hotel schwarzschmied, dolomites
in their words: A holiday resort for mind, body and soul. When the steam rises from the pool, when the porch provides shade, when the yoga session ends, when the air shimmers, when the music fades away, when the moonlight strokes design and art, when your gaze is lost in the evening glow, then you know it's not a dream. It‘s Schwarzschmied. We believe in the positive effect of good vibes: relax and switch off, move and rest. Pleasure and nature fuse indoors and outdoors. Vines, centre towns, meadows, valleys, hills and mountains, greens and Schwarzschmied.
location: italy, dolomites (south tyrol), lana
number of rooms: 68
guides on staff: yes, twice weekly guided hike
spa: yes [sauna, relax rooms, treatments]
children allowed: yes [no age restriction]
apartment rooms: yes [sliding doors, not soundproof]
price point: $150-500/night depending on dates and room size
rate includes: breakfast, yoga, hikes
minimum stay: no
in my words: I am blown away how this property manages the difficult balance of being child friendly while still being a wellness oasis to those with or without children. The property exudes such a relaxing vibe, and the little nooks to spend time in are plentiful and well done.
I think the price point is very fair for the offerings. The front desk staff were a bit perfunctory, but the servers (especially at the not-to-miss Sunday Poolhouse Grill) and yoga instructors were warm and inviting. The daily schedule of activities was everything I could dream of in a Lily’s Lodge property! Make sure your desired activities align with the days of the week you’ll be there. The partnership with the other properties in the area, Villa Arnica and 1477 provide extended activities and dining opportunities as well. (Don’t miss 1477’s patio.)
I love that they have a wide range of rooms, allowing families to pick the right space for their children, and the price point is not as many multiples of a normal room as a multi-room “suite’ normally would be. The rooftop suite that we stayed in had a separate room with a pullout couch and dining table where the hotel provided a real wooden crib for our daughter. It allowed us to separate her from our bedroom and living room with sliding doors, so we didn’t have to worry as much about waking her up after her early bedtime.
Just overall had an excellent time, and would highly recommend to anyone!
little luxury
a favorite little detail...
finishing yoga in the greenhouse then heading to the open air relax room where you will never fight for a chaise.
lost luggage
areas with room for improvement..
The prevalence of babies might be a turnoff for those without kids (at least in “family weeks” of June-Aug; maybe it is less baby heavy in other months.) Clunky integration with Villa Arnica (host daily events there but don't provide key access) front desk staff were perfunctory, and a lot is day of the week dependent. Yoga, poolhouse grill only Sunday, and many restaurants in town closed a few days a week.
the ideal day at schwarzschmied
morning: Start your day with included yoga. Morning classes are often held at the gorgeous Villa Arnica studio, surrounded by their gardens. Hanging herbs adorn the ceilings, and everything you could need is provided.
Return for a delicious breakfast buffet before heading out to explore the active side of Lana with biking, hiking, cable cars, Kränzelhof winery and gardens, or explore town and its many quaint shops.
afternoon: the town shuts down from noon-3, so head back to the hotel to enjoy the spa. Take your pick from a menu of treatments, or just lounge. There are heated indoor and outdoor pools, expansive relax rooms with chaise beds and blankets, and a sauna and steam room. The tatami covered yoga room can be used as a reading room or excersize room when class or private sessions are not in progress. Children are welcome in both pools!
evening: Make sure your stay includes a Sunday, and join the Poolhouse Grill at Villa Arnica. Aptly planned as most town restaurants are closed Sunday, you find yourself at a private dinner that is set up like a wedding reception. Table decor, aperitif, coursed out cuisine, and the ability to chat with neighboring tables were all perfection. Hopefully you’ll be as lucky as us on the camrederie front; we ended up sharing many drinks at the bar afterwards with those we met! A German couple who was celebrating a 70th birthday, and a former colleague of Joe’s in his Munich office.
Make sure to book the lovely Evi, founder of the local Montessori school, as a babysitter if you have children! She can take them to explore the decked out children’s yurt while you indulge at the adults-only dinner.
Other days of your stay, walk into down to dine at the vine laden patio of sister property 1477 Reichhalter. The smallest of them all with only eight rooms, the restaurant is delicious.
I overanalyzed the decision between Hotel Schwarzschmied and...
Villa Arnica - This art deco haven would have been my choice if we were traveling without our daughter! You can enjoy all the Schwarzschmied amenities through a connected walkway, but also have a separate adults only oasis.
1477 Reichhalter - The other property in the trio
vigilius - This mountain retreat is accessible only via cable car - childfree me would’ve instantly been sold. This would be an ideal location for a hiker who doesn’t mind being isolated from town, and who wants to enjoy a coursed dining experience every evening.
Forestis - Not in Lana but seems to be the top luxury wellness lodge in the Dolomites.
Adler Ritten or Alpe - These two properties (welcoming children 10+) are all inclusive and also very wellness focused.
