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High above the valley under a veil of snow, the Kempinski Palace Engelberg emerges like a fairy-tale palace in winter. The hotel’s 2021 restoration has carefully reunited its original 1905 Grandhotel Winterhaus wing with a new annex, forming a complete architectural unit where time seems to stand still. By dusk the façade’s lantern-lit windows glow warmly against the Alpine dark, hinting at wood-panelled lounges, crackling fireplaces and sumptuous banquettes within. In this reimagined gem, Belle Époque grandeur is reborn: as Kempinski proclaims, it is a jewel of the Belle Époque, a historic treasure refurbished for the modern traveler. The effect is cinematic: winter settles in the Alps, and with each flake the palace invites guests into an atmosphere of serenity and refinement.
The renovation honored every gilded arch and marble banister of the original palace. Design firm Jestico + Whiles fused old and new, preserving the hotel’s classic Belle Époque details even as contemporary forms were introduced. The mandate was simple and clear: to keep the Palace as a luxurious, elegant and comfortable year-round destination. Throughout the interior, light oak floors, woollen carpets and leather-bound furnishings echo the golden age of travel, balanced by clean modern lines. Local materials such as wood and stone play a major role, reflecting the subtle textures of nature, a nod to the rugged peaks outside. In the grand Cattani Restaurant, marble-clad walls and soaring windows frame the mountains beyond, and even the custom crystal chandelier mimics its surroundings: each glistening icicle is hand-formed to trace the relief of Mount Titlis.
The Palace’s 129 rooms and suites are designed as warm alpine refuges. Brushed oak paneling, leather headboards and a palette of soft greens and sky-blues conjure the forest and sky, while artful stone and slate accents in bathrooms create very private wellness oasis. Each guestroom blends tradition and comfort: plush Elite box-spring beds and state-of-the-art electronics are set against carved wood details and sweeping mountain views. Many suites open onto cosy balconies overlooking Engelberg’s peaks, inviting one to step out into the alpine air with morning coffee. The crown jewel is the Titlis Suite, perched on the top floor of the historic wing. This vast loft-like suite offers an open living and sleeping area, a workspace, and a sun-drenched terrace with panoramic views of Mount Titlis and the valley below.
At mealtime, Chef Michéle Müller brings a worldly yet local touch. A veteran of the Berlin Hotel Adlon, she leads the Palace’s culinary program with an emphasis on seasonal Swiss produce and creative flair. Heavy velvet banquettes and a hand-painted mural mingle with casual, no-tablecloth service, the effect is grand yet comfortably familiar. The menu might range from Alpine trout and foraged mushrooms to a delicate chocolate tart, all highlighting local flavors.
For aperitifs and convivial evenings, the Palace Bar revives the hotel’s Roaring-Twenties heritage. Rich leather sofas and live jazz doormen recall old-world glamour: here dark colours revive the Roaring Twenties in an exclusive club atmosphere. A central fireplace anchors one lounge, while a curved mahogany horseshoe bar invites an evening cocktail. Adjacent is the Habanos Cigar Lounge, an enclave of soft amber light and cigar smoke, where connoisseurs gather over single-malt whiskies. In winter, the party often migrates to Chalet Ruinart, a cozy alpine hut set by the hotel’s winter garden. Furnished with wooden tables, bench seats and woollen throws, this rustic cabin offers a break from the cold. Guests delight in a hearty fondue with sparkling Ruinart Champagne under the snow-laden trees. On select evenings local cheesemaker Sälmi Töngi hand-carves raclette Alpine cheese onto diners’ plates, a convivial tradition that tastes as authentically Swiss as the setting.
At the crown of the hotel is an oasis of calm with a view of the Alps. The 880 m² rooftop spa opens onto jaw-dropping scenery: from the 15-metre infinity pool one swims nearly to the edge of the world. As a guest raves, the glass-enclosed pool area provides dramatic views in every direction, a place to do laps or lounge as snow drifts by outside. The interior design furthers this alpine reverie: rough-hewn stone walls and light wood planes evoke the mountainside. In the spa’s warm lounge, an open Himalayan-salt fireplace crackles; heated glass panels offer panoramic sightlines, blurring the line between inside and out. Every detail is curated to relax the senses: heated marble loungers, herbal steam baths and a menu of alpine-inspired treatments. Here, selected massages and treatments provide a soothing journey for all the senses, turning a winter day into an encounter of pure rejuvenation.
In the end, a stay at Kempinski Palace Engelberg feels like a chapter in a winter legend. Belle Époque romance meets modern luxury in every corridor and corner: ornate ceilings and parquet floors stand undisturbed alongside yoga classes and fibre-optic lighting. Above the hustle of the valley below, the palace offers a sanctuary of quiet grandeur, true to the spirit of Swiss refinement. Here, in this softly glowing fortress of snow, one finds the epitome of winter elegance in Switzerland.
© All imagery courtesy of Kempinski Palace Engelberg Titlis Swiss Alps
