T+L’s First In Review of Huus Quell in Switzerland

You may not have visited, or even heard of, Switzerland’s Appenzell. But if you’ve ever glimpsed a quintessential Swiss landscape—the rolling verdant hills dotted with mooing cows, the cobblestone villages brimming with cheerfully painted chalets and stubes—you know the Appenzell.

Located an hour’s drive east of Zurich, the quiet region is steeped in Swiss tradition, nestled amid the Alpstein Mountains, famous for its distinct namesake cheese, and a stronghold for longstanding cultural moors (yodeling included). In fact, many of the Appenzell’s villages appear almost exactly as they did more than 400 years ago.

One of those villages, Gonten, is both a bastion of this deep-rooted heritage and a bellwether of the region’s next era, all thanks to tech mogul Jan Schoch. A native son of the Appenzell, Schoch is best known as the founder of Switzerland’s first and only listed fintech unicorn, Leonteq AG. But around this part of the country, the centimillionaire’s most prolific achievement is Appenzeller Huus, a small collection of hotels ranging from a restored 400-year-old tavern and inn to his newest and most ambitious creation: Huus Quell.

Opened in October, Huus Quell is an evident outlier among its historic neighbors. The five-story structure isn’t just a rare new build in Gonten; it’s a sustainable marvel with few peers nationally or globally. Fabricated from the wood of roughly 6,000 locally sourced larch, pine, and other trees (all of which have since been reharvested in situ), its construction used no nails or metal framing. The resulting hotel, which houses 30 guest rooms and a nearly 24,000-square-foot spa, effectively stores more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide. In other words, it’s one of the most sustainably built hotels in the world.

“My first career was successful, but it was not something that necessarily improved the world,” says Schoch of his fintech background. “So, for my next project, I wanted to change that.”

That’s evident within the wooden walls of Huus Quell, too—namely in its focus on health and longevity. In typical tech-innovator form, Schoch is also a biohacking disciple, and he shares his own regimen with spa guests. That includes a complete suite of Art of Cryo technology, from infrared and cryotherapy machines to a Flow System, a touchless technology that uses rhythmic positive and negative air pressure to stimulate circulation and accelerate recovery.

I experienced all of these technologies at the Quell Spa’s L3Long Lasting Lifestyle Circle suite. First, I was lightly baked by far infrared and blue light; just eight minutes of exposure is said to boost collagen and detox the body, among other benefits. The frigid temps of the cryotherapy chamber came next; I lasted about two minutes shivering at -166° Fahrenheit. Then, mercifully, it was onto the Flow System, where rhythmic positive and negative air pressure stimulated my circulation and accelerated my muscle recovery. It felt like a vacuum was pulling me from my ankles, but was completely painless.

The idea behind everything at Huus Quell, Schoch told me, “is not to live longer, but to live healthier.” And that means more than just the latest high-tech tools. After my L3 circuit, I indulged in more traditional wellness endeavors: hot and cold plunges, including a saltwater pool set at room temperature to create a steady thermal state for deprivation meditation; eight saunas and steam rooms; a meditation room where ceiling projections of jellyfish, blossoming flowers, and faraway galaxies were set to mood-enhancing instrumentals; and a series of rooftop lap pools, including one cantilevering over the town of Gonten.

Make no mistake, though, Huus Quell is no retreat of deprivations. That’s most evident in the wine cellars, of which there are six, each curated by a different theme—not just red, white, and sparkling, but also magnums, which are housed in the “Magnothek” cellar. At Restaurant Quell, the Chef’s Choice of 11 unique dishes is an affair worth the time commitment, blending cuisines from around the globe. The pho and shrimp bao buns somehow matched perfectly with more local dishes like beef entrecote and papet Vaudois.

Huus Quell translates to “source house,” and it shows in the emphasis on local offerings. At breakfast, I had quince juice rather than the standard orange. (It contains 40 times more vitamin C, the waiter informed me.) Many of the herbs on my plate were just-snipped off the garden wall in the hotel’s sunlit living room. Even a request for Coca-Cola is met with a creative local alternative: a sparkling water infused with artemisia abrotanum, a flowering plant that bears a remarkable resemblance in flavor.

It’s all a chance to live a bit differently—more healthily, yes, and perhaps a little bit like a centimillionaire yourself. And that’s the point. “If I feel a certain way, or a like something, I want other people to feel it and like it,” Schoch says. “That’s what I’ve done here.”

Read on for my full review of Huus Quell in Gonten, Switzerland.

The Rooms

Evocative of a classic chalet, the 30 rooms and suites are lined in pine with picture windows that frame those quintessential Swiss views of rolling hills, wood-frame farmhouses, and Gonten’s historic church. The décor departs from theme just enough: It is suitably contemporary, all furnishings custom-built locally and accented with fine fabrics and wall coverings by Jakob Schlaepfer, the Swiss textile house beloved by luxury brands such as Chanel and Dior.

In keeping with the wellness-first atmosphere, the bathrooms are true sanctuaries carved from limestone and slate, with custom products infused with local lemon, lady’s mantle, and edelweiss. The blow dryers are coveted Dyson Supersonics. The minibars are stocked with local favorites too, from Swiss-made teas to, of course, chocolate. Fresh fruit is always stocked in an elegant ceramic bowl.

Food and Drink

The culinary philosophy at Huus Quell reflects the same principles that shape its architecture and wellness offerings: a deep respect for origin, craftsmanship, and place. Switzerland’s abundant terroir is the muse here, whether in the form of locally sourced meats and cheeses, home-grown herbs and produce, or house-crafted cocktails. At Restaurant Quell, executive chef Carsten Kypke has developed an admirably creative small-plates menu, pairing everything from wontons and bao buns to ravioli and risotto. All are meant to be mixed, matched, and shared—and somehow, the divergent cuisines work together beautifully.

Off the lobby, the Botanicum Bar is part experimental lab, part art installation. Director of bars and lounges Elmir Medunjanin puts his pharmaceutical-grade rotary evaporator to use in making unusual spirits with native herbs and fruits—and even beloved recipes. My favorite? A homemade bolognese that became the base for an umami-intense eau de vie, paired with an ice cube encapsulating a farm-fresh cherry tomato. I sipped it under the glow of an interactive installation that mimics the weather conditions outside through satellite technology. When it’s sunny, the sculptures dancing across the ceiling shine bright; when a cloud passes through, a moody wave casts over the space.

Guests at Huus Quell can also dine at the other restaurants in the Appenzeller Huus collection, including Bärenstobe, set within the circa-1751 dining room in the neighboring Huus Bären. There, multicourse meals are paired with wines from Schoch’s 25,000-bottle collection. For a more traditional Swiss dining experience, Löwenstobe, across the street, serves all the classics: boiled sausage, Appenzell veal cordon bleu, and the creamiest spaetzle to ever grace a spoon.

The Spa

The Quell Spa is far and away the main draw at Huus Quell. And the centerpiece of the 24,000-square-foot facility is the L3 Long Lasting Lifestyle Circle, a circuit of biohacking technology that includes an infrared cabin and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, among other health-promoting systems.

After giving the circuit a go myself, I felt revived—both mentally and physically—and opted to enhance the aftereffects with more traditional therapies. There are nine pools across the spa’s subterranean and rooftop levels, including a counter-current pool for laps, plus eight steam rooms and saunas. Among them, I preferred the saltwater pool—kept at a temperature in perfect harmony with the air to create a feeling of sensory deprivation—and the outdoor rooftop pool with stimulating body jets and incredible views over the countryside.

I also tried a Swissline oxygen facial using the brand’s signature Face Sculpt massage techniques. the treatment menu also includes activity and nature offerings such as guided hiking, personal training, and another cutting-edge tech: the Skill Court, a cross between a Wii video game system and a virtual sports trainer. A quick demo was so addictive, I ended up jumping and hopping around the Skill Court for close to an hour. (Calories burned: 260.)

Activities and Amenities

Most guests come for the spa, but there’s plenty to do outside of Huus Quell’s wellness cocoon. There’s excellent hiking throughout the Appenzell region; the hills just beyond the hotel are especially welcoming for an easy-to-moderate immersion. Appenzeller Huus’ culture center is set to open in mid-2026, providing new ways to engage with Eastern Switzerland’s heritage crafts. Textile workshops and cheese- and beer-making will be among the activities offered.

Family-Friendly Offerings

While Huus Quell accepts guests of all ages, other hotels in the Appenzeller Huus collection may be more appropriate for little ones. Huus Löwen has seven accommodations designed specifically for families, and the Löwenstobe and Bärenstobe restaurants are also child-friendly, offering kids’ menus and coloring books. All hotels and restaurants are within steps of each other.

Location

Set in the heart of quintessential Swiss countryside, the village of Gonten is roughly an hour by car from the Zurich Airport. Guests can also use the very efficient train system: The closest stop is a 10-minute drive, and the train connects directly to the airport and Zurich in under an hour. A house car can be arranged for transfers as well as day trips to local attractions in the nearby villages of Appenzell and St. Gallen. Gonten itself is sparsely populated with few sights: Huus Quell and the rest of the Appenzeller Huus collection are the main, if only, draw in town beyond a lovely church, which is open to visitors.

Though there are a few downhill ski runs in the Appenzell region, the winter activity here is based around cross-country endeavors, and the Gonten high valley is one of the top spots. In the warmer months, golf is another big attraction, with the 18-hole course at Golf Gonten less than a mile away. A handful of other courses are within easy striking distance.

Sustainability and Accessibility

Arguably, owner Jan Schuch’s greatest mission with Huus Quell was to create a wonder of sustainable building—and he has succeeded. The hotel’s all-wood construction isn’t just environmentally significant, storing more than 2,000 tons of CO2 within its locally sourced planks; its creation has also provided a new resource for other Swiss builders to follow in his footsteps.

“There was no way to do what I wanted to do locally, so I created my own wood construction company,” Schoch says. “We sourced all our wood from the middle of the forest, and reharvested the area right away so the forest ends with more trees than it had before.”

Ever the completest, Schoch didn’t stop there. Walls were treated with a lime-based plaster wash that absorbs CO2, insulation was produced via recycled wood, and power comes from a mix of geothermal walls, solar arrays, and a spring-water cooling system.

The result is one of the only true carbon-neutral hotels in the world. “We calculated our carbon usage and storage to a very specific number, accounting for every step—even transporting the materials—and we can now say we are storing more carbon than we are expending,” Schoch says. (Schoch even built two houses nearby using the same construction methods—one for himself and another for his parents.)

While there are no rooms specified for wheelchair users or those with disabilities, some rooms are barrier-free. However, the hotel is not designed for disabled patrons in all areas.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Huus Quell is not part of any loyalty program. For the best rates, book directly with the hotel at booking.appenzellerhuus.ch. Overnight rates start from $550 and include breakfast and complimentary use of the Quell Spa’s wellness areas and pools.