokers Lounge and Library is open 24 hours and offers a selection of cognacs, wines and coffees as well as the day’s newspapers.

Is Wi-Fi available?

Yes free of charge throughout

How much

Booking.com

In the winter rooms start at 390 CHF (about £312) while in the summer they drop to 310 CHF (about £248). The price is per room and includes breakfast and entrance to Kempinski The Spa for 2 persons.

What’s nearby?

The hotel is situated at the foot of the Signalbahn cable car and at the bottom of the downhill Hahnensee ski run. Guests using the Corviglia and Corvatsch ski areas can ski-in and ski-out. Cross-country trails and walking paths lead directly from the car park to the lakes, forests and idyllic valleys of the Engadin. The luxury boutiques of St. Moritz are a short walk away.

Getting There

SWISS offers more than 150 weekly flights from London City, Heathrow, Gatwick (seasonal),Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh to Zurich, Geneva or Sion (seasonal).One way fares start from £74 to Zurich. From the airport it’s a train journey on the Swiss Travel System network with a Swiss Travel Pass offering unlimited travel for £185 for 3 days in second class.