Alpine design hotel with bold architecture and the most amazing food
Bühelwirt / San Giacomo / South Tyrol / Italy
Almost at the end of the Aurina Valley, just before you literally hit the wall of some really tall alps, you’ll find the Bühelwirt Hotel. It sits high on a hill in the small village of San Giacomo. There has been a hotel on this very plot run by the same family for over 100 years. Right now it is Michaela and Matthias Haller who are running the show (and doing so with such an honor). They are also the ones responsible for the expansion of the hotel. The original building got a new friend a couple of years ago when they hired Pedevilla Architects to build an extension all in black wood with huge panoramic windows. Sometimes when adding a new structure to an existing one it can result in disaster but what you see here is the complete opposite. The way the two bodies marry is perfection.
We came here for the first time in the Summer of 2019 and fell in love with the place so we decided to come back again in the Summer of 2020. So what is it we love about this place? Well, where to start…? Maybe it is easiest to just list it: the architecture, the interior design, the South Tyrolean hospitality, the food, the passion of Michaela and Matthias (who are working in reception and the restaurant), the surrounding mountains, the tranquility, the scenery, the sauna. Ok I will stop there.
If I’d just share a couple of words about the design it feels very solid and functional. It’s like an alpine version of Quaker. No unnecessary frills but only solid materials made to last for decades and it looks so beautiful.
Ok, the way I am raving about this place, maybe we need to come back again in Summer of 2021…
Right in front of the church you can see the two buildings that are the Bühelwirt. A photo taken during one of many hikes in the area. Great way to build up an appetite.
The contrast between the intense green of the surroundings and the black monolith hotel is amazing.
The architecture is so powerful. A real statement. Like a black diamond among the mountains.
Architecture needs to be dramatic to stand out in these dramatic surroundings. Luckily Bühelwirt provides it in bucket loads.
I know! I am obsessed. Just one more photo of the exterior of this stunner of a hotel.
A table with a view.
The interior is very straight forward. Clean lines and solid material.
Bespoke furniture and lamps created for the hotel. And people in this region sure know how to fluff pillows and duvets into perfection.
One of my favorite past times, to lay in bed and enjoy a view. The bed in our room was perfectly placed to do so.
The favorite part of our room, the niche where I could sit for hours looking out at the changing scenery.
All of the interior is bespoke and therefor the fit between the architecture and the interior design feels seamless.
On the bottom floor there is a spa with sauna and relaxation space.
When staying here it is almost mandatory to go for hikes and there are so many to chose from. I know I am biased but how beautiful is this photo of the sun light breaking through the clouds and shining a light on Bühelwirt.
When hiking in the Alps you’d better not be afraid of cows. You are sure to meet at least a couple of these happy creatures on your route to the top.
And the best part of hiking in the Alps is that you can always count on finding really delicious Apfelstrudel.
A place I can highly recommend to visit is the Lumen Museum.
Lumen is located on top of the Kronplatz mountain with stunning views of the surroundings.
Beautiful both on the outside and the inside.
M walking through one of the exhibits.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to experience the Alps up close. If you like to combine the outdoors (hiking, mountain biking, skiing…) with great food and relaxation while staying in a beautifully designed hotel, then this is the place for you.
My favorite thing about this place…
…ok, this is really difficult. If I could chose two things it would be to sit in niche by the large windows while the rain is hammering on the windows. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in Winter with the snow. The second is the food. I am a sucker for places where you get the menu for the coming dinner on forehand and you have to mark what you want to eat. And especially when the food is as good as it is here.
What not to miss when staying here…
…if you come here during Summer, it is almost mandatory to hike to the top of one of the surrounding mountains. Nothing beats the feeling of doing it all by foot. And at most places there are plenty of watering holes where you can reward yourself with something to drink and warm Apfelstrudel.
If you like this place you might also like…
Miramonti, Merano, Italy
Ullr House, St. Anton, Austria
Schgaguler, Castelrotto, Italy
