Hotel Das Central review, Sölden, Austria

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Tucked away in the Tyrol village of Sölden, Hotel Das Central is the definition of Alpine luxury. 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.

The Das Central hotel is a family affair, currently in the 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.

Adventure is quite literally at the doorstep. Whether you arrive in the colder months to indulge in winter sports, or opt for summer hiking and biking, the Ötztal valley is ready for you.  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.

After an action-packed day, guests can retreat to Das Central’s new state-of-the-art Rooftop Summit Spa on the 4th and 5th floors offering a range of indulgent saunas, a new cryotherapy chamber and an impressive 17m infinity pool.

And you’re not going to go hungry here. Das Central has three fabulous on-site restaurants, including their acclaimed restaurant Ötztaler Stube, which recently won one Michelin star. The wine cellar is the treasure chamber of the house, with more than 30,000 bottles from seven countries and 40 regions.

Who for

Affluent families, couples seeking a romantic escape, and seasoned adventurers eager to conquer the nearby slopes, whether on foot or by ski.

Accommodation

Das Central offers 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. I also enjoyed the luxury of the all-singing heated Japanese toilet 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.

Food and Drink

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 an à 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.

Located at the Gaislachkogl middle station, at over 2000m is the FALCON à la carte restaurant and the FALCON market restaurant. Both serve authentic regional classics, and also offer a fantastic selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Facilities

On the 4^th and 5^th floors, the striking centrepiece of the new Rooftop Summit Spa is the 17m Summit Infinity Pool. It appears to be suspended in the air, 17m above Sölden, floating among the Alpine mountain peaks. Complementing the pool is a rooftop whirlpool on the sun terrace. You can relax outside on your sunbed, or lounge indoors in the light filled relaxation area.

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.

On the ground floor is a Venetian-themed indoor pool and winter garden. The Adults only Sauna Floor in the basement offers seven types of saunas (Finnish, infrared, tepidarium, bio sauna, ice grotto).

The Summit Cardio Fitness, on the 5th floor, is an extraordinary workout area with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment. On sunny days, sports sessions can simply be moved outside onto the terrace. Strength training happens in the 120m² fitness centre in the basement. Here you’ll find the latest muscle-building equipment and cardio machines from Technogym.

How much

Das Central has double rooms from €250 per person per night, based on two sharing on a half-board basis.
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What’s nearby?

In summer guests enjoy hiking, biking, and alpine sports, while winter offers direct slope access and premium lift connection The hotel provides a direct shuttle service to gondolas with the Giggijoch and Gaislachkogl lift stations just 500m  away

At an altitude of 3,048m, at the top of the Gaislachkogl gondola, 007 ELEMENTS sits next to Ice Q Restaurant, the location for James Bond’s Spectre. The attraction offers a comprehensive cinematic walk through the making of the film and more Bond history.

Innsbruck Airport is just one hour away by car and BA and EasyJet fly from direct from London.

Verdict

Das Central delivers 5-star pampering and much more – after a day in the mountains, there’s nothing better than relaxing in your private in-room sauna before dining in the phenomenal Michelin star restaurant. And service is second to none.

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