the BEST place ever in the mountains.
I did a ski season in Kaltenbach, so this kinda became my local while skiing on the mountain. This place has it all - 4 star hotel, which have massive suites based 2,300m above sea level, overlooking endless mountains. It also has hotel and massive, restaurant, bar...everything!
Firstly - Drinking
Snowing? sit inside with the wamr blazing, open-air fire place. The comfy cushions surrounded and drink some jaegertee or gluwein! Its great to get in from sometimes minus 15 temperatures and blazing winds
Sunny? Endless options. It has an outdoor terrace where a DJ is often playing. House/electronic music. Really well suited to everyone chilling out. They have a patio that goes over the mountain edge and is blocked by glass, so you get great views. They have tables and chairs, but also beds to lay down with blankets - seriously, ive seen people just spend all day here. But they also have bean bags and sun deck chairs you can take onto the snow, as this place gets super busy (peak times xmas and new year and austrian/german school holidays).
Prices: pretty standard on the mountain at all the main places. a pint is 4.40€. if you tip or the waiters/bartenders are just in the mood, you will get free schnapps shots - prepare your liver for Austria!
Secondly - Eating
Thank goodness for skiing every day, because if I didn't I would be massively fat from all the lush and massive food you get. The food is quite well priced, depending on what you want or splurge on:
Basic/Low price - Soup or desert.
They have really great soups in Austria, here its about 5.5€ for soup and piece of bread - cheese, gulash or noodle - they are all delicious and when its cold, this is just devine
They also have deserts, its like pancakes and strudel mixed together that comes with jam compotes. Different flavours and hot, about the same price for soups
Higher prices - You get massive portions and you are talking starting at 12€ - schnitzel, pasta - plus they do daily deals. Its all amazingly tasty.
Thirdly - staff & atmosphere
The staff are amazing, you will meet Verena, Stefan and their cute daughter Sophia who own and run this place. They aren't afraid to work and pitch in and super friendly. As I said the staff are all great and all speak fluent English (ok most of them do), but they definitely have no problem drinking while working. Expect for their events they have on, people to get a little crazy and dancing on tables (very funny with people and ski boots).
But overall recommend to visit here if going to this mountain and if you have the money - stay here! Also you can ski straight back to the main lift and get home - so you can stay as long as you want (just be weary the main lift does stop and sometimes there isn't enough snow to ski all the way to the valley bottom!) read more
