Hotel Fife Arms in the village of Braemar in the Scottish Highlands

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

By the second day at the latest, when you have deeply inhaled the magical atmosphere of the hotel, you will realize that the Fife Arms in the Scottish Highlands is a very special gem. Romantic souls will immediately fall for the flair. Others will need a little longer to fully appreciate the treasures that the museum-like interior holds. Modern and antique. There are said to be 16,000 pieces in total, spread across lounges and restaurants, bars and meeting rooms, corridors, staircases and corridors. Each piece has its own story. This ranges from Picassos and Brueghels to specially designed wallpaper and fabrics in tartan patterns to display cases with old weapons. And last but not least, the life-size wax figure of Queen Victoria. She is hiding on the top floor. "Creepy," cried a little boy when he spotted her. Somehow, the spirit of royalty hovers everywhere. No wonder, Balmoral Castle is not far away. A royal forest stretches close to the village of 600 people and, if you're lucky, you might even come across King Charles on a meditative walk. What is certain is that a large number of the royal family gather in Braemar for the Highland Games.

Boutique Hotel Fife Arms is owned by gallery owners Iwan and Manuela Wirth and their daughter Ursula Hauser from the global Swiss art and lifestyle empire Hauser & Wirth. Recently restored and completely renovated indoors, the 19th century building houses 46 rooms and suites. There is also the "Flying Stag" pub, which serves traditional Scottish fare, "The Clunie" restaurant for fine dining and breakfast, and the "Elsa's" and "Bertie's" bars. The latter is named after Queen Victoria's son, nicknamed Bertie, and offers around 500 types of whisky for tasting. If you can afford it, ask for a whisky from 1834 and pay 10,000 pounds per glass for this unique experience. Elsa's Bar is a dedication to Elsa Shiapirelli and has a beautiful art deco style. Specialties include pink cocktails and rosé champagne, in the style of the fashion icon. And if you sit down to a stylish afternoon tea in the salon, you can also enjoy top-class art: dramatic ceiling magic by Argentinian modern artist Guillermo Kuitca and a painting by Picasso on the wall. The creative delicacies on the étagère are all the more delicious. Let's not forget the service. They are young, cheerful people who look after the guests. To perfection.

www.thefifearms.com

Text by Kiki Baron