Forestis is a hotel that cannot leave you indifferent: it has been entirely designed to make the most ofone of the most spectacular views in Europe. Located in the Dolomites in northern Italy, at the foot of ski slopes and hiking trailsIt also has a magnificent spa and meticulous restoration. Pascal Languillon, director of Luxe Wellness Club, went to test this extraordinary hotel for you, and came back completely amazed .
A hotel with a breathtaking view
The hotel is located at an altitude of 1,800 m, high above Brixen, about an hour from the Austrian border. The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at Forestis is the landscape. The last thing you look at when you leave Forestis is also the landscape. I’ve rarely seen a hotel with such a beautiful view… and the owners know it. They designed the hotel entirely around this breathtaking view of the Odle peaks.
No one will be short-changed here, as all rooms have the same view (more or less elevated above the trees). The peaks are visible from the entire spa too, and what about the dining room, designed so that no-one has their back to the mountains.
The architects have gone to great lengths to ensure that the show is complete. For me, this will remain the undisputed highlight of Forestis, and the reason I’d like to return one day.
I can already hear detractors saying that the three towers don’t blend in well with the landscape, but in reality they’re no taller than the tallest trees, so Forestis is very well hidden. And then it’s the view from inside that counts most…
The hotel is reserved for guests over 14 years of age to maintain an atmosphere of calm and serenity, and the spa is not accessible to outside guests either, to ensure its exclusivity.
Scandinavian-style bedrooms
Rooms on the are designed to enhance the view. Large bay windows, a bed that also looks out onto the mountains, an outdoor sofa for lounging on with a view of the Alps…
I really like this sober, warm and elegant design. I was staying in a Tower Suite, a room category that actually makes up the majority of the hotel’s inventory. With a surface area of 55 m², this junior suite features a comfortable king-size bed, from which you can contemplate the spectacle of nature.
There’s also a dressing room with a safe. The living room is equipped with TV, sofa, armchair, minibar with local products, and desk… The bathroom features a bathtub and walk-in shower, as well as a separate toilet.
I loved the quality of the Forestis products, whether it was the shower gel that smells so good of pine or the shampoo, which also has an intoxicating scent. They are all designed exclusively for the hotel with products from the forest.
This is luxury as I like it: nature-oriented and in tune with the times. I would have liked to enjoy my room more, but the call of the forest was too great, and in the end I was only able to enjoy my splendid terrace for a short time…
A 2000 m² spa perfect in every way
As a wellness expert, I’m lucky enough to be able to discover some of the finest spas on the planet. In my opinion, Forestis is definitely one of them. Although not the largest spa in the Alps at 2,000 m², it has a marvellous design, in particular its superb indoor-outdoor communicating pool.
Flooded with light thanks to its large bay windows, the pools are lit by the sun all morning, and you can watch it set behind the snowy peaks as you splash around in water heated to over 30°C all year round…
The pool is lined with a number of comfortable loungers. There’s also a library with books on the region, nutrition and health. Deliciously flavored waters, fruit and a selection of nuts are available on a self-service basis.
The spa is complemented by three different saunas , all with beautiful views, one of which is outside in a hut, accompanied by a cold bath that I found very hard to get into. There’s also a hammam and various relaxation rooms .
One of them is fascinating. Completely black, with just a few small lights above the beds, it’s an invitation to let go. In my opinion, the design is original and very successful.
The treatment rooms are also state-of-the-art in terms of design. As always, they face the view, are spacious and feature a shower cubicle. The massage tables are also extremely comfortable.
I had the pleasure of booking a magical treatment, the Forest Tree Circle Ceremony, which embodies the essence of the Forestis philosophy. The starting point for this ritual is the selection of a wood from four different species. This healing wood, chosen by intuition, is used with the associated stone to activate energies and reconcile the conscious and unconscious.
The hotel also boasts a beautiful yoga room… or rather Wyda, as it’s called here! Wyda is the theory of the Celtic Druid movement, which aims to unite humanity and nature and help people achieve harmony and contentment through mindfulness. Born in Europe, this philosophy is like a mix between Qi Gong and Yoga in terms of exercises, but rooted in our culture. The owner of Forestis wanted to stand out from the crowd in this respect… A touch of originality appreciated.
I was able to try out this practice during my stay, and I have to say I found it relaxing, especially when it’s practiced in the middle of nature, as was the case for our group.
Light and tasty Alpine cuisine
To top it all off, the hotel offers truly delicious cuisine. The concept is called “Forest Cuisine”. First, a word about the restaurant, which is unique in the world. In fact, it’s shaped like an amphitheatre. In this way, each table offers the desired privacy and at the same time a view of the Dolomites. You should have thought of that! Since most of our customers are couples, this configuration is perfectly suited to romantic dinners.
Chef Roland Lamprecht is passionate about the treasures of the forest. His career has taken him to Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, and now he’s back in his homeland. At Forestis, he can express his philosophy and his love of forests in a delightful way…
Forestis’ culinary philosophy is based on the principles of variety and authenticity, favoring local and natural products, which are perfected here thanks to a skilful blend of ancestral traditions with the creativity of modern cuisine.
The tasting menus consist of 7 courses. You can choose between a “Forestis” menu or an all-vegetable “Détox” menu. For once, I stepped away from detox to try fish…and it was an unforgettable experience.
My menu was as follows: Forestis salad (mixed cereals, radish), zucchini burratta, garden herb velouté, trout and chard ravioli, pike-perch fillet and cauliflower, pear, walnut and rum… All accompanied by delicious local Josmoar wines.
If the dinner won me over, the breakfast was truly exceptional too. Not only is the buffet gigantic, it’s also made up of the best possible products. Just thehe variety of red fruits available is dizzying. The same goes for the selection of fresh fruit juices: orange and lemon, of course, but also pomegranate juice, tomato juice, herb-flavored waters, cucumber and celery mix, pear and apple mix… and a blender for composing your own fresh juice.
Of course, the cheeses and cold meats are not to be outdone, just like the variety of cereals and vegetables on offer. I also ordered a poached egg and cracked on a home-made pastry…This delicious breakfast enjoyed facing the Dolomites will remain as one of the highlights of my stay.
Our feeling
In our opinion, this is the most desirable hotel in the Alps today, for those seeking the luxury of simplicity, unspoilt nature and breathtaking views. The spa and kitchen are also wonderful. A hotel that easily enters our TOP 10 in Europe.
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My Forestis video
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Rates : From 420 euros per night in low season.
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