We have chosen the Grand Tirolia Resort Kitzbühel for the first overnight stay. A young five star hotel, nestled in the golf course Eichenheim, certainly one of the most beautiful golf courses in the entire region around Kitzbühel. With the start of the 2013 golf season, the course, located amidst the picturesque backdrop of the Kitzbühel Alps, was accepted into the exclusive circle of “Leading Golf Courses”. Only 57 of the best golf courses in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain belong to this quality association, which evaluates the design and course maintenance as well as the quality of the gastronomy and the entire infrastructure and service of each course through anonymous test visits.
The small town of Kitzbühel is a celebrity in northeastern Tyrol and is considered one of the most legendary winter sports resorts with 56 cable cars and lifts, 168 kilometers of slopes and 40 kilometers of cross-country ski trails. In summer there are 120 kilometers of mountain bike trails, about 500 kilometers of hiking trails and four golf courses in the village.
The Grand Tirolia offers 82 rooms and suites, a very large and modern wellness area with indoor and outdoor pool. Only in March 2012, the Grand Tirolia was awarded the Senses Award as “Best Spa & Sport Resort”. Throughout the house there is a consistent design line that combines local material, lots of wood and warm colors with a modern and straightforward own signature. The rooms (we stayed in a deluxe room with a breathtaking view of the freshly snow-covered mountain panorama) leave virtually nothing to be desired in terms of comfort and amenities.
The wellness area is huge, very bright and open. The core was a combination of indoor and outdoor pools, bordered by a large sunbathing area with loungers and lounge zone. In winter there is a small glass atrium in the center where a snow-covered illuminated fir tree conjures up the first Christmas atmosphere. Separated by a very cozy rest area with an open fireplace, you enter the sauna area. Also spacious and excellently equipped. So you will find an oriental hamam, a Russian banya but also a classic sauna area with Finnish sauna, bio sauna, Tyrolean herbal bath and two steam baths. Unfortunately, however, none of the saunas has the possibility of a view outside to snow and mountains….
Steve Karlsch and the Petit Tirolia
The culinary highlight is the Petit Tirolia. Since 2012 under the management of Steve Karlsch and recently rated by the current Gault Millau with three toques. Just one year after his start in Kitzbühel, he is one of the most important up-and-comers of the year in Austria. Unfortunately, the Petit was closed during our stay – but we had the great fortune to meet Steve anyway over tea in the lobby and chat with him about his philosophy. About the difficulty to get regional products regularly in excellent quality and of course generally about the feeling to move from Berlin to Kitzbühel. But Steve seems to have arrived, to have found local producers and products, which he adapts in the dishes and menus often with Asian touches – one immediately recognizes the connection to Tim Raue, with whom he last worked for eight years in Berlin. Just like Tim Raue, Steve Karlsch loves inspiring culinary trips to Asia, to Bangkok, Tokyo and, of course, time and again to Hong Kong.
I would have loved to try the current 10 common omakase menu. But there are also occasional guests, Steven Karlsch told me, “who would prefer to have all the courses on the table at the same time. But to meet these requests, from this season there is also a compact menu in three courses, in the center always a noble fish or also a nice, big piece of game….
Next time we visit the region, an evening at the Petit Tirolia is at the top of our wish list – and certainly another night in this beautiful and elegant house in the mountains…
Grand Tirolia Kitzbühel
Oak home 8 – 9
6370 Kitzbühel
Tel. +43 5356 666 15
info@grand-tirolia.com
Note: Using image material from the Grand Tirolia. We stayed at press conditions, but of course this has no influence on the content and layout of this article.
