Hotel Almhof Schneider,
Lech am Arlberg

Text by Gherardo Gaetani, Photography by Mart Engelen

Where to start? The statement “it’s a matter of taste” or “taste is personal” is bullshit. You either have taste or you don’t. And Gerold and Katia Schneider have taste. Exceptional taste. They are the owners of the Hotel Almhof Schneider in Lech, Austria, and have reached the very highest peaks of hospitality with their vision and hotel. At the Almhof Schneider, it’s all about the details. And their attention to detail is ridiculously refined and thorough. Every hotel gives a complimentary branded pencil. I love pencils but if I didn’t always carry a pocket-knife I would not know how to sharpen them when blunt. One of my ‘fun hotel activities’ is to call the front desk and ask them for a sharpener. It usually creates a bit of confusion and it’s a good way to gauge the service. But I couldn’t do it at the Almhof Schneider. They provide a sharpener with the pencil; it seems obvious but no one else does it. This metaphor of the sharpener goes so much further than anything I could write to describe the place. Meticulous attention to every little detail and done with exceptional taste, the Almhof Schneider is so good that I am in danger of sounding like a paid copywriter, so I will be brief in describing all its glorious amenities and services and try to convey the sensation it leaves. Its vibe. The best way to let go, relax and fully enter into vacation mode is to eat and drink. From the crispiest, fluffiest and yet lightest schnitzel to the famed (and my favourite) kaiserschmarrn, the food is superb. The two restaurants are warm and nurturing, they invite you to sit and be comfortable while enjoying a very tasty and hearty meal. The wine cellar has everything you could want, from the more obscure natural wines through a vast selection of my favourite Mosel Rieslings to the classic grands crus and first growths of France. Let’s take for granted that the food is of the highest quality and that you can drink most wines you have ever dreamt of opening, the uniqueness of the Almhof Schneider is the feeling of being at home. It’s not overly formal although it could be. It’s not annoyingly gourmet in attitude although the food is exceptional. Katia and Gerold have found just the right formula to convey comfort and ease while curating everything with the utmost good taste… read more