In Switzerland, a new design resort rises among the mountains

At Bergwelt Grindelwald, you can book a plush room with unrivaled views

A mountain retreat may not be the first place that springs to mind for a summer sojourn, but Switzerland’s Bergwelt Grindelwald — Alpine Design Resort may have you reconsidering. About an hour’s drive from the capital of Bern, the new hotel started welcoming guests last month in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps.

As the name suggests, the esthetic aims to impress. The 90 rooms and suites (from $410) have a cosy appeal, with olivegreen velvet armchairs, plush rugs and designer Swiss-wood furniture, like rustic bedside tables. Each room also has its own private balcony. For some of the best views, book one of the Luxury Rooms, so you can wake up to the 13,015-foot-high Eiger mountain, which has the biggest north face in the Alps.

For a serving of Alpine cuisine, head to BG’s Grill Restaurant, where celebrated chef Marcus G. Lindner’s menu focuses on shareable dishes from a woodfired grill, like the juicy rack of lamb. There’s also the intimate Seven Spirits Bar, where you can order up a negroni sbagliato, and the Other Club, a cigar lounge named after Winston Churchill’s London haunt.

More relaxation awaits at the hotel’s Fire & Ice Spa, designed to stimulate the senses. Unwind in the pools — one indoors, one out — inspired by the region’s glacial waters, or enjoy a facial in one of the serene treatment rooms. Afterwards, take a stroll in the Mystic Atrium Garden for the crisp mountain air, fragrant with Alpine herbs.

During the warmer months, Bergwelt Grindelwald offers plenty of activities on and off the slopes, including sommelier-led wine tastings, ziplining and even yodelling lessons. If you’re wintering here instead, you can embark on a glacier trek or take advantage of the snow sports in the nearby Jungfrau region.