Elephant

Hotel Elephant, Brixen, Italy: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Hotel Elephant in Brixen, Italy, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its enchanting blend of historical charm, exceptional service, and gastronomic excellence. Guests are frequently captivated by the hotel's unique character and its ability to offer a luxurious yet welcoming experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Elephant is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests describing it as "wonderful," "beautiful and luxurious," "stunning," and a "delightful place to stay." It maintains a high rating, often scored above 9.0 for overall satisfaction, cleanliness, and location. The hotel is celebrated for providing a memorable experience that feels like stepping into a magical place from a different era.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the Hotel Elephant for several standout features:

• Service & Hospitality: The staff are frequently highlighted as "wonderful," "so helpful," "fantastic," and "great," creating a familial and attentive atmosphere.
• Unique Design & Atmosphere: The hotel's 500-year history is palpable, with its stylish ambiance, classic furnishings, luxurious fabrics, and charming details featuring elephants throughout the property. The architecture gracefully combines Tyrolean wooden "Stuben" with "period film" corridors.
• Serene Location & Grounds: Situated in central Brixen, the hotel boasts a stunning 17,000 square meter private park and secret garden, offering a tranquil escape in the heart of the city.
• Exceptional Dining: The hotel is a culinary destination, featuring two restaurants, including a Michelin-starred gourmet establishment.
• Amenities: Guests appreciate the outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers, a newly added spa area in the main building, sauna, steam room, and a cozy library. The complimentary Bressanone Card, offering access to museums, public transport, and local facilities, is also a valued perk.

3. Room Quality

The 44 individually designed rooms, located in either the main building or the annex Villa Marzari, offer a refined ambiance. They are described as combining classic furnishings with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Rooms feature luxurious fabrics, soft carpets, or wooden floors, and guests can expect bathrobes and minibars. While many find the rooms comfortable and generous, some reviews mention that certain rooms can feel "a little small and old" or "leicht angestaubt" (slightly dated), though this often doesn't detract from the overall positive experience due to the hotel's charm. Guests generally report undisturbed sleep in absolute silence.

4. Dining Experience

Hotel Elephant offers a remarkable dining experience with two distinct restaurants, both under the direction of Chef Mathias Bachmann.

• Apostelstube: This Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, furnished in an elegant Art Deco style, serves a refined and innovative tasting menu from Friday to Sunday evenings, often with optional wine pairings.
• The Elephant Restaurant: This traditional restaurant offers classic and traditional South Tyrolean cuisine, focusing on high-quality regional products. It is open daily for lunch and dinner (closed Wednesdays).

Breakfast is consistently praised as "amazing," "incredible," and a "very rich breakfast buffet," often enjoyed on the hotel's unique terrace.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel Elephant is a recurring highlight, frequently described as impeccable and a cornerstone of the hotel's appeal. Guests speak of the staff as "absolutely wonderful," "so helpful," and "fantastic," noting their attentiveness, professionalism, and ability to foster a welcoming and "familial atmosphere."

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts a prime "central location" in Brixen, a picturesque gothic and baroque town in South Tyrol. It is conveniently situated close to key attractions such as the Cathedral of Bressanone and the Hofburg Brixen Diocesano Museum. The area is ideal for outdoor activities, including trekking in summer and skiing in winter. The complimentary Bressanone Card enhances accessibility by providing free public transport. Valet parking is available for a daily fee.

7. Value & Pricing

While the Hotel Elephant is considered an upscale property, many guests find it offers excellent value for the quality of the experience. Room prices can vary, with some standard rooms starting around $145-$200, and superior rooms reaching higher, up to $469 or more, depending on the season and day of the week. It is important to note that a municipal tourist tax of €3.40 per person (aged 14 and over) per day is an additional charge.

8. Common Complaints

While generally minor, a few recurring criticisms have been noted:

• In-room amenities: Some guests have mentioned the absence of an in-room ironing board or iron.
• Room decor: A minority of guests have described certain rooms as "a little small and old" or "leicht angestaubt" (slightly dated in infrastructure), though this is often subjective and part of the hotel's historic charm for others.
• Parking Costs: The valet parking, while convenient, is sometimes perceived as expensive.
• Room Temperature: One guest noted that the central heating in their room was "quite excessive."

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