Openings
Opening Winter 2026

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina

Mandarin Oriental's first alpine resort

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina

First look

Cortina's old grande dame is coming back under a new name. Hotel Cristallo, the Art Nouveau pile built in 1901 that has watched over the town since the 1930s ski era, reopens as Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina — and it's a first for the group: their first alpine resort, full stop. The brand took over management in 2022, closed the place in 2023, and handed the rebuild to Herzog & de Meuron, the Basel architects behind Tate Modern and the Beijing bird's nest. That's a serious pairing for a mountain hotel.

On paper it's 83 rooms, 30 of them suites looking onto the Dolomites, plus a spa, pool and the usual restaurant-and-bar lineup. The timing is deliberate — the restoration was pushed to land around the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

We haven't stayed, so this is anticipation, not a verdict. What we'll be watching for: whether Herzog & de Meuron's contemporary hand actually respects the 1901 bones rather than gutting them, and whether the service runs in as smoothly as the architecture photographs. We'll find out when we visit.

Not yet scored. We publish a Fat Score only once a hotel is open and real guests have stayed and written about it — this is a first look, not a verdict.

Before it opens

When does Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina open?

It's slated to open in Winter 2026, according to Mandarin Oriental's official press materials. The reopening was timed around the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

How many rooms will it have, and who designed it?

The renovated hotel will have 83 rooms, including 30 suites with Dolomites views. Architecture and interiors are led by Herzog & de Meuron, reworking the original 1901 Art Nouveau building.

Open now

What you can book today

Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortinais still under wraps. Here's what's already open and scored in our collection — more from Mandarin Oriental, and nearby in Italy.

Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como — Lake Como, Italy
Fat Favorite

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como

Lake Como, Italy

The Mandarin Oriental's lakefront compound feels more like a sophisticated house party than a hotel — scattered across nine restored 19th-century villas with that signature floating pool as the crown jewel. While it lacks the intimate grandeur of Passalacqua or the theatrical splendor of Villa d'Este, MO delivers something arguably more valuable: genuinely warm, anticipatory service without the stuffiness. The rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed, the spa is world-class, and the setting on Como's eastern shore provides both spectacular lake views and easy ferry access. The dining falls short of the property's ambitions, and transportation costs can shock even seasoned luxury travelers, but the overall experience captures that elusive balance of relaxed elegance that makes Lake Como magical.

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Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
Fat Favorite

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok stands as the flagship of luxury hospitality in Southeast Asia, a 150-year-old legend that somehow manages to feel both timeless and utterly current. This is service at its most intuitive — butlers who remember your preferences after one night, pool staff who replace your water glass before the ice melts, a concierge who can track down your lost phone in a Bangkok taxi. The riverside location on the Chao Phraya feels like a private sanctuary in the heart of the city, with that iconic boat shuttle whisking you to IconSiam or the Oriental Spa. Yes, newer properties like Capella Bangkok may offer flashier amenities, but none match the MO's effortless mastery of anticipatory hospitality — this is where luxury feels lived-in rather than performed.

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Mandarin Oriental Bodrum — Bodrum, Turkey
Fat Approved

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

Bodrum, Turkey

The Mandarin Oriental Bodrum stands as Turkey's flagship luxury resort, perched dramatically above Paradise Bay with some of the most breathtaking Aegean views you'll find. The property's contemporary architecture, designed by Antonio Citterio, cascades down verdant hillsides in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. Service remains the hotel's crown jewel — guest ambassadors like Nupelda and Öykü create genuinely personal connections that rival the best Asian properties in the MO portfolio. While the resort can feel bustling during peak season with day visitors flooding the retail areas and restaurants, and dining carries the expected premium pricing, the overall experience justifies its position as Bodrum's luxury standard-bearer.

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Mandarin Oriental, Paris — Paris, France
Fat Approved

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental, Paris

Paris, France

The Mandarin Oriental on Rue Saint-Honoré occupies one of Paris's most coveted addresses but struggles to justify its Palace designation against fierce local competition. While the location directly on Place Vendôme is unbeatable for luxury shopping and the service follows MO's polished global standards, the hotel feels somewhat clinical for Paris—lacking the theatrical grandeur of Le Bristol or the intimate charm that defines the city's best properties. The modern aesthetic, while executed well, doesn't capture that ineffable Parisian magic that makes you fall in love with the city. It's a competent luxury stay that delivers exactly what you'd expect from the brand, but at these prices, expectations run higher than competence.

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From the desk

Get the first-look verdict

We publish our verdict the week Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina opens. Get it in the monthly note, before the rest of the internet catches up.

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