Allgäu ART Hotel Kempten

I travel a lot, and this may be the best hotel I’ve stayed in. The rooms are beautiful, and the bathrooms are even better, with a design that feels both tasteful and practical. Breakfast was very good, though I could have used more dairy-free options. There’s also a climbing wall right behind the breakfast room. Amazing.

I stayed here twice and was happy with both stays. The staff were friendly, and the room was good, though I missed having a mini fridge. The mattress didn’t suit me, but I know that’s personal. Being able to use the fitness room early in the morning was great. As a woman who loves fitness, I liked not having to run outside in the dark. There are three cardio machines, two arm stations, and a nice piece of equipment for legs and stability. They provide disinfectant and a water fountain, though I couldn’t get a towel at the gym, which was disappointing. I enjoyed the breakfast, especially the scrambled eggs and the range of cereals and cheese. I liked the mini croissants, but the dried fruit options on my next visit weren’t for me. Just personal taste. There’s something for everyone. The parking was the main downside. The spaces outside are free, but there are only a limited number, so if you come back late you may have to use the garage, which I found expensive for one night. Still, I had a good stay and would come back.

The hotel sits right by the old city, so we enjoyed walking around the historic area. It’s modern, beautifully decorated with nature in mind, and very conscious of green practices. We also found it accessible for people with disabilities. The top floor has three saunas and fitness rooms, which made for a rather unique experience. Breakfast had a great selection of delicious food. Our spacious bedroom was very clean and beautifully decorated, and the bed and pillows were comfortable. I only wish the comforter had been bigger, since it kept falling off when I moved in my sleep. I highly recommend the hotel. Staying there was an experience in itself.

The restaurant experience kept going sideways. We had a discount book that was meant to make the cheaper main dish free, but we were supposed to mention it when ordering. We remembered just after placing the order, and couldn’t find anyone to help. When the waitress came back with drinks, we explained, but were told it was too late and someone in charge would have to fix the receipt. They had three waitresses there, yet no one could correct one mistake in the table service system. We didn’t want to make a fuss, but having another waitress who wasn’t serving us come over only to repeat that we’d made a mistake felt very unfriendly. They kept telling us we’d done something wrong and would have to pay for it. They asked how we wanted the beef steak, then said medium minus wasn’t possible and that only medium or well done was safe. That should be stated beside the €28 steak on the menu, instead of suggesting a normal request is wrong. It made me wonder if there was something wrong with the beef. They also asked if we wanted mushrooms with another dish. We agreed, but no one mentioned an extra charge, and it wasn’t shown separately on the menu or receipt, just reflected in the higher price. The main food was good, and the waitress was kind enough, but service was only okayish. We never got a wine list, and nobody came to ask if we wanted more or how the food was, even though the restaurant wasn’t busy. I would have ordered more drinks. To get dessert, we had to get up and find someone ourselves. Meanwhile, they were wiping nearby tables and sprayed cleaner toward our plate from about a meter away. The dessert was tiny for €8.50, and it was some frozen cake that was probably microwaved. Even though I’d like to recommend the place, I can’t. I’d spend that money somewhere else for better service and the nice meal experience you’d expect.