Bath Fallenbach

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Switch off in the middle of nature - the Finnish forest sauna is surrounded by trees and also in the pool you have the feeling to swim towards the forest. Breakfast takes place on the sun terrace with a view of the entire valley, dinner is served in the panoramic dining room. Regionality is already emphasized at the breakfast buffet, you'll get bacon from the Passeier Valley, in-house spring water and honey and dairy products from South Tyrolean mountain farmers. The evening gourmet menu consists of five courses. Theme nights provide culinary variety. Chef Yannick Riederer has a young, innovative team at the stove, cooking seasonal and regional dishes and reinterpreting classics.

Bad Fallenbach
Jaufenstraße 23, 39015 St. Leonhard in Passeier, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 657 700
Web: badfallenbach.com

SomVita Suites

© Hannes Niederkofler

Opened in 1973, from the beginning the Hotel Somvi was intended to be a house for well-being. Today, the SomVita Suites are a contemporary continuation of this idea: minimalist with lots of natural wood, soothingly earthy in color tones and with a very cozy ambience. From the sky pool including sky bar you have a fantastic panoramic view of the lush landscape and the surrounding vineyards; in the SomVino selected specialties are served, casual atmosphere characterizes the enjoyment. The vinotheque has a few treasures in store, and champagne fans also get their money's worth - and at the breakfast buffet there's a superfood corner with healthy treats that help you to start the day in a fit way.

SomVita Suites
Main Street 64, 39019 Dorf Tirol, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 923504
Web: somvita-suites.com

Gartenhotel Moser

© Helmuth Rier

Nestled in lush forests, the hotel's lakeside house is located directly on the Great Montiggl Lake. At the breakfast buffet regional products are already being offered, apples and pears come from own cultivation, as well as the wines. A total of 13 hectares of orchards and vineyards are cultivated for this purpose, and in the hotel's own Tenuta Moser winery, in addition to fine wines, a Mendel beer is also produced. Sommelier Gerold and young sommelier Thomas offer tastings in the extensive in-house wine cellar to make the different nuances of South Tyrolean wines tangible. The spacious garden is a great place to relax, as is the wellness area with a large indoor and outdoor water world, versatile saunas and beauty treatments. In the evening, a five-course menu is on the agenda. 

Garden Hotel Moser
Lake Montiggler 104, 39057 Eppan an der Weinstraße, Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 662 095
Web: gardenhotelmoser.com

Castel Fragsburg

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Like a fairy-tale castle, this hotel with only 20 suites is situated on a private hill surrounded by nature. Built in 1624 as a hunting lodge, the property passed into the ownership of the Ortner family in 1954, who opened a hotel with plenty of flair with a focus for the essentials. Chef Egon Heiss serves Michelin-starred creations in the gourmet restaurant Prezioso that focus on the authenticity of the products. He tinkers with the perfect dumpling, researches old recipes, and sees cooking as an activity that unites young and old. This philosophy goes far beyond the plate - just like the hotel's alchemical healing spa, the first of its kind in the world. Alchemist Renate De Mario Gamper also shares her knowledge with the chef.

Castel Fragsburg
Via Fragsburg 3, 39012 Merano, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 244 071
Web: fragsburg.com

Hotel Hirzer

© Armin Terzer Photography

Vintage crystal chandeliers meet wildly proliferating floral patterns - interior designer Harald Margreiter has transformed the Hotel Hirzer 2781 into a place where tradition and the contemporary interact harmoniously. With attention to detail, the old building structure was preserved and complemented with contemporary elements. It's modern, but at the same time also down-to-earth. The family business attaches great importance to this. In his gourmet kitchen, toque chef Peter Oberrauch focuses on creations that delight the palate and the eye in equal measure. His motto: cooking is an art form - and should also look and taste like one. In the gourmet restaurant Le Cheval, compositions inspired by French cuisine impress the guests.

Hotel Hirzer 2781
Falzebenstrasse 66, 39010 Hafling near Merano, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 279 306
Web: hotel-hirzer.com

Meranerhof

© Klaus Peterlin

The Belle Époque has left its mark on this glamorous hotel, which is located in the heart of the spa town of Merano. If you want to feel like you did in the days of Empress Elisabeth, who was a frequent guest in South Tyrol, you've come to the right place: everything breathes turn-of-the-century flair, tradition and modernity enter into an exciting symbiosis. No two rooms are alike. A spacious garden with palm trees in the middle of the old town, not far from the thermal baths and the promenade, invites you to rest and relax. This gives you the feeling of being right in the middle of the urban action and yet having a place of retreat. Chef Arno Fritz combines traditional South Tyrolean cuisine with Mediterranean highlights - to end the evening in style, a visit to the house bar is recommended, which looks like a perfect movie set with its round arches and golden-white ornaments. Parking is included in the booking.

Meranerhof
Alessandro Manzoni Street 1, 39012 Merano, Italy
Tel.: +39 0473 230 230
Web: meranerhof.com

Hotel Alpenflora

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Picturesquely situated in the Dolomites, Castelrotto is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The Hotel Alpenflora is located at the entrance of the village at an altitude of about 1000 meters, in a sunny position with a view of the Sciliar. Here, you have time for yourself, you can simply relax and dream; it's time for pleasure. Whether a five-course menu in the evening or rather à la carte with a wine accompaniment: everything can be done, but nothing is a must. This also applies to the fantastic variety of impressions you can gather here - during guided excursions, in the beautiful nature or at the pools, during wellness and beauty treatments in the spa. This is the vacation in the Alpenflora: here, wishes come true.

Hotel Alpenflora
Oswald-von-Wolkenstein-Straße 32, 39040 Kastelruth, Italy
Tel.: T: +39 0471 706 326
Web: alpenflora.com

Forestis

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One of the chicest retreats in the midst of the Dolomites - the Forestis celebrates the art of simplicity. Nothing about the minimalist architecture is meant to distract from the main characters, the densely overgrown forests all around and the imposing, barren mountain peaks. Roland Lamprecht's forest cuisine also celebrates naturalness and authenticity: the dishes are small works of art, and the restaurant is the matching gallery - arranged in steps, each table not only offers plenty of privacy, but also a fantastic view of the Dolomites. Even as a child, Lamprecht enjoyed picking berries and mushrooms, and his colorful plates still reflect this love of nature today. In the bar, drinks are served with essences from the surrounding forests - some of which taste intensely of tree needles and bark.

Forestis
Palmschoß 22, 39042 Bressanone, Italy
Tel.: +39 0472 521 008
Web: forestis.it

Parkhotel Holzner

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A hotel made for a revival of the summer resort: the Holzner was opened in 1908. The journey already becomes an adventure: over serpentines or yet comfortably and sustainably with the cable car it goes up to the mountain. The art nouveau jewel is enthroned at 1200 meters above sea level. Only 15 minutes from Bolzano and yet an alpine retreat - it's a city hotel in the mountains. In the fourth generation, the Holzners lovingly take care of their guests. Sustainability is a tradition here: with the opening of the wellness facility in 2007, the focus was on renewable energy. Regional cuisine is at the heart of the hotel; chef Stephan Zippl creatively reinterprets traditions, which is regularly reflected in Gault Millau awards.

Parkhotel Holzner
Village 18, 39054 Oberbozen, Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 345 231
Web: parkhotel-holzner.com

Ao by Haller

© Andreas Tauber

Spend the night in the midst of vineyards, where the culinary delights of the region can be enjoyed directly at the source - at the AO by Haller, wine talks with winemakers take place on a regular basis. At the AO Wine Bar it's also possible to aperitivieren outside of meal time. In South Tyrol this means to enjoy a glass of wine or an aperitif with a bite to eat. Creative cuisine is the responsibility of Simon and Levin, two young chefs who position themselves between Copenhagen and Kranebitt. The dishes look fantastic; the two are inventive, but at the same time honest and pure in their ingredients. They describe their style as modern without forgetting their origins. Wine is also available from their own vineyards, namely Silvaner and Kerner. The extensive wine list is international, and also includes South Tyrolean natural wines from Alois Lageder or Thomas Niedermayr.

Haller Suites & AO Restaurant
Weinbergstraße 68, 39042 Brixen, Italy
Tel.: +39 0472 834 601
Web: byhaller.com

Hotel Cristal

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The rooms at Hotel Cristal are made of larch and Swiss pine wood from the surrounding area. They are minimalist and cozy. Some of them also have a balcony. The hotel is located in the middle of nature with a fantastic view of the Dolomites. It has been run by the Thaler family for several generations, cordiality seems to be in their DNA. In summer there are barbecues on the cozy Cristal terrace, every Wednesday and Saturday there's a gala dinner by candlelight. In terms of cuisine, they focus on classics from the region, which are refined; a regional cheese selection is also not to be missed. There's a children's menu every evening - and a wine list to match.

Hotel Cristal
Obereggen 31, 39050 Deutschnofen, Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 615 511
Web: hotelcristal.com

Granbaita Dolomites

© andreas-senoner.com

In the South Tyrolean countryside when the bells of the animals ring on the lush green pastures and the sun glistens high above time feels almost magical. You can experience this beautiful spot even more intensely at the Granbaita, for example on hikes with local guides, and not only in summer: the five-star hotel is open all fall and is the perfect hotspot for coziness and feelgood moments. Especially in the Savinela Spa: treatments with mountain flowers and herbs and the hay bath exude alpine feeling. The cuisine of top chef Andrea Moccia is also traditional: since enjoyment is the top priority at the Granbaita, he conjures up typical specialties from the region, combined with Mediterranean flavors. Culinary events await guests in the evenings.

Granbaita Dolomites
St. da Nives 11, 39048 Selva di Val Gardena, Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 795210
Web: hotelgranbaita.com

Stafler

© Hannes Niederkofler

Two-star chef Peter Girtler serves traditional South Tyrolean cuisine with Mediterranean delicacies in the Gasthofstube Stafler. Then, in the Gourmetstube Einhorn, Girtler shows all his skills: the high-quality products come for the most part from his own estate, local specialties are combined with worldwide inspirations to create combinations that are as surprising as they are convincing. The highlight is also the guest parlor itself, paneled and with a tiled stove, cozy bay window and medieval wall painting; an intimate, romantic place that is ideal for forgetting time and immersing yourself in a culinary journey. Girtler has been cooking at the Stafler for over 20 years - there's no sign of fatigue, as the many regular guests prove.

Romantic Hotel Stafler
Mauls Nr. 10, 39040 Freienfeld bei Sterzing, Italy
Tel.: +39 0472 771 136
Web: stafler.com

Fink

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The old vaults, bay windows and ceiling frescoes in this monastic townhouse in Bressanone dating from 1450 have been renovated in a puristic and loving way. A beautiful clarity pervades the concept, the design is oriented around simplicity. The furniture is reclaimed wood, and the decor is minimalist-contemporary. The restaurant relies on the wisdom of the monastery's cuisine: cooking is seasonal and sustainable, preferably vegetables, fruits and herbs are used on the plates. The ingredients come from the monastery gardens in the city.
Chef Florian Fink grew up in his parents' inn. He knows traditional dishes and knows how to bake good bread. The spa area is also very stylish, which extends to the courtyard and is a mixture of Roman bath, sauna and modern Zen relaxation.

Fink
Kleine Lauben 4, 39042 Bressanone, Italy
Tel.: +39 0472 834 883
Web: fink1896.it