Hotel Waldmühle

The breakfast was okay, and the hotel's main plus is that the train station for the Brocken summit is usually just five minutes away. But with the road in Elend currently blocked, getting there meant a 23-minute detour. I'd suggest eating before you arrive, since there aren't many restaurants in Elend, and paying €10 more for a better hotel on the outskirts. Our room was very basic, with thin walls. We could hear phone notifications from three rooms away as well as traffic outside. The pillow was so flat it felt like we had none, the furniture was unstable, and the bathroom was shared. The on-site "restaurant" was a mess. At check-in we had to pre-order dinner, which seemed very unusual. Even after waiting for our time slot, we still waited a while, and the food arrived ice cold on dirty plates. When we complained about frozen vegetables and food floating in our beers, the staff seemed displeased. The kitchen staff didn't speak German or English very well and seemed unsure about their own menu. We ordered dessert but got only part of what the menu listed. When we politely pointed that out, they started talking loudly about us in the kitchen. It all seemed to be premade food that had somehow been messed up. The Google food photos weren't up to date, so we expected better quality and portions. Breakfast vegetables, cold cuts and cheese were left sitting out, and the coffee mugs were dirty. A very uncomfortable and disappointing stay.

The service was excellent, and the food was the best we had on our trip. Try the house specials. It's also a great spot to stop for cake and coffee or a beer.

The owner was so kind, breakfast was generous, and the place is one of a kind. Amazing stay, and I'll come again for the Rocken am Brocken(;

The breakfast buffet was excellent, and I especially liked that they serve smoked fish. Delicious!