Hotel-Pension Marmotta

The outdoor seating was a real highlight. We had dinner out there and snacks one afternoon, and even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s worth stopping for a drink or snack after the Gargellen gondola. The hotel is right by the main road into town, but Gargellen is small, so nights were blissfully quiet. Parking was easy in their lot, and the gondola is a five-minute walk away. For other hikes in the Montafon valley, Sankt Gallenkirch is about a 15-minute drive, or there’s a bus that looked reliable. We had a rental car and didn’t try the bus. Wifi was excellent too. I had a few work Zoom calls from the room with no connection trouble. Our room at Hotel Marmotta was lovely, with a balcony and mountain views, everything we needed, and a great price for two. Breakfast was good, the hosts were super friendly, and we stayed four nights. The family also runs a restaurant, which we loved after hiking and for dinner, served from 5:30-7:30. We ate there several times. The wienerschitzel and rosti were fantastic. I had the rosti the first night and liked it so much that my husband ordered it the next evening. On a chilly afternoon, I had hot chocolate and excellent goulash soup. Fondue is a house specialty, but it needed 24 hours’ notice, so we couldn’t try it. I’m sure it would have been great too. We’d absolutely stay here again.

The pretty garden is a lovely place to sit, with superb views and a relaxed feel. The lop-eared white rabbit even sits at its own table beside the bar. We visited this authentic Austrian café, restaurant, and hotel several times during our two weeks in Gargellen in summer. The owner is kind and straightforward, and service is prompt, friendly, and professional. There’s no sense that you’re being hurried out. Prices are fair and the menu is decent; the indoor restaurant is a good option on rainy days. It’s ideally located near the gondola base station, and the garden looks especially inviting. I imagine it gets busy on sunny days, particularly at weekends, so be patient and perhaps share a table. That may feel unusual to us British visitors, but it’s normal for Germans and Austrians. Go with it and enjoy this pretty, unspoilt valley, a welcome break from mass tourism that has spoiled places like the Lauterbrunnen valley in Switzerland and Chamonix Mont Blanc.

A lovely hotel with a sun terrace and bunny shelter, right across from the ski lift. Our room was luxurious and had a bathtub. The evening service does finish early, though.

I haven’t stayed at the hotel, but the restaurant is good value. The portions are filling, the service is good, and the food is really tasty. I’d recommend the grillteller.