Vorarlberg is one of those rare places where contemporary architecture and regional cuisine both emerge from a rich tradition of craftsmanship. Design-hotels, wineries, and art cafés sit alongside traditional farms and alpine cheese restaurants that celebrate local ingredients.

Begin in Bregenz at the Kunsthaus: Peter Zumthor’s glass-and-concrete gallery is a masterclass in natural light, tactile materials, and serene spatial sequencing. After exploring world-renowned art, its café demonstrates how architecture and culinary art can elevate one another.

Nearby, the tiny Hotel Kleiner Löwe (Herzog & de Meuron) proves that a small building can be a design gem. Minimalist rooms and a peaceful garden make it both an architectural landmark and a base for culture, mountain walks, or a lakeside picnic.

At the former Doppelmayr industrial site, Bernardo Bader’s Rickenbach village combines 2026 the principles of reduce, re-use, and recycle with local building traditions, elevating life with café and guesthouse.

Hotel FLINT in Dornbirn, designed by Marte.Marte, pairs finely crafted concrete architecture with local warmth, exemplifying contemporary hospitality in Vorarlberg.

For alpine serenity, Baumschlager Eberle’s Peterhof merges traditional woodcraft with thoughtful design: energy efficiency, larch-shingled chalets carefully positioned to frame mountain views, and a restaurant that highlights alpine ingredients.

Together, these destinations reveal why Vorarlberg is well worth a visit: architecture infused with craftsmanship, inventive use of natural materials, hotels and cafés that are destinations in their own right, and a culinary scene rooted in alpine produce. Pack comfortable shoes, an appetite, and a camera — you’ll need all three.

Guiding Architects offers tailor-made (up to 5-day) tours in Vorarlberg, highlighting the region’s seamless fusion of forward-thinking design, traditional craftsmanship, and culinary culture.

Text by: Willem Bruijn, ONEHUNDREDYEARS