Luxury hotel above the town of Merano with Michelin 2-star restaurant:

If you are heading to the Merano area in South Tyrol and looking for high-end lodging and dining, do not look further. Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol with its two-star Michelin restaurant, Castel Fine Dining, is it! This upscale accommodation is idyllically set on the edge of the small village of Tirolo. And this amidst vineyards and high above Merano. So, you enjoy great views of town, mountains and valleys. In addition, you encounter at the Castel nicely updated premises. Plus, there is the mentioned flagship restaurant, which is a true jewel. In a recent renovation, it got its own imposing building, featuring only five tables. Yet you also can enjoy excellent food at the other dining spot on site, which also received a fresh new look.

Find in the following more details to how it is staying and dining at Hotel Castel in Tirolo. My husband and I were here on our recent 14-day road trip through north Italy and west Switzerland. Before diving into the topic of the Castel, I go briefly into this journeys’s itinerary.

Trip itinerary northern Italy and western Switzerland

Beginning in Switzerland, our home country, we visited northern Italy and western Switzerland. While we concentrated on north Italy’s eastern part this time (Trentino-South Tyrol), our last trip in 2021 went more in the country’s northwest (see my post). What was the same both times was our focus on staying and dining in style. This means lodging at luxury hotels and eating at Michelin (star) restaurants as long as they offer value for money.

As you know by now, Merano and its surroundings was our first destination. Next was another place in South Tyrol, a valley above Bolzano, which is this region’s capital. And this is about the Sarentino valley. After that we continued towards south to the Italian Lakes, precisely Lake Garda (hotel/restaurants). Finally, we headed back to Switzerland, and this to the Lake Geneva region in the country’s west. For itinerary details, head to my earlier post.

Now to Merano, where everything started …

Staying in style at Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol

This was not our first time at Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol. However, our previous stays date back to 2011 and 2008. Again, we liked what we met here on our recent visit. While the place’s soul is unchanged, they kept up with the times. Since our last being here, they have been doing lots of work to stay ahead of the competition. I kept tracking their development and therefore already included the Castel in a previous post named “2 great luxury hotels in the spa town of Merano South Tyrol“. As I have already covered many things in this article, I limit myself here on “new” facts and pictures.

Before doing so, here are two final remarks to the before mentioned post. In case you should be interested in more information about Merano, I have gone into this on that occasion (About Merano). And if you want to read my comments to Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol, go here. I included following points: location, facilities, the latest remodeling project, rooms and pricing as well as staff and ambiance.

Now to new insights gained when last being at the Castel.

Facilities

While I mentioned all the important facilities in the above mentioned post, I can now provide the correspondent visual material. As to dining outlets, I come to them in the next section.

I start with the property as a whole, which looks quite different than before. This not only compared to our previous stays but also to 2020, when we were in the area for the last time. The latest remodeling project transformed Hotel Castel Tirolo into a more contemporary one. The focus of it were both restaurants, the kitchen, the spa and various public spaces. The most prominent feature is the new separate restaurant building for the flagship two-star Michelin dining spot.

Yet also the new kitchen is quite a sight.

In terms of wellness, there is the pool area, which has been remodeled around the late 2000s. The outdoor pool is connected to an indoor one. As to the spa, we did not visit it, so there are no pictures about this place.

Rooms/Pricing

While I already went into this topic in my earlier Castel post, here is some additional info. We actually booked the room I had envisioned at the time,  the Junior Suite Vista (50 sqm). And this out of 45 rooms, 20 of which are suites. The room experience was just as good as expected (roomy and comfortable). I liked the pleasant living room with its sizable seating area. Also, the bedroom with the adjoining generous walk-in closet is convincing.

The bathroom is not huge however perfectly acceptable. And there is a separate toilet with bidet and washbasin. In addition, you find at this Junior Suite a spacious balcony with a table, two chairs and two sun loungers.

The one thing I did not like in particular was the view. And this because it was a bit marred by the fact that we happened to be right above the main part of the building (by the hotel entrance). It would have been nicer to be on the other side of the property, adjoining the vineyards.

I also found that the attention to some details was missing. There were no tea bags (despite a coffee maker with hot water dispenser), no coffee creamer and only two soft pillows. The rate we paid (high season) was 760 € per night for two, including half board. The least expensive rate for this room category is 296 €.

If you should be comfortable with a smaller room, the entry rate at Hotel Castel Tirolo is 208 € for the Petit Room (31 sqm). And consider in this context that you always stay here on a half board basis.

Ambiance/Staff

I have some more things to say as to the ambiance and the staff. In terms of service, it was immaculate throughout our stay. It was present when needed without being intrusive. We felt well cared for by almost everyone we met on the premises.

With regard to ambiance, the latest remodeling project turned the Castel into a more modern property. Having said this do not expect it to be sleak or cool. Instead, it is kept in a mix between old and new. There is still the ancient elevator or the somewhat old-fashioned fountain by the stairwell. Yet this makes out the special charm of the hotel.

When it comes to the clientele, on our earlier stays the guests were more mixed than on the recent one. This time, we almost exclusively encountered elderly German couples. This may be due to the fact that the school vacations were over, and we stayed here mid-week. And you have to know that South Tyrol is very popular with Germans in general. This is due to its closeness to their country and the bilingualism here (German and Italy).

Dining in style at the restaurants at Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol

There are three places at Hotel Castel when it comes to having a snack or a meal. On the one hand, there is the Vintage Bar for drinks, small bites and patisserie, redesigned in the next to last renovation (and with a spacious outdoor area too). As to its performance, I liked the cakes we had on one occasion, but the drink I ordered on one night was nothing special (an important ingredient even was missing).

On the other hand, you find two dining spots for a full meal on site, which are only open in the evening. Both underwent the most changes in the renovation project realized in 2021. Here is what to expect when dining at them.

À la Carte Restaurant (for hotel guests only)

The more accurate name for this place would have been half board restaurant, as it is for the exclusive use for guests staying at Hotel Castel Tirolo. This is also the spot where they serve breakfast. There is a large buffet area, destined especially for the cold items at breakfast. Yet at certain days, you can help yourself from an assortment of salads, appetizers or desserts as well. On Friday, they lay out a fabulous sea food buffet.

Sunday is the day of the gala dinner. On this occasion, you get pre dinner prosecco with snacks first, followed by a six-course menu and petit-fours. On “regular” days, a daily changing offer of à la carte dishes is available. You can usually make your choice out of three starters, four second courses (mostly a soup, two pasta options and a sorbet), three mains and three desserts. The portions are small yet as far as I know you can order as many courses as you wish. And the quality of the food along with its arrangement on the plates is amazing! You well notice that the two-star Michelin chef Gerhard Wieser oversees this restaurant too.

Service under the long-standing restaurant manager Simon Oberhofer is of a high level. And the completely redesigned space is nice to look at. It comes with a fresh color scheme (pastel colored chairs and mustard yellow benches) and much of natural light (glass ceiling). There are room dividers for more privacy and quite a few plants (until the last day of us staying here we were unsure whether they are fake or not, my husband said no, I yes). And there is an outdoor area as well.

Castel Fine Dining (formerly known as Trenkerstube, 2-star Michelin)

This is the place where the two-star Michelin chef Gerhard Wieser runs into great form! Not only the food at Castel Fine Dining is excellent, also the overall dining experience is something extraordinary. The premises are breathtaking, you enter a separate new building where a sign announces what is going to expect you.

And the statement is exactly true! Having climbed the stairs, you can have a glimpse into the generous kitchen

before entering the semicircular dining room.

You find here five tables only, and all of them have this wonderful view of the town of Merano, mountains and valleys.

Once settled in at your table, the show begins. While this expression may sound exaggerated, it felt that way to me. There is always something going on that captures your attention. This may be either a tea light turning into a dip or a secret ingredient to be guessed.

That was an exciting thing! And the service was impeccable. Plus – and most important – , all the dishes could persuade, with a small exception. There was an add-on to the main, veal fillet with carrot, waldmeister and potato. And this was in the form of a small portion of ossobuco “gremolata”, whose meat quality and preparation were not to our liking (not soft enough and too streaky). But it was no big deal …

Just one more remark to the pricing. Maybe it would have been worth considering including the cheese course in the menu (you have a choice between cheese and dessert). In such a way, the meal would consist of seven instead of six courses. I personally would find this more adequate in view of the dinner’s quite elevated price tag (218 €).

Overall Hotel Castel Tirolo South Tyrol

In case you are on the lookout for a luxury hotel with excellent dining in the Merano area, you cannot go wrong with the Hotel Castel Tirolo. It is located high above Merano in the small village of Tirolo (respectively Dorf Tirol). To reach this town from it, you can either go by car, bus or a chairlift in little time.

Staying at the Castel means lodging at nicely furnished guest rooms, all of them with a view of Merano and surroundings. A recent remodeling project transformed the hotel in a more modern property, with completely new dining spots. One is the contemporarily styled half board restaurant, the other the stunningly beautiful flagship establishment. The latter is the two Michelin starred Castel Fine Dining, which offers a formidable dining experience with a view.

The former is only for hotel guests, yet you get here similarly good food although not so elaborately done. Yet another facility received a new look, the spa. Plus, a number of public spaces were refreshed as well. Short, the Castel is now a life dream come true, conceived and realized by the owner family Dobitsch (mother, son and daughter-in-law).

Looking back & forward

Hotel Castel Tirolo in South Tyrol was the first stop of a recent 14-day journey – here my itinerary post – , of my husband and me. If you are wondering about South Tyrol, this is Italy’s northernmost province. While the Merano area, where the Castel is, feels Mediterranean like with lots of vineyards, apple groves and pathways along irrigation channels (Waalwege), the next place we went in this province is different. It it about the Sarentino valley above South Tyrol’s capital of Bolzano. This valley is in the Sarentino Alps and boasts this fabulous view of the Dolomites mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And of course, it also features a great place for staying and dining in style. My next blogpost will cover this premium hotel with a two-star Michelin dining spot.

Two more destinations followed on this trip. First, Lake Garda, the country’s largest lake in the Italian Lakes region. Second, the Lake Geneva area in Switzerland’s western part. And, it goes without saying, we attached value to staying in fine hotels and dining in foodie spots too. My posts to follow – No four (Hotel Lake Garda), five (restaurants Lake Garda) and six (Lake Geneva) in this mini-series – will go into them.

Date of last stay: August 2023

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