Rifugio Stoppani al Grost

Service was quick, and the prices seemed fair. I had the hot chocolate for 5 euro, which was very thick, more like chocolate pudding, but tasted good. The apple struddle cost 6 euro and was good too, though not quite perfect. It wasn't too sweet.

We went to the restaurant terrace in a great mood and eager to spend the evening there. We ordered two magnum bottles of champagne and pasta to start, followed by beef steaks, but the steaks never came. The pasta took an hour and a half to arrive, even though it's not a dish that needs a long time to prepare. The waiters were rude and unhelpful, and the manager was worse. When we complained, he said he'd call the police if we kept expressing dissatisfaction. We then waited 40 minutes for an espresso and received no apology or acknowledgment for the delay or the way we were treated. This was my worst restaurant experience. I wouldn't recommend going, and would choose the self-service restaurant downstairs instead.

The terrace and the inside seating on one side both have gorgeous views. The self-service restaurant serves really nice food, with a good selection of vegetables. The location is incredible.

The views were impeccable, but the beds were bad, dinner was disappointing, and the place had a strange vibe despite the cheerful staff. From the reviews and our own stay, there seems to be a split between service for guests upstairs in the luxury hotel and those in the basement bivouac, so check which experience you're booking. We appreciated the staff's advice on routes and weather, though at times they seemed annoyed. We even heard them complaining about tourists. They were friendly and seemed to be trying hard, but there was an odd undertone that made the warmth feel less than authentic. I hope management treats them well. Other rifugios we've stayed in felt more honest and wholesome. Breakfast was good, with plenty of food and quick service. Dinner was very different: four courses came in less than an hour, which felt rushed. The food was slimy from the Bain Marie, and no one at our seating finished. Portions were large, but the food didn't seem fresh. Dessert was cabinet cake, the same kind as at breakfast, and the bread felt like it was made of Dolomites rock. We hadn't expected the bivouac to be in the basement. It might be comfortable after six days of hiking, but for over 150 euro we expected more. The mattresses were basic springs that you could feel while lying down. We did appreciate that the hot water didn't need a token. It was quiet when we stayed in summer, so I wonder what it would be like during the busy winter season. Grazie mile for having us.