Colombi

The team is impeccable, and the little details make all the difference. I’d say this is the best hotel in Freiburg. Make time for the restaurant with its Michelin Star, then try something from the long cake list at the cafe. The walnut cake is my favorite.

The room heat was unbearable. We asked for help with the heater on all three nights and waited for a technician who never showed up. We were sweating through the night, struggled to stay hydrated and couldn’t rest, so we ended up sleeping with the windows open. Each night, our request was brushed off. It didn’t make for a relaxing vacation. There’s also cigarette smoke in the lobby and common areas from the bar. The bar doors are always open, and the lobby is only about 100 feet away. Although lhw.com lists the hotel as 100% smoke free, the hotel’s son told us they don’t claim to be smoke free and couldn’t help. Those were two serious problems that affected our stay and could affect people’s health. There were other issues too, including pink bacteria in the shower. This didn’t feel like a true five-star hotel. The staff and hotel came across as wolves in sheep’s clothing. If you want five-star treatment, save your money and go to Baden Baden. There, you can be welcomed with a glass of champagne and a front desk team that will do whatever it takes to make your stay enjoyable, instead of encountering cigarette smoke at check-in at the Colombi.

I’ve been to the restaurant many times and it has never let me down. The food and service are excellent, and I feel appreciated as a patron. Even a visit just for tea or coffee and sweets is a treat. During busy periods, it’s best to reserve.

The sommelier humiliated me in front of other guests, as if that were perfectly normal. It was unprofessional, and the whole experience left me feeling that this might be how people are routinely treated there. At a hotel charging top dollar, that’s unacceptable. The bar service was slow and sloppy, and the staff were outright rude. They may call this a five-star hotel, but that feels like show. Unless management steps in and cleans house, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who expects basic respect.