The finest 5-star hotels in the mountains

1. Rosewood Courchevel | The brand new alpi-chic refuge

After Hôtel de Crillon Place de la Concorde in Paris, Rosewood has chosen the Alpine resort for its first mountain establishment. An obvious choice for the brand, which has set up its Courchevel hotel at Jardin Alpin, with direct access to the slopes.

The chalet in Courchevel, designed by Tristan Auer, already responsible for the common areas of the Hôtel de Crillon and several international projects, is a warm reinterpretation of alpine luxury, inspired by the natural majesty of the Alps. The 51 rooms, including 32 suites of at least 50 m² (a true luxury in Courchevel), feature curved lines, a palette of warm hues and noble materials: light and dark woods, beige fleece carpets, brown leather or bouclette sofas and armchairs, marble in the bathrooms, subdued lighting and light curtains. An added bonus: all rooms have a balcony or terrace, with a view of the slopes or the village. For stays with family or friends, some family suites have two bedrooms, while the Appartement du Jardin Alpin pushes the walls even further with four bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and even a private cinema room.

The hotel's table, Salto, extends this cosy Alpine atmosphere: exposed beams, wood panelling, bouclette banquettes, rough-hewn wooden tables and views of the slopes. And on the plate, the cuisine is inspired by the neighboring Italian Alps: vitello tonnato, beef consommé and parmesan ravioli, fritto misto, ricotta-lemon tortellini or milanese prime rib.

As in every Rosewood hotel, the spa takes center stage. The Asaya spa features a 17-meter indoor pool, six treatment rooms (one with Jacuzzi), two saunas, a hammam, a Jacuzzi, an ice bath and sensory showers. The enveloping design, with subdued lighting, is directly inspired by the mountains, with ceramic murals evoking snow-capped peaks.

Rosewood Courchevel Jardin Alpin
51 keys, prices from 2900 euros
Rue du Jardin Alpin, 73120 Courchevel

2. L'Alpaga | Megève, a small hamlet facing Mont Blanc

Although far from the village center, L'Alpaga resembles a small hamlet in its own right. A total of 10 chalets are spread across the property, with Mont Blanc on one side and the Aravis mountain range on the other. The 33 rooms and suites are housed in three large chalets, while another houses the lobby, bar and spa, and the last six luxury chalets in Megève are fully bookable: from 9 to 15 people, for families and groups who want their independence without giving up the services of a five-star hotel in Megève.

Inside and out, the tone is set by studio Charles & Co: mountains, yes, folklore, no. Rough wood and stone dominate, with exposed beams and warm, sometimes patterned fabrics. Leather headboards, natural-fiber carpets, log tables, fireplaces, mountain landscapes by painter Gabriel Micheletti, Herbert plates by Gwenaëlle Grandjean... Each element recalls the surrounding landscape, which can be admired in every room through the large picture windows.

All guests, whether staying in a room or in a private chalet, have access to the common areas of the hotel-spa in Megève: heated outdoor pool, Swedish bath and sauna with views of Mont Blanc, spa with hammam and massaging jet pool, terrace with brazier and open-air cinema. As for gourmet pleasures, L'Alpaga's Michelin-starred table takes guests from mountain lakes to pastures, thanks to Isère-born chef Alexandre Baule, while the Bistrot de l'Alpaga and bar offer more casual cuisine, but still rooted in the region's produce.

What did we love? The small village atmosphere, where you can wander from the spa to the restaurant and back to your room, facing Mont Blanc.

L'Alpaga
39 keys, prices from 440 euros
66 allée des Marmousets, 74120 Megève

3. Le Kaila | The dream cocoon back from the slopes

Awarded a Michelin star last year, this luxury mountain hotel could be construed as a display of luxury. In fact, the opposite is true. Everything at Le Kaila is designed around a simple idea: comfort, the kind you look forward to after a day on the slopes. Raw wood everywhere (doors, tables, window frames, lamps on tree trunks, even the chess set in the living room), thick carpeting, faux-fur cushions and comforters, plaids strewn everywhere... You want to settle in and never move again.

On their return from the slopes during a weekend in the mountains, guests will unsurprisingly head for the Nuxe spa: swimming pool with counter-current, geysers, waterfall, massaging seats and air sofa. The complete aquatic area is perfect for relaxing muscles and mind before putting on your slippers.

What about gastronomy? The hotel has two restaurants: the Brasserie Le 80, which is convivial and generous, and L'Ekrin, a Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Laurent Azoulay draws a personal link between Provence, his native land, and Savoie, in a gourmet cuisine with a vegetarian option, proof of his boundless creativity.

Le Kaila
38 keys, prices from 1207 euros
124 rue des Jeux Olympiques, 73550 Les Allues

4. K2 Chogori | The flexible address for families

Suzanne and Philippe Capezzone's latest address, K2 Chogori, is located in the heart of the village of Val d'Isère. From the outside, the building blends naturally into the landscape, with its double wooden chalet, exposed slate and stone, and bold Alpine lines.

Inside the hotel-spa in Val d'Isère, Thomas Capezzone has designed a decor in keeping with the identity of Maisons K2, with its Tibetan inspiration: dark, almost grey wood, Sanskrit inscriptions and a few frames and pottery from Tibetan craftsmanship.

For the rest, natural materials, a play on textures and a few colorful or graphic touches such as headboards and cushions. In addition to the "classic" rooms and suites, the K2 Chogori offers more generous volumes: two 120 m² penthouses, each with two bedrooms and a living room, and four modular suites from 110 to 171 m², accommodating up to six people.

If the rooms and suites are spacious, the common areas are not to be outdone: a spa with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, hammam and sauna to recuperate after a day on the slopes, the Le Bottleneck restaurant, a variation on the concept of Courchevel's K2 Palace, and a cocktail and snack bar opening onto a beautiful sunny terrace on the village side.

What did we love? The brand-new Le Bottleneck restaurant, with executive chef Bastien Paysant at the helm, cooking fish, meat and vegetables over an open fire, while MOF fromager Bernard Mure-Ravaud takes care of the cheese selection for five-cheese fondues and other typical Savoyard specialties.

K2 Chogori
21 keys, prices from 1,063 euros
143 avenue du Prariond, 73150 Val-d'Isère

5. Lodge Park | A 5-star mountain hotel with trapper chic

Completely refurbished to earn its fifth star (and the gamble paid off), the Lodge Park has been given a new lease on life, without sacrificing what has made it a success since the 1990s. Regular guests of the Pure Altitude spa and Megève's Beef Lodge meat restaurant can rest assured: everything is still there, but simply redesigned and sublimated. Conceived by Nicolas Sibuet and decorated by Marie Sibuet, the address now boasts an Alpine style with Anglo-Saxon references: patinated leather armchairs, hunting trophies and antique curiosities, Marshall speakers and Ralph Lauren-style English tartans.

In the 28 rooms and suites of the luxury hotel in Megève, this trapper chic ambience can be found in the logs at the head of the bed or on the walls, the tartan tiles on the walls or as curtains, the lamps inspired by hunting trophies, cushions in animal prints and fireplaces for atmosphere.

The spa has also been completely redesigned, making it one of the hotel's real highlights, with 1,000 m² dedicated to well-being, combining cutting-edge technologies and ancestral treatment rituals, enhanced by Pure Altitude's Alpine active ingredients. Indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, classic and infrared sauna, ice grotto, steam room and sensory showers form a complete wellness experience. Good news: the spa offers several packages for outside guests, including a Pure Altitude treatment, access to the facilities and a breakfast or snack.

What we liked? Adults-only slots in the wellness area, to guarantee peace and quiet.

Lodge Park
28 keys, prices from 755 euros
100 rue d'Arly, 74120 Megève
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