Hay soup. Think about that. Does not sound appetizing or even real. Well, hop the chair lift from…read moreCompatsch, at the top turn left and after a 30-minute meander along a view-spectacular trail, veer off to this "mountain hut" as the locals call these dining oases in the Dolomites. The setting, the building, the tables, the menu...everything is 100% alpine natural. Specialty of the house? No kidding...hay soup. Actually it is a secret recipe of herbs and spices served in bowl that you can eat.... literally. It's a bowl made of the local bread and it is DELICIOUS. There are many other food and beverage offerings to tempt and after an extra long hike, tranquilize happily. We were recommended to this place by the fine folks at Hotel Rosa Eco Alpine, about a five-minute walk from downtown Compatsch. Looking to hike and receive a genuinely unique culinary reward? Climb and find Gostner Schwaige.

Is this place real?…read more It is! The food is good, so much better than it needs to be (or would be in the US) with that view. Don't forget to ask for some local mountain flora schnapps on the way out!