In the heart of one of Austria’s most beautiful and indescribable Alpine mountains, in the Grossarl Valley, about an hour’s drive from Salzburg, families Andexer and Viehhauser have built one of the most splendid small luxury hotels named the GROSSARLER HOF.
Guests can expect a mix of tradition, relaxed family atmosphere, award-winning à la carte cuisine, a superior hotel SPA and so much more. A travelogue:
Welcome to the Großarler Hof
Immediately upon our arrival the friendly receptionist in her beautiful Dirndl offers us a welcome drink and directs us to the bar area where we seat sipping our Prosecco, while she is taking the registration details. It is surprisingly pleasant to relax while being informed about the different features of the hotel. The mini vacation starts pretty well!
Superior Double room Rehblick, Small Luxury in every Room
We are given a beautiful suite on the first floor with a large balcony and a breathtaking view of the nearest mountain.
Despite the rustical look of the room, it isfully equipped with a Notebook-sized safe, Minibar, Flat-screen cable TV, Radio plus loudspeakers in the bathroom as well, Digital telephone & High-speed Internet access.
But what makes the room special are the alpine and charming character and the individual details like the pralines and the fruit plate as a welcome small attention and very much appreciated big jug of fresh mountain water.
Actually it is quite simple: Take a comfortable Feel good and decorate it with a pinch of luxury. Voilà, ready is the Living dream for the well-deserved time out.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, we find the luxurious care range of Saint Charles Wild Roots: Shampoos, hand soaps, shower gels and lotions from the sustainable natural cosmetics line from Vienna, which are/is produced from European medicinal plants in organic quality and are packaged in refill bottles.
Erlenreich Relax & SPA
After our mountain hike tour (more later about outdoor activities) we discover a different dominion. A realm of deep relaxation, inspired by the sprawling alder forests that surround the GROSSARLER HOF – that gave Grossarl its name. And shaping a new dimension of relaxation and regeneration. After an exhausting trail tour, there is nothing better than a nice shower, a hot sauna and a fantastic massage to make you forget your sore muscles.
The Erlenreich Relax & SPA offers:
High-quality treatments complete the relaxation and well-being experience.
✓ Indoor whirlpool & heated outdoor whirlpool
✓ Saunas (including Swiss stone pine sauna), infrared, steam bath, Kneipp basin
✓ Balance relaxation room with water beds
✓ 2 relaxation areas with comfort loungers
✓ Basic fitness room
✓ Professional spa treatments
Restaurant
Under the Motto “It’s all in the taste”, the kitchen Chef, Andreas Gratz, focuses on hearty, sophisticated, seasonal and aromatic products. Traditional recipes provide the basis for reinterpretations of the culinary homeland. Contemporary. Innovative. Surprising.
JAGASTUB’N À LA CARTE RESTAURANT
Dinner at the Grossarler Hof is a real highlight. Here a 4-course dinner or a la carte awaits the hotel guest and visitors.
The menu also offers dishes for friends of the vegetarian cuisine.
An elegant setting for exquisite regional dishes. It is considered the Best restaurant in the Grossarl Valley. Multi-award-winning, including Falstaff 2018 (87 points/2 forks). Also available for celebrations for up to 30 guests.
Wine-Cellar
There is a rich and fairly priced wine list for your selection. Before entering the restaurant, you should get a first overview by looking into the wine cellar, which offers a selection of more than 300 wines of which rare Bordeaux and more…
AMERICAN BAR
After dinner we delight ourselves in the cozy and beautifully decorated bar lounge, which offers a fine selection of cocktails and digestives. Fancy a ARLERHOF Special (Vodka, rosemary, pine schnapps, lime juice, cane sugar) or a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri?
The extensive bar and cocktail menu offers a wide selection of gins, rums, single malts, fine brandies, high-quality spirits of all kinds and the Grossarler Hof signature drinks. The names of the beverages alone make you want to try each one of them. Whatever you wish to drink, just mention it and your wish will come true.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served as a marketplace buffet, egg dishes and coffee are brought to us at the table to avoid waiting times and thus crowds of people at the open “Egg-Station”.
Wanderlust – Favourite tours guaranteed
In the summer, the Grossarl Valley offers a diversity of activities. Simple Walking and hiking alternate with scenic mountain trails and more demanding tours. A series of about 40 huts are scattered throughout the valley, offering excellent traditional food and beverage to the thirsty and hungry tourists.
Passionate hikers enjoy the region because of the rich selection of tours and different types of landscape as well as ambitious mountain bikers. The panorama of the Hohe Tauern is very impressive.
For the whole family and lots of fun, you can choose to rent one of these mountain carts, a three-wheeler, going down the serpentine dirt roads in a fast but secured way. All safety gears like helmets and goggles are provided and we could hear the screams of joy of the drivers, some alone, some with a child in front of them. It really sounded like great fun.
Step on the e-bike pedals
In the Grossarl Valley, not only hikers find a wide variety of tours, but also e-bikers. The motorized support in the steep terrain makes extended tours in the alpine world possible. With two partners of the GROSSARLER HOF you can rent bikes and equipment.
Highlights of the Grossarl Valley: activities
✓ 400 km of well signposted hiking trails
✓ About 40 managed alpine pastures with local delicacies
✓ Austrian hiking quality seal for the Grossarltal
More about Outdoor activities: https://www.grossarlerhof.at/en/active-holiday-in-the-grossarl-valley/
Romantic simplicity – Mooslehen Alpine Lodge
If you have never visited a hut before, you should soon catch up. The Mooslehenalm is one of the most delightful Alpine pastures in the Salzburger Land. Both on foot and with the E-Bike accessible!
The Mooslehenalm, which is operated by the Grossarlerhof, is located at 1,449 meters sea level.
The Mooslehenalm …an ideal combination of luxury and simplicity!
In addition to the healthy mountain air and the special location, expect delicious and traditional delicacies, homemade by the dairyman: alpine butter, typical of the region: Sour cheese, homemade bread and more.
Conclusion
A cozy hideaway in a very special place is the motto of the GROSSARLER HOF in the Grossarl Valley. A place where you automatically immerse yourself after only a few hours to experience a relaxed charming family atmosphere combined with an award-winning à la carte cuisine and a superior hotel SPA. We are definitely looking forward to visiting the Grossarler Hof again but next time during the winter season, especially having the gondola right next door and to take advantage of the wide offer of ski slopes connecting 760km of pistes and 270 lifts as well as to enjoy the traditional food and the homely atmosphere of the huts. Cannot wait to admire the hills with their wonderful white coat, turning the green scenery into a wonderful winter wonderland.
Many thanks for the enjoyable experience:
INFORMATION
The Großarler Hof is located in Unterbergstraße 76 . A – 5611 Großarl, Austria. The prices for one night start at 130 Euro p.p. in a double room. Included is the use of the SPA area, as well as the ¾ bio-culinary, consisting of breakfast, afternoon snacks and dinner. Further information about the hotel and the offers can be found on the homepage www.grossarlerhof.at.
Note on transparency
The report was written during a stay supported by the Grossarl Hotel. There was no editorial influence on this article.
Addendum
What is Small Luxury?
Since 2014 the Hotel Großarlerhof has been a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The philosophy of this Unification is: Bigger is not necessarily better. Small hotels have a unique personal
Touch that touches the guests in a special way. Here you can look forward to inimitable experiences and
on luxury of a very special kind. We can identify ourselves with this.
