Zillertalerhof

The bedrooms are set against a neutral-palette background of pale wooden floorboards and white linen. Splashes of colour come from the chic art deco headboards made from deep velvet moss greens and lightly blushed pink. Furnishings are chic with Scandi nods – copper light fittings are angled by the bedside and gold-rimmed mirrors reflect from the wide windows, letting that bright mountain light into the room.

In keeping with the warm hospitality throughout the hotel, the rooms are what Zillertalerhof describe as “dahoam is dahoam” translated as ‘home is home’, a Tyrolean expression that pertains to be familiar and genuine, although we’d also add a certain panache to this – the rooms show a confident flair that comes from thoughtful design.

Bathrooms are a monochromatic dream, with deep freestanding tubs, white tiling and custom-made cosmetics - vegan and without dyes, parabens, silicones and mineral oils – sitting in black ceramic dishes. A spa bag containing slippers, towels and robes promises a smooth transition to relaxation. Thoughtful touches include a designer carafe with fresh spring water from the Zillertal Alps and wide balconies have dreamy mountain views.

The cosy, panelled restaurant with its light wood-scented ambience brings memories of atmospheric mountain huts, the refuge from the harsh, craggy peaks. However, this is no den of rusticity. As with everything in this forward-thinking hotel, tradition is embraced before twisting it to incorporate a new slant. Here Austrian traditional cuisine meets Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare.

Dinner here is an epicurean feast. Gourmet menus come with six courses and showcase a wide-ranging and eclectic taste sensation, accompanied by sommelier-chosen wines. Breakfast takes the best of the locality and is full of regional produce, which can be taken on the sun terrace accompanied by a freshly roasted coffee or Bloody Mary’s. Expect a veritable feast: farmer’s bread, organic jams, local meats, forest honey, cask butter and Zillertal mountain cheese. 

The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool area, both of which can be used in summer and winter. This all-season area is also beneficial in other ways – the water has seeped through the rock layers of the mountains for many years and flows to the pools, filtered and rich in minerals. A state-of-the-art sauna area showcases Tyrolean traditions encased in the latest health technology. An authentic Alpine herbal steam bath is kitted out in sleek black marble, Finnish and bio-saunas regulate temperature with infra-red, and ergonomic couches sculpt the super-relaxed with the assistance of aromatic showers and a sonic water fountain. Massages can ease any remaining stress with Far-Eastern Ayurveda treatments using essential oils, or a soothing Lomi Lomi massage which releases blockages in physical energy flow.

Mayrhofen is a skiers paradise, with two skiing regions directly on Zillertalerhof’s icy doorstep – the Leisure Mountain Ahorn (vast and laid-back) and the Action Mountain Penken (with Harakiri slope and a fun park). For learners, there are picturesque cross-country trails and for non-skiers winter markets, tobogganing and age-old Alpine customs make it a sparkling winter wonderland.