Cortina d'Ampezzo has a glamorous new address for winter. Le Graal Cortina opens this season inside a reimagined 1920s palazzo, and it's going for intimacy over scale: just 30 rooms, of which 13 are suites, in one of Italy's most storied alpine towns.
Roman-based architect Achille Salvagni is behind the interiors, which lean on deep woods, warm velvets and plenty of natural light, with the mountains kept firmly at the centre of the design. Location-wise, it's hard to argue with — guests get direct access to the Dolomites' famous ski terrain as well as Cortina's historic centre, so you can be on the slopes or browsing the town within minutes.
The recovery routine is well covered. Le Graal Spa packs an indoor pool, sauna, hammam, a cryotherapy chamber and treatment rooms into the basement-level offering — ideal after a heavy day on the pistes or the summer hiking trails, since this is clearly a property built for all seasons.
Food and drink is where Le Graal really flexes, with three venues. Le Monsù is the fine-dining play — the name nods to the Sicilian take on 'Monsieur Le Chef', the head chefs of aristocratic households. Le Café is the casual counterpoint, a café-bistrot-pâtisserie hybrid serving Sicilian dishes with a modern twist. And for an evening negroni or spritz with a house spin — plus canapés and pastries — there's the Le Graal Bar, styled as a classic American bar.
It's worth knowing Le Graal isn't arriving alone. In early December, The First Cortina by The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts opens its doors in the same town with 76 keys, a spa and several restaurants, including celebrity favourite Zuma. Further afield, the historic Hotel Cristallo in Alta Badia will relaunch next year under the Mandarin Oriental banner following renovations, with 83 rooms including 30 suites, plus multiple restaurants and bars and the brand's signature spa.
Why it matters: the Dolomites already sit high on plenty of bucket lists for their jagged scenery and winter sport pedigree, but the hotel scene is suddenly levelling up in a big way. If you've been holding off on a winter trip because the accommodation felt dated or overpriced for what it was, this winter gives you genuinely fresh reasons to book — whether that's a 30-room boutique bolthole, a design-led 76-key resort, or waiting a season for five-star Mandarin Oriental polish in Alta Badia. Expect demand to be strong for opening-season dates, so early booking will pay off.
