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The Cambrian Adelboden is an epic Swiss hotel that has become very popular with travel bloggers and Instagrammers alike who flock here drawn by the incredible views from its now legendary outdoor thermal pool. After spending two nights here I know why! It is a super cool and stylish hotel with the most breathtaking views over the lush green meadows and the stunning mountains rising above. It is a hidden gem in a beautiful part of Switzerland that is somewhat “off” the tourist track, making this hotel all the more special.
The Cambrian Adelboden
A hidden gem in the Bernese highlands
History
Originally built in the late 19th century, the Grand Hotel Regina as it was called then, was the place to stay for visitors exploring this beautiful alpine region until it burnt down in 1989. It was rebuilt in 1991 and became a popular address for those attending the Skiing World Cup in Adelboden but then slowly faded into decline until 2007 when its current Welsh owners bought it. They renamed it the Cambrian (the Latin world for Wales), gutted the whole building and totally redesigned it, adding the spa and the swimming-pool.
The Hotel
Today the Cambrian Adelboden is a contemporary, design hotel that is full of stylish decorative details. I was surprised to see that it is classified as a four-star hotel as it really has everything you'd expect to find in a five-star establishment: a beautiful spa, a great restaurant and spacious rooms. I was also told that most of the rooms will be redecorated in April 2018.
I had a standard double room with a spectacular view over the mountains and a lovely balcony. It was super comfortable and modern, with soft and fluffy bedding. The ensuite bathroom was equally spacious, with a light, beige mosaic floor and a large walk-in shower. I loved the good quality and attractive amenities by fashion designer Orla Kiely.
I also got to get a peek at some of the suites that were all incredibly spacious and stylishly designed. The hotel offers a number of duplex suites that really are ideal for families with children. The décor once again here is fresh and light with lots of red accent colours.
The restaurant is equally contemporary in design with refreshing and creative menus that take you some way away from typical Swiss fare. If you want to enjoy a light meal in relaxed surroundings head to Scott’s Bar. The menu is really varied and full of healthy, creative options such as a baby leaf salad with red quinoa, dates, almonds and sumac or a super green soup of spinach, watercress, rocket and pine nuts. The main restaurant is a little more formal and offers what the hotel calls “new alpine cuisine” that they describe as “a fresh interpretation of mountain classics” with an emphasis on locally sourced products. Based on the idea that food is meant for sharing, the menu offers a lovely variety of “sharing dishes” such as a tartare of tuna with blood orange and yellow cherry tomatoes or grilled green asparagus with rucola, slices of parmesan and Parma ham.
The Spa
The fabulous outdoor thermal pool is this hotel’s outstanding feature, the views from the pool over the mountains surrounding Adelboden are simply magical. When lying in the pool, you kind of just want to close your eyes to enjoy the bubbles and relax, but then you can’t help yourself from keeping your eyes open to admire the view! Spa dilemmas…
The design and facilities of the spa are definitely worthy of a five-star hotel. There's a super slick 11 x 5 meter indoor pool with a funky ceiling embedded with Swarovski crystal LED lights, a large and very stylish wet area complete with steam room and sauna. There are also lovely gardens with hammocks to lounge around in. It also offers a small, but well-equipped gym and a suite of treatment rooms. Being rather short on time, I opted for the 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage which was really perfect. The therapist was super attentive to my needs and I found the experience very relaxing.
Overall
The Cambrian Adelboden is a really beautiful hotel with fantastic facilities and outstanding service. Again, in my view, it really deserves a five-star rating as it will meet the expectations of any discerning traveler visiting Switzerland. It really is a hidden gem tucked away in a stunning part of the Bernese highlands, away from the crowds and the usual tourist destinations, offering incredible natural beauty and fabulous views to guests.
2nd November 2017
©harinehas
©harinehas
For more information check out the hotel's website here.