Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Dolomites town that hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and co-hosts the 2026 Games, is getting a new five-star address. The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts opens The First Cortina on Corso Italia in early December 2026, following a full transformation of the building by Studio Marincola Architects.
The design leans on local materials — Dolomia stone and fir wood — with a ribbon of glass running through the property to pull mountain light into the interiors. The idea, the group says, is for the building to feel rooted in its surroundings rather than merely decorated with references to them, and the restrained palette deliberately leaves the peaks as the main event.
All 76 rooms and suites come with private balconies facing the UNESCO-protected mountains. The top-floor Enrosadira Penthouse takes its name from the sunset phenomenon that turns the Dolomites rose-pink: it's a 140 m², three-bedroom residence with a 50 m² terrace, its own sauna and Turkish bath, a kitchen, and the option of a private chef. Elsewhere, the Wellness Suite Terrace View adds direct terrace access, the Jacuzzi Suite View Balcony puts a jacuzzi in the room, and Family Suites cater to groups. Selected rooms pair leather detailing and Saint Laurent marble with water-vapour fireplaces.
Food splits between two venues. Zuma brings its contemporary Japanese cooking to the ground floor, with aperitifs, dinner and live DJ sets around the bar. Velo, the signature Italian restaurant, shifts through the day from mountain-view breakfasts to in-house pastries, chocolates and afternoon tea.
Wellbeing gets two floors via Revivio Spa, designed by Gherardi Architetti and tied to the group's wellness brand, whose Bali resort holds a Michelin Key. Expect a panoramic pool that slides open to the outdoors, treatment rooms, sauna, hammam, sun loungers, a gym, and beauty services. For skiers there's a dedicated Ski Room plus guides, instructors and rental gear for winter and summer alike — snowboards in January, trekking kit and an e-MTB in July.
The opening expands The Pavilions' European footprint and brings its 'Curated Journeys' concept to a town where mountain culture and design already do a lot of heavy lifting.
Why it matters: Cortina is about to be the centre of Alpine attention with the 2026 Winter Olympics on its doorstep, and rooms will be tight. Anyone wanting a design-led, spa-heavy base walking distance from Corso Italia's bars and lifts should get in early — this is a genuine five-star option in a town better known for grand old hotels. It suits couples chasing the wellness-and-fine-dining side of the Alps, and the penthouse or family suites work for a multi-generational ski trip with a private-chef budget.