Caitlyn Stroup of Querido shares her latest travel experience at FORESTIS in the Dolomites!
How did you get to the Dolomites from New York City?
We flew from NYC to Vienna and then took a short flight to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, we took a car through the beautiful mountain range, approximately 1 hr 40 mins.
Set the scene for us. What is FORESTIS all about?
High up in the Dolomites, with inescapable views across the property, basked in the sunshine with seemingly unlimited access to the fresh mountain air and spring water – time truly slows down. FORESTIS has therapeutic qualities. The city pace is unnecessary; the hotel invites you to relax, sleep, and enjoy your majestic surroundings.
With inescapable views across the property, does that include the rooms?
Every single room at FORESTIS has a stunning view of the Dolomites, creating an incredible sense of place – no bad room in the entire hotel! The Penthouse is a true standout, with floor to ceiling windows with a view from everywhere you look, an expansive kitchen and living room with a wood-burning fireplace, and a private rooftop with a heated pool and sauna. We promise you that you will never want to leave!
Tell us about your dining experiences and the “Forest Cuisine”?
Every single meal on the property was WOW. There is an all-day dining menu in the lounge, and breakfast and dinner are served in the downstairs restaurant, where each seat is angled so that every guest has a picture-perfect view of the Dolomites. The menu is “Forest Cuisine” focusing on hyper-local ingredients, with the dinner menu changing 365 days a year. Each night there are (2) menus, a six-course tasting menu, always beginning with a shared salad and soup, or an alternative Vegan Detox Menu. We sat in the same seat for all breakfast and dinners and had the same team helping us, taking personalization to the next level.
Best Bite
It was actually a sip, each night there is a soup option, the Velouté of Alpine Curry – pure magic!
Best Sip
I fell in love with South Tyrolean Pinot Noir.
Let’s talk Spa…
You must carve out serious time to spend at the hotel spa. Whether relaxing by the indoor/outdoor pool or using one of the saunas, steam rooms, or the outdoor plunge area – everything is designed to have a calming effect. Each treatment room has a view of the Dolomites, and following the traditions of the regional fore-bearers, the Celts – incorporating elements of the surrounding forest.
Is it true that the hotel has a tree ritual?
Yes! Tree Circle Ceremony, a totally unique experience where one must choose from (4) tree species – mountain pine, spruce, larch and stone. I went with the mountain pine – the scent is then put throughout the room, and during the ritual, the wooden stick is used to relieve tension, followed by a healing stone, brining your body’s energy into harmony.
How was your ski experience from FORESTIS?
We skied for two days at Plose Ski resort, FORESTIS is ski-in/ ski-out and located right on the mountain! The rental process was seamless. Each room has a personal ski locker – we came downstairs, and all our gear was ready for us.
Who can we expect to see here?
Lots of couples as well as adult family travels. Between the views, the opportunities for relaxation, and the outstanding meal service – I can’t think of a better place to reconnect with loved ones!
Even though we may never want to leave FORESTIS, where should we go to dine like locals?
We had lunch on the mountain at Rossalm, quintessential Alpine restaurant, incredibly cozy with epic views of the entire region. It was packed, the owner seemingly knew everyone by name and the menu filled with regional specialties – we had the rotisserie chicken with French fries with hot apple cider (with rum!). We loved it so much we hiked up the mountain to visit again!
The town of Brixen is approximately 25-minutes from FORESTIS, at the bottom of the mountain. We walked around the charming town and had an aperitivo at Vitis Vinothek, and then walked directly upstairs for dinner at Finsterwirt, a family owned restaurant operating since 1870. Crowded with locals on a Saturday night, very warm service and we ordered the 3-course menu paired with local South Tyrolean Pinot Noir – everything was outstanding!