In May 2018 I was invited to photograph the beautiful family hotel Garberhof in Malles Venosta (South Tyrol), surrounded by the Alps.
Malles Venosta (Mals) is easily reached by car in 1 and a half hours from Bolzano. The name “Mals” refers to the pre-Roman words”mountain / hill” and the municipality of Malles is located in Val Venosta (Alto Adige), renowned for the cultivation of apples.
The Garberhof Hotel is run by Klaus Pobitzer and his beautiful family. Klaus is a welcoming owner, attentive to all customers and really able to make you feel at home (only with a slightly different view!).
I found the staff extremely competent and caring at all levels, from the bar to the restaurant to the reception to the spa. The love they have for their work was very clear.
Here’s my experience in between pictures and excursions. Enjoy!
Where to sleep in Malles Venosta
Where to sleep in Malles VenostaThe Pobitzer family started working on the hotel in 1979 and opened the Garberhof in 1981. Klaus Pobitzer has been managing the family resort for more than 20 years now. The structure is made of wood of cirmolo, larch and pine. Wood is truly the predominant element of the hotel: a lot of “recycled” wood of over 300 years has been reused for stools and tables throughout the hotel; a very eco-friendly choice that I truly appreciated.
The structure is perfectly integrated into the territory. Despite being close to the main road, we never heard the slightest noise.
Wooden chalet with a view of the Alps
When we got to the wooden chalet we were speechless. Equipped with the most innovative comforts, it represents a perfect union between the tradition of wood and the modernity of design. 100 MQ, a large and comfortable bed, a bathtub with a view on the mountains: real treats that contributed to making our experience excellent.
The peculiarity that struck us most of the chalet is the private outdoor sauna, located in front of the room, overlooking the Alps. The relaxation and peace that I felt watching the mountains while, all alone, I enjoyed the sauna were priceless.
Relax in Malles, South Tyrol: Hamam & Spa
The real prerogative of Garberhof is the Hammam, a unique element because, with its 500 MQ, is considered to be the largest Hammam in Italy. It opens at 2 pm, to a maximum of 10 external people a day (noncustomers). The average session takes about 1-2 hours.
Back in the days the Hammam was a great meeting place after traveling, very common above all in Turkey and North Africa.
In addition to the Hammam, the hotel features a large swimming pool, a Finnish sauna, a bio sauna and a huge one of a kind spa center.
The wellness center offers tons of options: from the rose petals bath in this 1800 copper tub to Ayurvedic treatments, from hay baths to the latest cryo technologies.
Personally, I tried this fun scrub massage with olive oil soap typical of the Hammam, called Sultan Deluxe, which gave me a very soft skin for days.
Where to eat in Malles Venosta: Pobitzer Restaurant
What immediately jumps to the eye of the Pobitzer restaurant is how creatively the menu was designed, being so complete and satisfying.
Christian Lechthaler, the current chef at Garberhof, takes care of every small detail.
The recipes are innovative and tasty, and, during our visit, we noticed an excellent use of white asparagus, which emphasizes the attention to the local products seasonality.
Lounge Bar 1981
Klaus, the owner, has a great passion for gin tonic that has made him virtually “famous” on the web.
The bar offers all kinds of drinks but specializes (obviously!) in gin drinks, with a large variety of gins and tonic waters. You absolutely have to try the Gin Mare, Klaus’ signature drink.
The surroundings
Malles Venosta offers endless possibilities for hiking, hiking, biking tours, and much more. One thing is certain: whether it’s winter or summer, you won’t get bored!
Our hotel guide, Kassian, took us for trekking in the surroundings of the hotel, which offer suggestive views and above all the chance to see up close the immense apple cultivations that characterize Val Venosta.
Marienberg Abbey
The Benedictine monastery of Monte Maria was a real surprise. Immense and majestic, it overlooks the highest vineyard in Europe and boasts 365 windows. Inside you can admire ancient automotive memorabilia and visit different rooms.
We arrived at the Monastery with a Tesla Model X, which can be rented at the Garberhof. Speeding up through the Alps on board of this masterpiece was an experience that we certainly won’t forget.
Glorenza
To conclude, I have to mention this town a few kilometers from Malles, Glorenza.
Glorenza is the smallest city in South Tyrol: the medieval city walls and fortified towers are still standing and offer a truly evocative atmosphere. I absolutely recommend a visit!
That’s all folks! I hope I’ve inspired you to visit this beautiful (and super photogenic) place. If you liked the article, save it on Pinterest in your inspirational travel boards! 🙂
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See you soon!
Ire
