PihlasResort: Luxury Eco-Resort in Joroinen, Finland
On the Shores of Lake Pihlas, in the Silence of Savonia
This confidential resort hides in the small village of Kaitainen, in the municipality of Joroinen, deep in eastern Finland’s Saimaa lakeland. There are no neighbors here, no urban hum — only the edge of a pine and birch forest, the still waters of Lake Pihlas, and a wooden pier reaching toward the horizon. You arrive by a country road, and within the first few yards, silence gently takes over. That feeling of absolute seclusion is precisely the promise of the place: total privacy, conceived as the first of luxuries for a stay outside of time.
A Vision Born of the Forest, Unveiled in Fall 2023
Opened in the fall of 2023, PihlasResort was born of a simple desire: to share the nature, culture, and history of this unspoiled region without ever betraying them. Its founders imagined a concept still unseen on the Finnish hospitality scene, where every stay is fully tailor-made, from activities to dining. Authenticity, surprise, quality, and sustainability form the house credo, backed by demanding mottos — including this one: the difference between good and excellent lies in the details. Solar energy, geothermal heating, and ecological materials complete this vision of responsible luxury.
Blackened Wood and Glass, the Grammar of Nordic Luxury
The architecture of PihlasResort speaks the language of contemporary Finland: graphic volumes clad in dark wood, asymmetrical roofs perched on stilts, and vast floor-to-ceiling windows that dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Indoors, whitewashed pine softens the clean lines, black stoves cut sculptural silhouettes, and natural materials — stone, wool, raw timber — compose an atmosphere of sensual minimalism. Each pavilion seems to float among the trees, as if the forest had agreed to host the design rather than step aside for it.
Forest Suites and Garden Villas, the Art of Privacy
The estate offers two ways of inhabiting nature. The Forest Suites, 33-square-meter cocoons for two, open through panoramic windows onto Pihlas Park; each has its queen-size bed, private sauna, and balcony with an outdoor lounge. The Garden Villas unfold over two stories into a true art of living: two bedrooms, an open kitchen flowing into a fireplace lounge, a sauna, and a garden terrace for four to six guests. Everywhere, bathrobes, Finnish natural cosmetics, and impeccable bedding remind you that comfort here is non-negotiable. Note that the resort welcomes guests aged 10 and over — a guarantee of tranquility.
Siimes, a Mystery Table Signed Pauli Novitsky
In Finnish, “siimes” means the gentle shade beneath the trees. It is the name of the estate’s gourmet restaurant, where Chef Patron Pauli Novitsky composes a surprise menu of which nothing is revealed in advance. Inspired by the forest, the lake, and the garden, every dish becomes a story, carried by the purest ingredients of the season. The experience continues at breakfast, served to resort guests, and extends to the house’s other addresses, from Café Trapesa to the TeaHouse of Wehmais.
Sauna Henki, Steaming Jacuzzis, and Pevonia Rituals
Wellness is a gentle religion here. At the water’s edge, the lakeside sauna Henki perpetuates the quintessential Finnish ritual: dry heat, a plunge into the lake, then a long reverie in the outdoor jacuzzis facing the landscape. The Pihlas Day Spa offers face and body treatments built around Pevonia natural products, tailor-made massages, and indulgent body wraps. More active guests will enjoy the Elo fitness center, tennis and padel courts, nearby golf, or canoeing and mountain-biking excursions arranged on request.
An Address for Those Who Dream of Finland in Secret
PihlasResort is not a hotel you visit; it is a secret you keep. For a stay suspended between lake and forest, where luxury is measured in silence, light, and thoughtful gestures, this Finnish address stands among the most singular in Northern Europe.
We love PihlasResort for:
- Its recent opening, in fall 2023
- Its intimate Forest Suites and Garden Villas
- Its Nordic architecture of dark wood and glass
- Chef Pauli Novitsky’s surprise menu
- Its lakeside sauna, jacuzzis, and day spa
- Its secret setting on Lake Pihlas
