Room with a view
Romance comes in many different shapes and forms, but for us the epitome of Valentine’s Day seduction is an intimate candle-lit dinner for two in a suite at the Beau-Rivage Palace. Our idea of romance is the perfect view, especially the ethereal beauty of sunset and sunrise over a lake, so for us the view of Lac Leman shimmering with twinkling lights was truly magical. There are very few places that provide such a tempting offering – views of the lake and snow-capped mountains stretching out before you, whilst you sip on a glass of chilled-to-perfection champagne on a private balcony – so we couldn’t wait for the start of our Valentine’s visit to The Beau-Rivage Palace (make it any time during the month of February!).
Flowers and rose petal cocktails
Indeed, one of our lasting memories is being shown to our suite after a hard week on the slopes, on a cold but clear February evening, with the scent of a dozen long-stemmed white roses filling the room. Swiss chocolates and fruit-filled bowls adorned the sideboards, which were left untouched (for the moment!) as we slipped into a little evening dress and prepared for our dinner with a bespoke Rose Palace cocktail at the bar.
Michelin stars
For our first evening, we decided to choose from one of the many hotel restaurants. We opted for the two Michelin-starred Anne-Sophie Pic au Beau-Rivage Palace for a delicious luxury gourmet experience that would befit the romantic weekend. The blue lobster roasted in shellfish butter and the Simmental smoked beef were two unforgettable highlights of the evening’s dining, and a sommelier was on-hand to recommend faultless wine matches. With over 3,000 bottles on the wine list, his help was much appreciated!
Cinq Mondes Spa
The following day was spent visiting the local flower market (as flowers are also a big part of our idea of romance), and relaxing in the Cinq Mondes Spa indulging in some of the award-winning treatments, whilst the beau enjoyed a cocktail making lesson. With the memory of last night’s feast still clear in our minds, we were eagerly anticipating what the Beau-Rivage Palace had planned for our candle-lit dinner, due to take place in our suite that evening. Once again, the food was exquisite, and the champagne on ice was a beautiful touch.
After our two-night stay we were reluctant to leave and return to the ‘real world’. In fact, the only thing that made our departure bearable was the promise of returning the following year…
For further information and to make a reservation at The Beau-Rivage Palace, please contact www.brp.ch