Waldhotel Eichenhof

The restaurant was the surprise highlight, with delicious food and breakfast that I’d recommend even if you’re not staying overnight. The rooms are basic but quiet and very clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Check-in and checkout were easy. I’d happily stay at the Waldhotel Eichenhof again.

A lovely hotel right by the forest. It was absolutely packed all night, so the restaurant must be popular.

The included breakfast was good and perfectly adequate, even if it wasn’t the biggest or best I’ve had at a German hotel. I liked having outlets on both sides of the bed for overnight charging, but the long desk had no outlets nearby, so I couldn’t plug in a lamp or charge my computer while working. There was no hot water heater for tea or instant coffee, either. The lighting felt odd: separate controls for the bedside lamps, but all six overhead lights came on from one switch, leaving the room either too bright or somewhat dim. The large room had a couch beside the bed, which was nice. The bed used one frame for two twin mattresses with separate sheets, and I ended up in the gap between them. It wasn’t entirely uncomfortable, but it wasn’t great. Checking in through the bar instead of at a reception desk felt a little unusual. The hotel didn’t feel especially warm, though it wasn’t unfriendly either. One small thing made a real difference: the picture on the wall gave the room a homier feel and lifted it from being rather bleak. I only appreciated how much that mattered after staying in several rooms without pictures. The Waldhotel is a very pretty hotel, though the desk setup would be inconvenient for a longer stay.

The food was great, and the service was lovely. They serve traditional Schwäbisches food with a modern twist. Well worth the small detour off the highway.