Bareiss, Our Favorite Black Forest Hotel

Whether you are looking forward to adventurous days of hiking or biking along the trails through the Black Forest, thinking of a spa weekend for total relaxation, or wanting to indulge in a 3 star Michelin meal, you can do it all during a stay at the Hotel Bareiss.

If you are starting to plan a romantic weekend getaway for two or even a holiday with your family or friends, I can think of no better place to stay than at Hotel Bareiss, known as one of the top hotels in Europe. The hotel is located in the picturesque village of Baiersbronn, in the heart of the Black Forest or Schwarzwald, as it is called in Germany.

The Black Forest is no longer known as a menacing place of witches and wolves that appeared in the Grimm Brother’s fairy tales. Instead it is known as one of Germany’s most beautiful and favorite travel destinations and Bareiss makes a wonderful base for exploring the lovely area. The surrounding countryside is dotted with farms, villages with half-timbered homes, and forests of beech, fir, and oak trees growing so thick that the forests appear black.

When you arrive at the small village like resort, you will be greeted with a warm welcome by staff dressed in traditional costume and escorted to reception while your luggage is whisked away to your room. There are various types of rooms located in both the hotel’s main building or in the country house that is connected by an enclosed passageway. Over our many visits to Bareiss, my husband and I have stayed in both buildings and have been very pleased with our rooms. They have been spacious double rooms with a living and bedroom area, a bathroom with separate shower, a walk-in closet and a balcony with a wonderful view of the resort, the beautiful gardens or the surrounding hills. Within minutes of being shown to your room, another staff member will be there to pour you a glass of champagne and wish you a pleasant stay.

My husband and I always book our room along with the Bareiss Culinary Day half board option. Your dining table for your entire style will be in one of five lovely decorated dining rooms.

If you are an early riser, there is a light breakfast served at the indoor pool but we always enjoy the large breakfast buffet served from 7:30 to 11:30. At 2pm, Bareiss offers coffee and wonderful pastries such as the famous Black Forest cake called Schwarzwälder kirschtorte, cherry schnapps soaked cakes layered with whipped cream. My personal favorite is the pflaumentorte, a delicious but not too sweet plum tart. Dinner, ordered off a menu, includes a salad and cheese buffet each evening. On Saturdays, there is a special seven course gourmet menu. Guests tend to dress very nice and a rose is given to each of the ladies dining that evening.

If you don’t wish to take the half board offer or want to dine at a different restaurant during your stay, there are three à la carte restaurants where you will be served a regional, international or 3 star Michelin meal. Bareiss also has the Forellenhof Buhlbach, which is a restaurant and trout farm that is located in the heart of the Buhlbach conservation area. It is a centuries old building that was renovated in 2017. We enjoy going there for a delicious trout lunch or if you wish, you can buy freshly smoked trout in the restaurant’s shop. The trout farm also delivers freshly caught rainbow and golden trout, salmon and char that it raises, to the Bareiss restaurants.

Last but not least, if you are a hiker, Bareiss has the Sattelei hiking hut. It is located between Mitteltal and Tonbach. and serves typical Black Forest specialties along with snacks of coffee and cakes. 

There is so much to do while staying at Bareiss, you can attend a cooking class or lectures on certain days of the week. There are also organized tours, country walks and free use of electric bikes. For something more relaxing, there is the wellness spa. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a natural pool, whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas and rooms for massages and treatments.

If you are traveling with children, they are not left out. They have a little village to call their own with a treehouse, circus wagon, lego and game room, an adventure and water playground, petting zoo and more. Oh to be a child for a day again.

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I’m sure I’ve forgotten something but then that will be yours to discover. Bareiss is a luxury hotel where the family treats every guest as someone special and I believe that is reason that Bareiss is considered on of the top hotels in Europe. We often travel out of our way for a chance to stay at this wonderful hotel where we are made to feel at home each time we walk through the front entrance. If you are planning a trip to the Black Forest and want a lovely hotel with excellent service, great dining, along with a relaxing spa area, I believe you would enjoy Bareiss as much as we have during our many stays.