Das Central Sölden: Where Alpine Precision Meets 007 Glamour

The Setting

For the ultimate Tyrolean alpine escape - whether as a family or couple - Das Central Sölden deserves a spot at the top of your list. This modern five-star property sits in one of the Ötztal Valley's most celebrated ski villages in Tyrol, Austria. Beyond its high-altitude skiing and electric atmosphere, Sölden gained iconic status as the breathtaking backdrop for a memorable scene in Spectre. Das Central perfectly blends alpine luxury with adrenaline-fuelled adventure, ideal for those seeking a slick, convenient, and supremely comfortable mountain retreat.

The In-room Experience

Our stay began with a warm welcome: a thoughtful introduction to the property, our planned family activities, and a tour of the hotel's key areas before heading to our generously sized 'Family Suite'. The suite, like all rooms at Das Central, offers spacious modern comfort with a cottage-like feel and minimalist tones that instantly put you at ease.

What truly stands out is the exceptional infrastructure: high-quality materials ensure everything functions flawlessly. The 'Family Suite' features two separate bedrooms - parents enjoy a king-sized bed and private south-facing terrace with mountain views, plus a comfortable seating area for family time. Children have their own spacious double bedroom opposite a large ensuite bathroom.

Thoughtful touches include a work desk, flat-screen TVs with international channels in both rooms, a mini-bar, Nespresso machine, and premium toiletries for adults and children alike. The beds deserve special mention as the mattresses were genuinely exceptional and especially welcome after full days on the slopes (a godsend for our back issues). Temperature-controlled rooms greet you with instant warmth, with concierge adjustments available if needed. It genuinely felt like retreating to a luxury apartment after each day's adventures.

Seamless Ski Logistics

Once settled, we crossed to the ski-rental shop where Das Central guests collect their equipment for the duration of their stay. The patient, enthusiastic staff expertly fit you with the right gear, ensuring a smooth rental experience. Das Central orchestrates every detail of your alpine escape, from ski passes for the mountains and cable cars to rental equipment and the ski shuttle that whisks guests between the hotel and cable car.

The seamless daily routine made us appreciate the collaborative spirit between Das Central and its partners, all working to ensure visitors have a memorable Sölden experience worth repeating. Our designated ground-floor locker area, conveniently located near the hotel shuttle, made it effortless to change and head straight to the cable car. This streamlined approach lets guests focus on enjoying their skiing adventure rather than navigating logistics.

Culinary Excellence

The culinary excellence at Das Central proved faultless. Guests enjoy an all-inclusive plan covering breakfast and dinner in the main restaurant, where each party has dedicated seating throughout their stay. The hotel clearly understands that the guest experience hinges partly on the culinary journey, particularly after activity-filled days when you're hankering after a hearty meal.

Each evening brings diverse five-course menu options with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The dining room's buffet area invites you to build your own salads and choose from delectable cheeses, cold cuts, and spreads, complemented by daily kitchen specials. During our stay, we savoured delicately prepared salt-baked fish and an exciting build-your-own taco platter. We loved the flexibility to mix and match appetisers and mains from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings. Every menu features comforting soup, dressed salads, protein choices, and dessert.

Perhaps most impressive is how Das Central transforms wholesome, nutritious food into something truly special. The comprehensive wine selection includes their own PINO 3000 - a pinot noir crafted by three world-class winemakers from Austria, Germany, and Italy. They've selected the finest Blauburgunder grapes and aged them at 3,048 meters in the heart of the Alps. This wine, available in the restaurant, is an experience we highly recommend.

The children's menu offers a daily selection of kid-friendly meals from the buffet spread, and the kitchen happily prepares special requests for families with particular needs.

Award-Winning Wellness

Das Central's award-winning facilities deserve special recognition. The hotel takes a comprehensive approach to wellness for every traveller while creating spaces that invite you to linger and reflect. The Summit Infinity Pool became our daily ritual: 17 meters long, suspended 17 meters above the ground with breathtaking mountain views.

After finishing the children's ski lessons at around 3pm, we'd rest in our cosy Family Suite before heading to this Instagram-worthy pool. Another favourite was the whirlpool with its sun terrace - a refreshing, revitalising family experience that never felt crowded, leaving us energised and grateful.

The dedicated wellness area features a comprehensive sauna complex with a brine steam bath, cold-water plunge pool, Finnish event sauna, and a bio-panorama sauna. For complete child-free relaxation, there's also an adults-only textile-free area with nine saunas and steam baths.

One intriguing offering we didn't have time to try: the Cryotherapy Chamber. This requires some bravery: 30 seconds at -30 to -60 degrees Celsius, followed by 2.5 minutes in the main chamber at -110 degrees. The therapy offers numerous health benefits including improved circulation, strengthened immunity, and accelerated muscle recovery.

The Ice Q Experience

The cherry on top of our memorable stay was dining at the otherworldly Ice Q restaurant - an experience we highly recommend to anyone visiting Sölden. This popular venue requires reservations, or you can book Das Central's curated James Bond package for the full experience.

Perched at 3,048 meters, the restaurant requires a ski pass (obtainable through the hotel) and two cable car rides. Notably, Ice Q has earned two Gault & Millau toques, and boasts breathtaking panoramic views of the Ötztal peaks thanks to the restaurant's all-glass dining area.

Enjoying beautifully prepared Wiener Schnitzel as a family against uninterrupted close-up mountain views was genuinely bucket-list worthy.

Final Verdict

If you're seeking an intimate mountain escape steeped in luxury, Das Central Sölden ticks plenty of boxes. From its refined rooms and unmatched culinary offering to its comprehensive wellness facilities, the Austrian resort is the kind of place that makes you want to return before you've even left.