Blending Austrian and Italian influences, the Alpine-Mediterranean province of South Tyrol, Italy, is chock-full of all-inclusive resorts touting flashy break-out amenities. But for many visitors to this remote region, the real draw is simpler: slowing down and taking in the striking natural setting. With just 70 south-facing rooms, suites, and private villas catering to a wide range of guests, Hotel Chalet Mirabell focuses on restorative relaxation and exploratory excursions. Its whopping 64,000-square-foot panoramic spa spreads across two levels: one dedicated to families and the other reserved for adults. Outside, its sprawling lawn incorporates a natural swimming pond and various alfresco lounging setups.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
In winter, guests enjoy the loft-style accommodations and intimate eateries of the off-site ski-in and ski-out Chalet Zuegg—positioned near the peak of the adjacent 6,500-foot Meran peak—while in summer and fall, they e-bike and hike with alpacas along rustic trails.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
The destination’s wide-reaching wine selection—held in an authentically informed yet contemporary wood-clad cellar—and main Michelin-recommended dining room tie everything together, uniting families and groups of friends for multi-course meals. Even here, the space is deftly divided to ensure those in search of peace and quiet aren’t disturbed.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
Chalet Mirabell packs all of this into a contemporary architectural style. Though primarily built in locally sourced timber, the buildings eschew folksy tropes in favor of large exposures and recessed overhangs that contain private balconies. The entire facility is cleverly tiered into the location’s slope. That same refined modern alpine aesthetic carries over to Chalet Zuegg.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
“In the summer, the world is big, and people have the possibility of going anywhere,” says Martin Reiterer, the resort’s second-generation owner. “In the winter, it’s more limited. They want to stay closer to home but have a place to ski and perhaps even hike.”
Chalet Mirabell caters to a broad mix of guests—those coming up from Milan or down from Munich for the weekend and those traveling across the Atlantic or even Asia—year-round.
“The idea is to find relaxation and calm when they can look out over wide expanses of space,” Reiterer adds. “That’s the main draw here.” Chalet Mirabell faces the Sarentino and Oetztal Alps, and the Dolomites are an hour’s drive away.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
The panoramic spa makes the most of the alpine views and bucolic, rolling farmland that unfolds just below the hotel. Tucked beneath the lawn, the adults-only section includes everything from Finnish and organic herbal panorama saunas to brine, light, and aromatherapy baths. Also clad in a near-monastic material palette of wood and stone, this enfilade of dedicated spaces incorporates infrared heat. On the floor above, the family section features a heated pool that seamlessly transitions from indoors to outdoors.
Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell
For a resort with such an extensive roster of amenities, Chalet Mirabell ultimately seems most interested in what lies beyond them. Whether framed by a private balcony, a wall of glass in the spa, or the edge of an outdoor pool, the surrounding mountains remain the constant—making Reiterer’s “wide expanses of space” less an added attraction than the organizing principle of the hotel itself.
