The picturesque village of Corvara in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy enjoys a privileged location in the heart of the Dolomites mountains. In addition to a wealth of outdoor activities, Corvara is also home to the family-run Hotel La Perla. The hotel takes pride in preserving the local Radin tradition, and at the heart of this is the Costa family, who have run the hotel for two generations. We checked in to discover its famous hospitality and newly renovated spa.
Hotel
The family-run hotel focuses on sustainability and grows its own produce.
Just ask any local for directions to Hotel La Perla and they’ll be happy to help. They’ll enjoy après-ski over a beer at the hotel bar, and a story or two about the night they spent with the Costa family. This hotel is as much a symbol of Corvara as the 2,665-metre Sassongel mountain that overlooks the town.
Ernesto Costa opened the hotel’s doors in the 1950s, offering just six bedrooms for weary skiers. Since then, the hotel has grown under the steady hands of Ernesto’s children, who still operate it today.
The local Ladin culture of the Dolomites is a huge influence on the hotel, influencing everything from the design to the food and staff uniforms. The main building has a traditional Tyrolean chalet style with a wooden exterior and hanging baskets filled with colorful flowers on the guest balcony.
Like any great hotel, Hotel La Perla’s focus is on exceptional hospitality, but here it goes beyond personalized service and highly skilled staff. It’s the little extras that make this hotel stand out. A breakfast newsletter with information about the weather, hiking routes, and Radin culture, a sweet treat on your bedside every night, a staff member who remembers exactly how you like your coffee, and a greeting that says: Masu. Smile wherever you go. You’ll definitely feel at home after just a few nights.
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword at Hotel La Perla; it’s a guiding principle. Initiatives include no longer serving meat on Fridays, the restaurant only serves water from local Dolomites springs, and a paperless office. The family also founded the Costa Family Foundation, which supports women and children in developing countries through initiatives and community projects. To find out more, visit the exhibition on the ground floor of the hotel.
room
Romantic rooms perfect for couples or those looking for more space
La Perla has 51 rooms, including 3 suites. We spent two nights in a spacious, romantic room with a balcony (perfect for an aperitif), sitting area, and walk-in closet with plenty of space to store hiking boots and bulky ski gear for the winter.
The rooms are very traditionally designed, with centuries-old antique furniture and reclaimed wood rather than marble or modern amenities. If you’re looking for a modern space with the latest in-room technology, this room may not be for you, but we found the space peaceful and blissfully tranquil.
The view from our room was a bit uninspiring, so I highly recommend requesting a room with a view if you want to wake up to the beauty of the mountains.
Eating and drinking
Restaurant Les Stues’ cozy interior is inspired by local Alpine homes.
The hotel has four restaurants, an impressive selection for a 51-room hotel. Each restaurant is unique, but all focus on high quality produce (organic where possible) from the local Val Badia Valley.
Half-board reservations include dinner at Les Stues, a restaurant serving simple, traditional Tyrolean cuisine. Enjoy hearty Alpine cuisine with an Italian twist. The interior is inspired by traditional Dolomite farmhouses, with wood paneling from the original house creating a very cozy atmosphere.
The bistro offers all-day dining and has the most Italian feel of all the restaurants. If you’re looking for rich pasta dishes and creamy burrata, this is the place to visit. The tomato-flavored ‘mancini’ pasta dish with anchovies and breadcrumbs was perfect for fueling up before the hike.
Crossing the garden, you will find Ladinia, the hotel’s traditional Alpine-style hut in the heart of the old village. It serves hearty Radin cuisine, including specialties such as tutole (small fried pastries stuffed with wild nettles and spinach).
La Stua demicil is the hotel’s one Michelin star restaurant and, unsurprisingly, a popular choice. If you wish to visit, please be sure to make a reservation prior to your stay.
Alongside its restaurant, Hotel La Perla is home to one of Italy’s most famous wine cellars, containing the most complete collection of Sassicaia wines outside of Tuscany (bottles of all vintages from 1968 to 2021) ). If you want a sneak peek, book a tour at reception.
spa and wellness
The hotel’s spa is the perfect sanctuary offering a wide range of treatments
Newly renovated in 2024, the hotel’s Salus Per Aquam Spa is the perfect haven after a busy day on the slopes or hiking. There is also an indoor pool with various jets and a Jacuzzi, as well as two dry saunas and a steam room. On this visit, I particularly enjoyed the Kneipp path, which takes you through hot and cold pools to improve circulation. It really helped soothe tired legs after a morning hike and we used it for recovery during our stay.
The spa offers a wide range of treatments, from mountain massages to alpine-inspired body wraps using locally sourced herbs, plants and flowers. La Perla is the signature massage, but if you’re on an active vacation and want to help your muscles recover, we recommend the Sarson Gel Massage, which uses arnica to reduce inflammation.
things to do
Skiing and hiking are popular activities in the area. Image credit: Pixabay/Mario555
Corvara’s location in the middle of the Dolomites makes it one of the world’s best skiing and hiking destinations. This area is a true winter wonderland with 500 km of alpine ski and snowboard slopes. All of these slopes connect to the Dolomiti Superski Area, which has 1,200 km of perfect slopes spread across 12 resorts. Hotel La Perla offers easy ski-in and ski-out access using the Col Alto lift, the first ski lift built in Italy.
In the warmer months, wildflowers bloom on the slopes and hiking takes center stage. Hotel La Perla’s in-house hiking guides will suggest routes tailored to your abilities. We rode the Beau Gondola up the mountain, stopped at the Franz Kostner Mountain Hut to refuel, and explored the glacier valley of Vallon. The trail is well marked, but you’ll need a map, enough water to last you a few hours, and warm clothing (it gets pretty cold at the top).
For a more familiar adventure, Hotel La Perla offers a foraging experience with Ladinia’s head chef Aldo. On a sunny morning in August, I met up with Aldo and, wicker basket in hand, set out to search the hills for food. We picked hops, dandelions, nettles, mountain spinach, and wild rhubarb, then returned to the kitchen to make traditional canederli, farmhouse-style dumplings made with bread, eggs, and the produce we’d harvested that morning. During the summer, you can book this experience at reception. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.
In a nutshell
There’s a lot to love about Hotel La Perla, from our restaurant serving the best locally sourced ingredients to our spa offering relaxation between outdoor adventures, but what makes Hotel La Perla truly unique is: , staff and kind hospitality. It is sure to leave a lasting impression long after you check out.
fact box
Room rates start from £500 per night (half board with dinner) in winter and £430 per night (breakfast included) for 2 people in summer.
Address: Str. Col Alt, 105, 39033 Corvara in Badia BZ, Italy
Phone: +39 0471 831000
Website: laperlacorvara.it/en
Photo courtesy of Hotel La Perla, Casa Costa 1956, Gustav Willeit.
