As the Olympics head to the Italian Alps, we head to Miramonti Boutique Hotel, a restorative mini-resort run by a husband and wife whose passion has produced something rather unlikely.
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Can you guess what the very first winter event in the Olympics was? It was figure skating, and it debuted at the 1908 London Olympics, a full sixteen years before the first full winter games would be held in Chamonix, France. One of the figure skating events that first year was mixed pairs, and as the 2026 Winter Olympics make their way to the Italian Alps, we thought we’d give some deserved attention to another mixed pair in Northern Italy: the husband and wife duo behind Miramonti Boutique Hotel.
Despite how it looks, Miramonti Boutique Hotel is far from new. Its roots stretch all the way back to 1932, but recent updates and additions have it looking as current as anything else you’ll find in South Tyrol. It’s also probably not the kind of hotel you imagine when you think of a family-operated Alpine inn — especially not one that’s almost 100 years old. But the owners responsible for its strikingly modern look are the same welcoming hosts who take a hands-on approach to all aspects of the day to day: Carmen and Klaus Alber.
It’s safe to say that Miramonti defies expectations. We’re a long way from Scandinavia, and even further from Japan, but here in the Dolomites you’ll find interiors that pay tribute to both cultures of design. And perhaps most importantly, the service at Miramonti is impeccable, filled with the kind of personal care and attention to detail you expect from a place that costs quite a bit more. That’s the power of family.
The hotel — and its dramatic infinity pool — spill down the side of the Tschöggelberg mountain plateau, and overlook the town of Merano. Set in a broad basin surrounded by steep mountain peaks rising more than 10,000 feet above sea level, Merano won’t be hosting any competitions at this year’s olympics, but it will be a key stop along the Olympic Torch Relay route. And that feels appropriate. In a sense, the intimate and secluded Miramonti is the opposite of what the Olympics have become, particularly the sprawling 2026 Milano Cortina edition, which has events spread out over 8,500 square miles.
Miramonti Boutique Hotel has three excellent, uniquely styled restaurants overseen by MICHELIN Star chef Massimo Geromel. There’s a fantastic spa — a secret weapon of sorts — that adds onsen baths, a sauna with unbeatable views, and barefoot forest therapy to a menu of expected treatments and yoga classes. Skiing is right around the corner at Merano 2000, but there are other standout slopes nearby, and the hotel will be happy to help you with everything you need, from transportation to ski rental. Speaking of, in that inimitably Italian way, Miramonti has two delightful cars you’re welcome to rent for a drive down into town or up through the winding mountain passes.
It’s all supremely tasteful and thoughtful, and it all starts with Carmen and Klaus. Massive, corporate-run entities certainly have their strengths, but there’s nothing that compares with the warmth of a family-run enterprise. Enjoy this photo tour of Miramonti by photographer Melanie Landsman, and book your upcoming stay at this or any other top Alpine hotel in Italy on Tablet Hotels.
Book Miramonti Boutique Hotel on Tablet Hotels.
All photographs by Melanie Landsman. For more, visit her website and Instagram.
Mark Fedeli is the hotel marketing and editorial director for Tablet and Michelin Guide. He’s been with Tablet since 2006, and he thinks you should subscribe to our newsletter.