48 Hours at Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa, Seefeld
“A tranquil luxury hideaway in the Austrian Alps with all the necessities a small village has to offer”
I felt it was time for another getaway and due to the many covid travel restrictions, the choice of travel destinations is quite limited even though we are all vaccinated twice. It was either Italy, Austria, Switzerland or staying in Germany. While I had just been to South Tyrol for the last couple of hotel stays and having seen most of the luxury hotels in Switzerland, I decided to visit my parents in Tyrol and combine that trip with a stay at a long-time bucket list property close to my home town. The Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa has always been a well-known luxury hotel in Austria, known for its romantic feeling and ancient construction. So it was a personal pleasure of mine to be staying at the recently renovated luxury hotel in the alpine town of Seefeld, just 20 minutes from Innsbruck and a rough one and a half hour’s drive from Munich. That one Monday in July couldn’t have been any warmer and more perfect. My route started in the Bavarian capital and followed along the two most picturesque lakes in Southern Germany, namely Kochelsee and Walchensee. A scenic drive later, I pulled up at a gate indicating the way to the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa in the heart of Seefeld.
The property is ideally located in the pedestrian area of the posh alpine village and therefore you’re only allowed to unpack your vehicle for a few minutes. Luckily they have a team of porters who help you with your luggage and take care of the car during your stay. You can either leave your car in the outdoor parking spot for less than 10 euros per night or park your car in a separate garage next to the hotel for an additional charge. As far as I saw, most of the guests decided to park the car on the outside parking spot which you could easily access and leave whenever you wanted. After I have unpacked my car, I was accompanied upstairs to the front desk. The entire entrance is created very scenic with a huge staircase leading towards the first floor where the lobby and bar are located. Right in time for check-in, I enjoyed a glass of sparkling house wine which I was served in the brand new lobby lounge overlooking the centre of Seefeld. A few minutes later, my colleague arrived as well and we both were ready to start the tour to the room.
A lovely lady from the front desk showed us all the important places within the property and helped us navigate until we reached our stunning suite. We were extremely lucky and got an upgrade to one of their brand new Wellness Suites. Located on the second floor, directly leading out towards the famous “Klostergang” (which is their signature hallway and famous Insta-Spot), these suites were the latest to be added to the portfolio of the property’s rooms & suites. Everything smelled fresh and new and our first impression was just overwhelming. I have never seen such a vast entrée in a hotel suite before: to my left was a spacious walk-in wardrobe that also included a minibar with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks, plus the most impressive amenity ever: a private beer machine! No joking, all Suites at the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa come with their own beer machine where one can make freshly brewed beer out of the tap. Even though the beer is from Gösser and not their own in-house brewed one, it tasted great and was the lovely cherry on top of this stunning suite.
After having come over the amazing beer fountain, we were speechless to see the modern walk-in bathroom with double vanities, a vanity desk, a spacious shower and an electronic toilet. If you are travelling with a friend, you might want to close the curtains towards the glass fronts of the bathroom. There is also a wooden door separating the bathroom/entrée from the main living room. Speaking of which, there were two more highlights to follow. First things first, there was an expansive free-standing bathtub in the centre of the bedroom, just opposite the comfy double bed and next to a cool armchair. There were two flatscreen televisions, not just one, in that amazing suite. The second one was located in the semi-separate living room that can also serve as a children bedroom I suppose (the sofa looked like two daybeds that turn into two single beds). But the main highlight is yet to come: a private sauna on the balcony of the Wellness Suite at the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa. I would definitely be the last person to book a room with a private sauna (also not being a fan of saunas), however, after the two nights, where I used the private sauna twice, I am a total fan of the idea and truly enjoyed having my private spa in-suite!
Honestly, I had a very sceptical opinion on these private spa suites, as one can access the public saunas and pools. However, after having experienced the luxury of having a private sauna and a huge bathtub in my room, I am totally impressed by this idea. It’s also a lot safer in these difficult times of experiencing a pandemic. You can just sit there enjoying your private sauna, not needing to worry about a thing. Absolutely amazing, I tell you! On the other hand, the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa is famous for its wellness and spa area, so even though I had all the luxury in my suite, I needed to discover the indoor pool, the recently added rooftop jacuzzi as well as the outdoor pool. There is a stunning heated outdoor pool that is open year-round and also accessible from indoors, a classic Tyrolean indoor pool and the brand new rooftop jacuzzi which is also heated and open year-round. One of the other highlights of the spa is the wooden sauna (truly amazing) as well as the treatment rooms in the vaults and cellars of the old monastery which this hotel once used to be.
While parts of the wellness area were redone, some parts weren’t but for sure will be renovated in the next phases. The current owner Alois Seyrling is running the hotel in the latest generation (most successfully) and has brought fresh air and bliss of international luxury standards to the once so sleepy town of Seefeld. It’s so wonderful to see that family businesses can run perfectly. As far as I observed, the entire Seyrling family is involved in the hotel operations and everyone is doing a special part of the hotel. While Alois and Agnes are the managers on the front, the sister of Alois for example is responsible for the spa and her husband is the man behind the renovations and expansions. Speaking of which I was so happy to see the brand new Klosterhof, which is their new show-cooking F&B venue.
I was able to enjoy the classic half-board menu in their fancy Ritter-Oswald Stube just next to the main restaurant. While four courses were served, the salad, bread and cheese were available for self-service on the buffet. The wine list includes many Austrian and French wines however wasn’t as affordable as at South Tyrolean properties where you can get real bargains from Burgundy to Bordeaux. The quality of food was good and the presentation of the plates very attractive. Service has always been very friendly and charming. On my last evening, I was able to enjoy a set menu in their famous wine cellar. I really recommend having dinner at least once during your stay here! Even though there is a surcharge for the menu in the wine cellar, it is really worth it since the dishes are posher and the service process is more complex (walking up and down from the kitchen to the cellar). Breakfast was amazing and definitely one of the best I have seen in my entire life as a travel blogger. From your own eggs (every room receives two eggs each morning) to freshly cut charcuterie and very tasty bread – one could find everything a real breakfast god might need
Overall, I truly recommend this lovely five-star hotel in the Austrian Alps for a hiking getaway or a sporty escape just like I did. There are plenty of amazing golf courses around the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa. From Seefeld-Wildmoos (18-holes) to Seefeld-Reith (9-holes) or Mieming (27-holes), there is a course for each kind of golfer. I had three amazing days and explored my home region slightly different this time! Congrats to Alois Seyrling for having positioned the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa on the international luxury radar with a lot of efforts towards his constant renovation & expansion plans.
I was a guest of the Hotel Klosterbräu & Spa, Seefeld however all above written expresses my own opinion and hasn’t been influenced.
