Hotel Restaurant Kniebishöhe

The location is fantastic, right where several walking trails meet, and the service was thoughtful. We arrived late and found a lovely handwritten note explaining where our room was and inviting us to breakfast the next morning. A really good stay.

We’re here now and already love the apartment. It’s just right for my husband and me, with plenty of room for our two large dogs. The restaurant food has been delicious, and you can tell it’s prepared with care.

This is such a lovely stop on the Westweg. The hosts are welcoming, and they put real care into both the menu and the elegant way the food is served. We found ourselves slowing down and enjoying every bite. I was glad to hear the chef cares about animal welfare and the environment, though I was puzzled that some meat comes all the way from New Zealand given the emissions from that distance. Hopefully they can find a more local source soon.

We’ve now been to Kniebishöhe twice, and we’ll be back. Silke Marti and her husband Daniel Schnell are lovely hosts. Silke looks after the office and Daniel is in the kitchen, and they made us feel like old friends. The food is a big reason we returned. They serve a traditional German breakfast and dinner, but no lunch, since guests are usually out exploring, hiking or skiing. There are cafes around the area, though in Kniebis itself there’s little open beyond the roadhouse. For supplies, head down to Freudenstadt. Our latest visit was for their New Year’s Eve package. David talked us through the evening as we had champagne, then came a six-course dinner. Around 11:45 we bundled up for the hotel fireworks. It was cold and crisp, though there was no snow. After midnight, guests could head into the kitchen to meet the staff and have freshly cooked German sausages with mustard. Breakfast started at 10 the next morning and was more of a brunch. Most guests left that day. The hotel is in the small village of Kniebis, about 11 km from Freudenstadt, and it’s a very authentic Black Forest place. From the outside it looks like a postcard, while inside it has a charming German feel. It doesn’t seem old-fashioned or generic. People come here to ski in winter and hike in summer, so book ahead. Public transport can get you there by train, tram and a short bus ride. Guests also get a tourist card with discounts and free regional public transport, which we found great value. If you want to explore other towns and attractions, though, a car is useful. You could hire one in Freudenstadt. There are three floors of rooms, some with balconies or a second bedroom, plus family units. The rooms aren’t large, but they’re nicely presented, with lots of outlets and excellent hot showers with strong pressure. We’ve tried both a single bedroom with a balcony and a two-bedroom unit. The latter was more practical for luggage, and my wife appreciated having a separate room when I snored! Rooms are serviced daily. The one drawback for us was that Wi-Fi is only free downstairs in the lobby, fireside seating area and dining room, not in the bedrooms. The hotel welcomes dogs too, although bringing our dog Zoey all the way from Perth is another matter. They host different dinner events through the year, from whisky and cheese fondue nights to New Year’s celebrations. The prices are excellent, the food is superb, and the owners are a pleasure to be around. It’s a great base for skiing or hiking in the Black Forest, in any season.