I was severely misinformed about South Tyrol’s nature, rich history, and multicultural influence. However, my ignorance only made its sensational beauty even more appealing at the time of arrival.
Set in Northern Italy, close to the country’s borders with Austria and Lichtenstein, South Tyrol would steal your traveler’s heart with a wide array of local assets – the breathtaking mountain views, the magnificent old castles and monasteries, the charming old towns, the crystal-clear alpine lakes and lastly… their exquisite wine produce.
A perfect place for winter sports lovers, as well as hikers, South Tyrol, is a preferred vacation spot in both winter and summer. I visited in late June to see the green luxury of Seceda mountain which was only a half-an-hour drive from the hotel we stayed at.
The quiet luxury of…
Haller Suites & Studios – our Brixen-based choice of stay turned out to be the greatest option combining hospitality and culinary experience in a laid-back atmosphere close to nature.
Set on a hilly side, overlooking the medieval city center of Brixen, Haller Suites & Studios is a family-owned hotel that spans a few generations of the Haller family.
“The farm was born in the 50s, started by the family of my grandpa – tells its story current manager Teresa Haller – in 1976 my grandparents took over the farm business, combining farm life and gastronomy – as many families did in our region. Grandma was the chef – well known all over Brixen for a comfortable traditional cuisine. My grandpa made wine, apple juice, and schnaps. They even had some chickens, pigs, and horses… when my parents took over in 1988, they restyled the restaurant with the Stube – the historic “heart” of the house. They also built 9 guestrooms. And so Haller became a guesthouse.”
The New Wave
2 decades later the grandchildren took their turn in management with Teresa’s oldest brother as a restaurant chef and her as a restaurant manager and receptionist. They had some huge plans for Haller influenced by new trends in hospitality and their aim to create a place where they would love to spend their vacation.
“In 2018 I took over the business, with a complete change of concept and an ever-bigger investment into Haller’s future. Supported by family, we created a Suites and restaurant concept. Based on honest values, 18 suites, the AO Restaurant, a lot of wine, and a uniquely blended approach that mixes Brixen and Lontzen (the homeplace of my partner Levin) traditions. Levin is the head of cuisine. We crossed paths during the planning phase, and he decided to stay and be part of the project by developing the restaurant concept that stands for modern, purist, and regional cuisine, with techniques from all over the world.
“My parents and myself on the other hand are the Hosts – working in different parts of the house. My mum is the ‘breakfast queen’, dad oversees all greens surrounding Haller. Wine is my passion, I love to connect with people from all over the world and lure them with food, drinks, and unique encounters. Here, simple, and genuine living is born and will continue from generation to generation.”
What about Family business?
“Working and living together as a family is challenging because boundaries are even more delicate. But at the same time, it brings advantages. When you achieve something it’s a success for everyone close to you… if you fail, you have strong support from your closest people. A few learnings I gathered in the past years: Respect each other, take time off for yourself, and be honest with your feelings. And do not take work home.”
Why visit?
“Our concept is a niche. Therefore, in the beginning, we only took small steps towards success. But we followed our goals and remained true to ourselves, so now we are happy to welcome and spoil like-minded people from all over the world to Haller Suites & AO Restaurant.”
