AUSTRIA – Ice Q Restaurant, Sölden // Spectre (2015)
The “Ice Q” in Sölden is one of the most exclusive movie locations from the Bond movieverse. That is not only thanks to the great Martinis served, but to the adjoining “007 Elements” exhibition.
We were kites dancing in a hurricane. Well, actually only visitors of one of the most exclusive movie locations of “Spectre” atop the Gaislachkogl in Austria – but surrounded by an upcoming snow storm. And the only thing that could safe us after our journey was a mountain escape, Bond-style! This is, how the story unfolds.
Why Bond was here
James Bond (Daniel Craig) is up to unravel who’s behind the sinister organization SPECTRE in a hunt from Mexico to Rome – and then Austria. In an alpine health center, the Hoffler Klinik, at the aforementioned Gaislachkogl, he meets Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), who could help him put some pieces together. Unfortunately she gets kidnapped right away by evildoer Hinx (Dave Bautista). Bond gives pursuit in an aircraft, playing chicken with Hinx’ fleet in a snowy chase.
How you gonna get there
The Hoffler Klinik is not a real clinic – but the luxury restaurant “Ice Q”. It is situated 3,048 meters above sea level at Gaislachkogel mountain and has a futurist glass look, iconic Bond set designer Ken Adams would be proud of. It is just a few meters away from the summit station of the Gaislachkogelbahn, that connects the mountain with Sölden in the Ötztal valley.
Sölden itself is an alpine hot spot in Austria and well connected. Come here by train from Innsbruck and Ötztal Bahnhof, fly in at Innsbruck or go by car directly to Sölden.
Filming took place at both the summit and the middle station of the Gaislachkogelbahn – those were the scenes with Q and his pursuers. Then, the exteriors of the cubic “Ice Q” were used as the clinic. The cold glass structure should reflect Madeleine Swann’s character and feelings when meeting Bond. The nearby Rettenbach glacier road then was used for the chase.
Good to know
Sölden is more than just a movie location from “Spectre” – the city really lives the Bond vibe. There is the fabulous design hotel “Bergland”, where Daniel Craig stayed during filming: His suite is now dubbed “James Bond Suite”, the hotel hosts occasional casino nights and offers the famous Vesper Martini. Then there is the exclusive “Ice Q” itself. Filming never took place inside the restaurant – a set four times bigger was built in Pinewood – but the place honors the heritage with menus worthy a SPECTRE feast.
But first and foremost there is “007 Elements”, a cinematic installation atop Gaislachkogel, dedicated to the Bond movie universe.
The cinematic installation was a deal made by the Sölden tourism kingpins: We let you film and use our ski slopes, but you leave something memorable behind. And so they did: “Spectre” director Sam Mendes himself conceived and supervised “007 Elements” – and guides through it along with Naomie Harris.
Click through the 007 Elements in Sölden – room by room:
The installation lets visitors wander through nine rooms in a downward spiral inside the mountain. Video scenes are cleverly shown in multiple mirrors, there is a gadget room and – as the grand finale – the original airplane wreck in a stunning art installation.
Fans will surely adore “007 Elements” and passer-by skiers probably will want to see “Spectre” right away afterwards. The one black mark: “007 Elements” pays some respect to the former Bond actors, but focuses primarily on the ski action from “Spectre” and on Daniel Craig. With the long snowy history of 007 there could have been more intel on other chases and stunts, from the Swiss Alps all the way up to Canada.
After our visit at “007 Elements” we were invited for lunch and Martinis at the “Ice Q”. While we enjoyed the food, a storm was brewing above Gaislachkogl. With winds up to 90 miles per hour, the gondola back down had to stop. While that was no problem for people on ski or snowboard – we with our little daughter were entrapped at the summit.
Our mountain escape came in Bond-style: The mountain rescue service organized snowmobiles for all people still at the summit. In freezing winds we rushed back down into the Ötztal – and our cozy hotel.
We stayed at the “Bergland”, like Daniel Craig back in 2015. As we travel with our daughter, we were delighted, how unbent the hotel manages children. Baby phones and child menus makes the “Bergland” family-friendly, without giving up its exclusivity. So we guess Daniel Craig could come back as well, now being a father for the second time. And still enjoy the rich cheese buffet after the chef’s menu.
© 2020 Huntingbond (3,4 and gallery), © Rudi Wyhlidal / Bergbahnen Sölden (1), © 2015 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Danjaq, LLC, Eon Productions, and Columbia Pictures, Inc. (2)