Checking In: Schgaguler Hotel

CASTELROTTO, SOUTH TYROL

The Schgaguler

Set in the heart of the Dolomites, just moments from Val Gardena’s ski pistes, Schgaguler Hotel—Castelrotto’s boutique hotel and a celebrated luxury hotel in South Tyrol—entices discerning travellers with a seamless blend of serenity and high-altitude adventure.

Projecting boldly onto a quiet lane in the UNESCO-listed village of Castelrotto, this 42-room design hotel in the Dolomites stands worlds apart from the predictable Alpine lodge. Its sculptural, cubic form encloses interiors sheathed in local chestnut, muted palettes and floor-to-ceiling glass framing Alpe di Siusi, while the family-run Schgaguler reimagines Scandinavian-Alpine elegance through a Japanese-modern lens.

Upon arrival, we’re immediately taken by the simplicity of the interiors. Rich tones are set against the smooth resin flooring; bespoke chestnut carpentry creates a clean backdrop for Martin Schgaguler’s wondrous landscape photographs, and linen and felt accents — set against designer furnishings that are worthy of a nod from even the most fastidious design buff — create a casual sense of luxury. Behind the monolithic concierge desk, the front-of-house greets us with a smile, before we’re whisked away into the hotel’s bar for afternoon aperitivos and homemade apfelstrudel.

Schgaguler offers a total of 42-rooms and suites which range from the two-storey Gable Suite — with soaring, five-metre-high windows — to the split-level Town Suite, which features two bedrooms and views of the historic town centre. If you’re travelling as a family or with larger groups, opt for a two-bedroom Family Suite. The hotel’s standard rooms on the other hand, range from an intimate Classic Room Nº1, set on the second and third floors with south-facing balconies, to The Gable Room. These airy, top-floor chambers are hemmed in beneath the hotel’s sloping saddle roof and feature double height ceilings with unique views of the Sciliar massiv. Providing ample space for rest and relaxation, the rooms also boast hand-made mattresses, walk-in closets and free-standing hammam-style bathtubs that come equipped with locally-sourced Alpine salts.

For a high-calibre Alpine-Mediterranean culinary experience, the Schgaguler restaurant is a crowd pleaser. With the aid of local farmers and growers, alpine specialities are skilfully reinvented daily, with a seasonal menu that is characterised by the attentive service.

Insider Tip
For dinner, snag a table by the restaurant’s picture window to experience twilight mountain views accompanied by a regional wine pairing chosen by the in-house sommelier.

Off piste, retreat to the hotel’s Spa for a lesson in the art of getting away from it all. Sample signature massage therapies, which combine high-quality South Tyrolean products by Vitalis Dr. Joseph, before heading outdoors for an after-dark dip in the whirlpool.

Insider Tip
Relax at the Spa’s multiple sauna complex, which includes Bio and Kelo saunas, Steam Bath and Melmarium — a mud bath combining heat, infrared and water vapour.

Be sure to extend your stay beyond the slopes and see another side to the Dolomites with a choice of experiences expertly curated in-house. From night-hiking and moonlight tobogganing in the winter to a guided journey to the Lake of Antermoia to crown off your summer.