Gstaad – Enjoying the alpine summer in style

We simply love Gstaad in the summertime. It is a time of year when the socialites who tend to read the wine list from right to left have cleared the stage. Hotel rates are delightfully reasonable and no longer limited to guests who whip out their platinum cards when checking out. The spectrum of pastimes and sports, culinary and cultural events to choose from in Gstaad is tremendous and probably without equal anywhere else in Switzerland. The eyes of the tennis community will be trained on Gstaad in July when the town hosts the Ladies Championship and the J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open. And the splendid alpine scenery is thrown in for free.  

10 Tips for a perfect summertime stay in Gstaad

Pillow Talk mit Rolf Fliegauf

His tell-tale name translates into “take off” and he seems to have done just that, running three restaurants and donning six Michelin stars at age 36. Rolf Fliegauf is not one to leave good enough alone. Born in southern Germany, he is one of the most successful head chefs of Switzerland today. All three of his Ecco restaurants in the Giardino Hotels in Ascona, St. Moritz and Zurich have been decorated with two Michelin stars each. Rolf Fliegauf was just 29 years old when he earned his second Michelin star at the Giardino Ascona, becoming the youngest two-star chef in Europe. His purist aroma cuisine is taste-focused, and known well beyond the borders of Switzerland.  

Pillow Talk with Top Model Alena Pronina

Catching her between arrival and departure, we met Alena Pronina (29) over breakfast in Florence. Top model, painter, and mother of a son. Flying back and forth from Berlin, Paris, New York, Moscow and Zurich, she is one of the most successful Russian models today. Since she started her career in Paris ten years ago, she has made a name for herself in the international model business. Her versatile face has graced high-profile campaigns by Emilio Pucci, Eres, Fossil, L’Oréal and Samsung, among others. Not least, Alena Pronina made the cover of the French “Marie Claire”.  

Pillow Talk with beauty expert Daniela Frutiger

High time to close the book on wining, dining and wintertime frolics. With spring at hand, we want to look slim and trim, be out and about, and feel well above all. Ayurveda and detox have become favourite buzzwords among the healthy-minded in recent years. But what is behind the trend? We met Daniela Frutiger – founder of the body care line dipiù Cosmetics, spa concept designer, and advisory board member of the Giardino Hotel Group – at the freshly refurbished luxury hotel Atlantis by Giardino for an interview.  

The 10 most romantic hotels in Europe

We love hotels, and as in previous years, we spent over 100 nights in hotels last year. Our passion for fine accommodation is not limited to luxury hotels, but extends to owner-operated boutique hotels, because infrastructure is only one of our rating criteria. We give equal weighting to the aspects of ambience, authenticity, location, room quality, culinary culture, and service. Today, in time for Valentine's Day, we present you with 10 romantic hotels that made a lasting impression on us – unique places for a romantic getaways, for pledging your love, or perhaps for making up and renewing your vows. So spread your wings and fly away to cloud 9, and it does not even have to be Valentine's Day.  

Ho, Ho, Ho – it's snowing presents!

Santa's big sleigh is heaped high with presents, ready to go. Just two more days, and he'll be at your doorstep! For us, an intense, eventful year is drawing to a close. We visited more than 400 hotels and restaurants across Europe, testing and evaluating them anonymously and independently. About the 325 finest venues that made a lasting impression on us we wrote detailed profiles that we present to you on pillowandpepper.com. But now the time has come to pause for a few days; a time to feel grateful, a time to make wishes, and a time to give.  

The French Art of Seduction – Come to Alsace for the Holiday Season

The scent of mulled wine, gingerbread and glazed almonds fills the air: It is the time of Christmas markets up and down the land. But there are none as sparkly as those in Alsace, especially in Strasbourg, the city which calls itself the “Capitale de Noël” and which has hosted the legendary “Christkindelsmärik” since 1570. Let yourself be enchanted by the Yuletide charms of Alsace. As for us, we've just returned from our tour of the region and would love to share our favourite destinations with you – meaning those that left a lasting impression.  

10 Tips for a Perfect Weekend in Alsace

Bordeaux for Connoisseurs

True to the old adage that “life is too short to drink bad wine,” we spent the past month on the road through the Bordeaux region. Not only did we discover several new lodging gems for you, but we also visited exciting wineries and learned to understand and embrace an old French paradox: The French are firmly convinced that wine has medicinal properties. Unsurprisingly, the French have the highest per-capita wine consumption in the world and one of the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease – why not blame it on the red wine or specifically on the polyphenols the grapes contain?  

10 Tips for a Terrific Wine & Dine Weekend:

Côte d’Azur – a Leisurely Sense of Luxury

As a token sign of solidarity, we decided to head for the Côte d’Azur this month. Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cassis and of course Nice have lost none of their appeal and beauty. For us, it is safe to say that the Côte d’Azur will never go out of style. And September is actually the perfect time of year to stock up on sunshine. You will also find it easier to get a table in the fancy beach clubs without reservation.  

10 Favourite Tips for Elegant Days on the Côte d’Azur

Doing Mallorca in Style

After passing narrow coves of emerald green water that are carved into the rocky coast, going past endless sandy beaches and through lush green landscapes with bleating flocks of sheep and quaint fincas, we eventually arrive in Palma de Mallorca, the island's first city. The urbane port has been given a thorough once-over in recent years, and presents itself with a variety of trendy restaurants and culinary hotspots today. It has been quite reassuring to see the native Mallorquin cuisine re-interpreted here in Palma and everywhere on the island, with so many slow-food restaurants opening up. Let yourself be inspired, and rediscover Mallorca – well away from the raucous beach front revelry and the budget tourist resorts.

10 Favourite Tips for a Successful Weekend in Style:

Bikini and Bellini

On occasion of our second anniversary, we decided to give you a website relaunch! Pillow & Pepper dons a brand-new look – smart, fast, responsive and user-friendly above all. Do take a look, and let yourself be inspired for your next trip! We visited more than 500 hotels and restaurants across Europe, testing and evaluating them anonymously and independently. Out of this total, we carefully selected and profiled the 315 venues that most impressed us, and these you will find today on pillowandpepper.com.  

Pillow Talk with Vincenzo Martella

No matter where you turn in this place, you will always behold a picture-book version of Tuscany. And from the infinity pool at the Borgo Pignano, you have a grandiose view across rolling hills and the cities of San Gimignano and Volterra all the way to the sea. Meanwhile behind the thick castle walls, time-honoured ingredients go into sophisticated delicacies that would actually be worth a trip in their own right.