The idyllic town of Sölden is nestled atop the Austrian Alps. There, the Faulkner family has operated—for decades—the exclusive five-star resort Das Central. With special attention to quality, tradition, and hospitality, this elegant hotel is favored among those who love skiing, gourmet cuisine, and signature wines. It offers discerning travelers a perfect combination of adventure and sophistication, which can only be described as the good life.
With over 90 miles of ski runs—organized according to difficulty level—and splendid lifts, this small town is one of the most visited resorts by winter sports aficionados. Besides running the main lifts and restaurants in town, the Faulkners also manage the only five-star resort in the region, the Das Central.
The idyllic town of Sölden is nestled atop the Austrian Alps. There, the Faulkner family has operated—for decades—the exclusive five-star resort Das Central.
In contrast to the big international hotel chains, this family owned resort is characterized by special attention to luxury for all ages. With traditional Tyrolean hospitality, the hotel invites its guests to take advantage of the area’s natural bounty.
The rooms are modern and spacious with subtle Alpine influences and abundant stone and wood features, and with enormous windows with mountain views.The Presidential Suite boasts an impressive 2,206 square feet (205 m2) and splendid panoramic views of Mount Ötztal.
When it is time to relax, the resort lives up to its reputation as an Alpine oasis with an impressive spa featuring large sauna rooms in every known style, massages from all corners of te world, several pools, hydro massage, relaxation areas, soothing treatment rooms, and a state of the art gym.
A top of the line gastronomic offer elevates this resort to new heights. Award-winning chef Gottfried Prantl is at the helm of the hotel’s restaurants and bars. For more than 25 years, he has introduced fresh Tyrolean ingredients to create exquisite dishes. His five-star breakfast with dairy, sweets, cold meats, and regional bread is highly recommended, as is his five-course gala dinner, a celebration of the region’s cuisine which includes the emblematic fondue.
The resort’s spectacular ice Q restaurant rises over 10,000 feet above sea level. It is a great venue to showcase the chef’s cutting-edge creations in a dining room built entirely of glass that offers the best panoramic views of the valley. The ice Q was featured as one of the locations for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, starring Daniel Craig.
The resort also boasts an extensive fine wine selection in its private cellar with more than 30,000 bottles individually selected by star sommelier Martin Sperdin. The pride of the cellar is the hotel’s private label, PINO 3000. It is a pinot noir made with German, Austrian, and Italian grapes and aged in the cellars of the ice Q restaurant at over 10,000 feet above sea level. The topography and altitude of the area afford the wine its personality, subtlety, and elegance. There are nightly wine tastings where Sperdin offers his insight into the broad variety of available wines in the area. We recommended opting for the special Pinot Noir for all kinds of celebrations while on your Tyrolean vacation.
Skiing and winter sports reign at Das Central. The snow powder is considered among the best in the Alps, and the hotel offers special packages that meet the demands of the most fastidious skiers. Come for the majestic scenery and enjoy the cuisine and spa at this magnificent Alpine hotel in Austria. ■
