In Germany, hotel restaurants are not necessarily a hot topic in the gastronomic scene (with a few exceptions). In countries like the USA or India, it’s quite different – and I also enjoy going to hotel restaurants (or the hotel café or rooftop terrace). Although the food in a restaurant has to be impressive, it’s the atmosphere and everything around it that makes a restaurant visit really exciting.

Why I love hotel restaurants

Some hotel restaurants have a separate entrance for external guests, while others require you to enter through the hotel lobby. You may also have to wait there for a while before being shown to your table in the restaurant. I love hotel lobbies: it’s a bit like an airport or train station, but much more intimate and cosy. You see lots of different faces, tourists from different countries, business travellers, lovers… yes, I admit it, ‘people watching’ is one of my private hobbies. 🙂

The holiday feeling

So order a drink in the lobby and soak up the atmosphere. As many of the guests are on holiday, a bit of holiday spirit and atmosphere will rub off on you! When my children were younger, we were always allowed to take the lift in the hotels 🙂 (After asking politely, of course). That way you can soak up a bit more of the hotel atmosphere.

Many hotel restaurants feature stunning decor, with large panoramic windows offering breathtaking views or intentionally traditional furnishings, creating the ambiance of a private cultural museum.

The hotelier’s family often runs the kitchen

Finally, in family-run hotels, the kitchen is often run by the owners themselves or one of their children. It’s a classic scenario: one child studies business and the other becomes a chef (or yoga teacher, ayurvedic trainer, spa manager, etc.). I like the fact that the owner or the son or daughter of the host family personally does the cooking.

Our picks for sustainable hotel restaurants around the world

#1 UN – The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko’s Restaurant and Chef Mariya Un Noun, Cambodia

Fine dining and a rediscovery of almost lost Khmer cuisine – all at UN Restaurant, about 60 kilometres from Phnom Penh. The restaurant is owned by our Green PearlsⓇ partner Farmhouse Smiling Gecko.

Mariya Un Noun runs the restaurant, and I highly recommend reading this Gault Millau article about her. Raised in the slums of Cambodia, sold into marriage, and later abandoned, she has transformed her life through Smiling Gecko. After training with top chefs in Europe, her restaurant is now praised by Gault Millau as ‘one of the best in Cambodia.’

What can you eat here? For example, fish with different kinds of lemongrass.

Link: UN Restaurant

#2 Mala Restaurant at Keemala Resort, Phuket, Thailand

“We welcome external guests. At the sustainable Mala Restaurant you can enjoy organically grown fresh produce, environmentally friendly (zero waste) practices and a unique atmosphere.” – Keemala

The Mala Restaurant at Keemala is beautifully situated in the middle of a tropical forest in Thailand and has been decorated with natural materials from the region. The resort is owned by a family from Phuket (not common in Thailand where there are many foreign investors).

What can you eat here? Thai and international dishes with an Indian twist (the chef is from India)

Link: Mala Restaurant

#3 Organic Fine Dining at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm, Nepal

Another very special hotel restaurant to visit as an external guest is the farm-to-table restaurant at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. This luxurious resort, located at the foot of the Himalayas, sits on an organic farm, providing fresh, farm-to-table food directly from its own grounds.

“We only use regional and seasonal ingredients,” they tell us. They are also part of the Slow Food movement.

What can you eat here? A weekly changing menu with fresh produce from the farm

Link: Farm-To-Table Restaurant The Pavilions Himalayas

#4 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – Cosy dining in Switzerland

For a more down-to-earth atmosphere and a cosy, intimate setting, try the restaurant at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. This small boutique hotel offers you the choice of sitting on the terrace or in front of the panoramic window with views of the Matterhorn.

Info: To avoid excessive food waste, external guests can only dine here by prior arrangement.

What can you eat here? Cheese fondue, tarte flambée, Valaisan platter or homemade soups cooked by the host mother.

Link: Hausgemachtes in Home cooked cuisine in Zermatt

Hotel restaurants in Germany you should know

In Germany there are six of our sustainable Green Pearls hotel restaurants where you can dine as an external guest.

#1 New German cuisine’ at the 2-star Eisvogel restaurant at Birkenhof***** Spa & Gourmet Resort, Upper Palatinate

Obendorfer’s Eisvogel was founded by chef Hubert Obendorfer, who over time earned two Michelin stars. In 2022, his son Sebastian Obendorfer took over the kitchen – and immediately managed to maintain the two-star level.

If you would like to combine a gourmet weekend with a wellness weekend at the Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort, we recommend our blog article about a 7-star gourmet weekend, in which we introduce you to the Birkenhof and its restaurant.

What can you eat here? “New German cuisine” at its best

Link: Obendorfers Eisvogel

#2 Otto|s organic restaurant at STURM in Mellrichstadt

Every day from 6pm to 9pm, Otto|s from the STURM offers a unique open kitchen concept that combines 100% organic ingredients with a seasonal focus. The open kitchen lets you watch the chefs prepare dishes and gives you the chance to chat with them as they work.

What can you eat here? Vegetarian, vegan, fish or meat, with variety and freshness.

Link: Otto|s

#3 Slow Food at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu lies in the beautiful mountains of Balderschwang. The cuisine not only follows the Slow Food concept, but also has a strong Ayurvedic influence, which you will notice in the spices used by chef Kristian Knölke. They warmly welcome external guests and serve them the same menu as house guests. The same applies to the breakfast and lunch buffets.

What can you eat here? Regional Allgäu cuisine with a touch of Ayurveda.

Link: Culinary Mountain Experience

#4 Enjoy a changing menu at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Bayerisch Gmain

As an external guest at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, you can enjoy an evening menu created by Head Chef Sascha Förster. There are three menus to choose from every day (‘Chefs Choice’, ‘Mountain Meadow’ and ‘Cabbage & Turnips’), which you can mix and match. The ‘Cabbage & Turnips’ menu is purely vegetarian and therefore suitable for vegans.

Info: External guests can only attend by prior arrangement

What to eat here: Creative alpine homestyle cuisine

Link: Klosterhof Restaurant

#5 Romantic dinner at the Hotel Rübezahl in Schwangau, near Füssen

Hotel Das Rübezahl recently revised its culinary concept, and the Restaurant Louis II now serves both cosmopolitan dishes and authentic regional cuisine. They source their meat and dairy products from grazing animals in the Allgäu region.

As a special highlight, you can book a candlelight dinner in the Zirbenstube every day. A 5-course menu awaits you (and your loved one) in a romantic atmosphere.

What can you eat here? Allgäu classics such as Kässpatzen or Wiener Schnitzel, as well as vegan dishes with sweet potato or couscous.

Link: Restaurant Louis II

#6 Planet healthy enjoyment at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, Bad Herrenalb

“At least 90% of the food and drink we serve is organic.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA takes its name from the magnificent panoramic views of the Black Forest from the restaurant and terrace. In the evening, both hotel guests and external guests can enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner or dine à la carte. What’s special about this restaurant is that it strives to keep the carbon footprint of its dishes as small as possible, in line with the ‘Planet Healthy‘ diet. The menu shows the CO2 emissions generated by each dish. They also clearly mark Vegan dishes.

What can you eat here? Planet Healthy meals made with fresh local organic produce. Fish, pasta, vegetable dishes, burgers.

Link: Restaurant La Vie

#7 FARMER’S CLUB Restaurant with live music at Gut Sonnenhausen

The FARMER’S CLUB restaurant at Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich is only open to outside guests once a month – on the first Wednesday of the month. But on these evenings you can expect more than just a good meal.

What can you eat here? Organic dishes from the fire kitchen (accompanied by live music)

Link: Wednesday music at the Farmer’s Club Restaurant

Fabulous (vegan) hotel restaurants in South Tyrol

Vegan restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, but vegan-only hotels are still a rarity. South Tyrol has two – the first in northern Italy!

#1 LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel – 5-course dinner, Naturns

LA VIMEA* in Naturns is an adults-only hotel. The vegan gourmet cuisine is known for its exciting colour and flavour combinations and delights with beautifully arranged plates, sometimes including fresh flowers. The restaurant also follows zero-waste principles and has a ‘no plastic policy’.

Info: The cost of a five-course dinner for external guests is €77 (excluding drinks). You must make reservations at least 24 hours in advance.

What can you eat here? Gourmet, organic, vegan (food intolerances catered for).

Link: LA VIMEA Vegan Restaurant

#2 Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel – Vegan pizza on the Seiser Alm

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel** is situated at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, right on the slopes of the Dolomiti Superski area. The restaurant can be reached on skis in winter and on mountain bikes or hiking boots in summer. There is a large outdoor terrace and a cosy indoor restaurant. All food and drinks are 100% vegan. The kitchen concept has recently been overhauled by Aggeliki Charami in 2024. The Greek vegan chef is a social media celebrity and a pioneer of modern vegan cuisine.

What can you eat here? The hotel tells us that the vegan pizzas on the terrace are a particular highlight. They are baked in a special pizza oven. There are also a variety of vegan dishes and delicious desserts.

Link: Paradiso Pure.Food Restaurant

#3 Dining at the elegant My Arbor tree hotel near Brixen

“We welcome external guests to book a table for dinner in our hotel restaurant. Our head chef, Matthias Hinteregger, offers an exclusive seven-course menu of your choice, freshly prepared every day.” – MY ARBOR

‌About a 15-minute drive from Brixen, My Arbor is a wellness hotel built on stilts in the treetops. The adults-only hotel is both sustainable and luxurious.

What can you eat here? The menu changes daily and is based on different themes. Example: ‘We love South Tyrol’ day or ‘Bella Italia’ day.

Link: Restaurant Plose

Hotel-Restaurants of our Green PearlsⓇ partners in Austria

Austria also has great sustainable hotels with excellent restaurants. Again, our partner hotels focus on regional and organic produce.

#1 Outside Nature Hotel – Award-winning natural cuisine in Matrei, East Tyrol

In 2024, the restaurant at Naturhotel Outside earned 3 Falstaff Forks (90 points) and welcomes external guests year-round. Situated in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, this family-run hotel stays close to nature, a value clearly reflected in its restaurant.

What can you eat here? 6-course gourmet menu plus à la carte classics such as Wiener Schnitzel or East Tyrolean specialities such as Schlipfkrapfen (click here for the recipe).

Link: Outside Restaurant

#2 Lunch at Café Veranda at Gut Guntrams near Vienna

Café Veranda was also honoured by Falstaff in 2024, receiving 89 points in the Falstaff Café Guide. Gut Guntrams in Schwarzau/Steinfeld is surrounded by fruit trees. There is also a “Edelmacherei with farm shop’ and a crystal garden.

Info: The café is open to external guests on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (opening hours 8.30-16.00).

What can you eat here? Game dishes and homemade cakes made from in-house produce.

Link: Cafe Restaurant Veranda

#3 Dinner at the Biohotel Grafenast with views of the valley, Tyrol

Biohotel Grafenast is located in Pill, overlooking the Tyrolean Inn Valley. It has a cosy, wood-panelled restaurant and an original parlour from the early days. The menu changes with the seasons and there is a daily dinner menu – all organic.

What can you eat here: Think game and dumplings with fresh mountain herbs.

Link: Grafenaster Organic-Restaurant

#4 Dining in the brewery cellar of the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld

Hotel Klosterbräu has been owned by the Seyrling family for over 200 years, with nine members of the family looking after guests. Among its special features is the hotel’s own brewery. Outside, guests can enjoy culinary delights in the 500-year-old vaults of the former monastery. There is a brewery cellar, a wine cellar and a grill house where they grill meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes. For a romantic dinner for two, you can also book your own ‘flying dinner’ on the Romeo and Juliet balcony.

What can you eat here? Barbecue specialities, tapas, rustic dishes, Austrian country cuisine.

Link: Culinary delights at the Hotel Klosterbräu

Sustainable gastronomy against food waste

Food waste is a huge problem in the hospitality industry. Some hotels appallingly stack food on ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffets without considering how much will end up wasted. Once food has been on the guests’ tables or the buffet, it cannot be reused. As a matter of principle, I do not attend such buffets and “offers”.

On Green PearlsⓇ you can see what each accommodation is doing to prevent food waste in the ‘Green Initiatives’ section. In addition to good planning and inventory management, many use their kitchen ‘waste’ to make homemade stocks and syrups and maintain a compost heap.

Some use cooked food left over by guests to produce biogas. Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm follows the Slow Food concept, actively working to minimize food waste. Any leftover food is either fed to the farm animals or fed into its on-site biogas plant, which in turn powers the kitchen.

Sustainable hotels that do not run their own agriculture, such as the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, provide cooked food waste to ‘ReFood’, which uses it to produce electricity, heat, fertiliser or biodiesel.

Local ingredients in the restaurants of Green PearlsⓇ hotels

Another major advantage of hotel restaurants in sustainable hotels is the regional nature of the products. The benefits are obvious:

• 0-km products cause almost no CO2 emissions from transport and storage
• Absolutely fresh (no need for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), where the ripening process takes place in plastic)
• Strengthening regional agriculture
• Relying on strong partnerships and fair wages

There are also a growing number of star chefs (such as three-star chef Norbert Niederkofler from South Tyrol) who focus entirely on regional produce. But this also requires the courage to banish ‘exoticism’ from the kitchen. Unfortunately, many diners still expect exactly that.

Take the cheese platter in Germany. They think: ‘Oh, how nice, a fresh fig with it’. And they forget that this ‘premium fig’ has come out of a box in which each one is wrapped in thick plastic. Maybe it came by boat, or maybe it came by plane. Then it was transported by lorry. A piece of pear or cranberry could have created the same ‘wow’ effect – without travelling as far!

Sustainable cooks think about these things, and as a consumer you can support them by choosing a restaurant!

CIN:Codes

*CIN: IT021056A1J4HHYSU4 (LA VIMEA)

**CIN: IT021019A16MFGOUCR (Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel)

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