Gutshaus Stolpe

The small personal touches made our stay feel special, like the printed “Goodnight” short story waiting on the bedside table. We also had one of our best dining experiences ever at the Michelin star restaurant. maître’d Jan Lederer described the dishes, wine pairings, and the history of the grounds with real care, and his very dry, perfectly timed humor made it even better. There’s also a relaxed restaurant serving amazing German/French food, plus an informal bar. The estate itself feels like a Georgian mansion set among beautiful stone and brick farm buildings. A cobblestone drive runs through grassy fields past farm buildings, and the grounds include river access, a historic working blacksmith shop, and a saltwater pool with a patio. Gutshaus Stolpe seems to have once been the center of village life, and it was a wonderful place to spend thanksgiving.

Service was the part that brought the stay down to earth. Some staff were absolutely top-notch, but others seemed to lack basic hospitality skills. At dinner the maitre was very engaged in explaining the food and wine pairing, while an assistant waiter brought a course without saying anything about the dish. Breakfast was similarly uneven: one waitress seemed qualified for any five star hotel, but other waiters couldn’t get a single order right. These little things add up quickly and don’t fit the standard the hotel aims for. The estate itself is truly wonderful, well maintained, and a great base for exploring the surrounding area. It’s as good as you’d expect. Still, with the room price already being what it is, having to pay extra for amenities such as the sauna was surprising.

Excellent food and service in a very committed pastoral setting.

The dining experience was disappointing. The food tasted good, but it was very simple and nothing special, and the same small menu was offered for lunch and dinner. The only restaurant felt far from Michelin. We were the only ones who didn’t get bread, while all the German-speaking guests did. The sommelier had poor manners and made conversation unpleasant. He didn’t let us try the wine, just splashed it into the glass. It felt like we may have been treated differently because we don’t speak German. Our room was dark and didn’t match the photos. It was dirty, with lots of dust and spiders; the hairdryer was dusty, the towels were torn, and the balcony was dirty and not cozy like the photos suggested. The hotel is old and has no elevator. We didn’t expect that from Relais & Châteaux. We can’t recommend it and will never come back.