German Hospitality

When traveling through Germany—especially in smaller towns—it’s often worth skipping the larger hotels in favor of a Gastwirtschaft: family-run inns that double as local restaurants. They tend to offer not just a place to stay, but a sense of how the town actually lives.

On a recent business trip to visit a partner in southeastern Germany, in Bavaria near the Austrian border, we followed exactly that advice. The recommended Gastwirtschaft turned out to be a former brewery—old stone, long history, and just enough modern renovation to make the rooms comfortable without stripping away their character.

Dinner was exactly what you’d hope for. Local, generous, and reassuringly familiar. Ordering the Schnitzel felt less like a decision and more like good manners.

What stayed with me most, though, was breakfast. Our table was marked with a handwritten welcome note and our names neatly placed in front of us. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one. The service was warm, unforced, and quietly attentive—the kind that makes you feel less like a guest and more like a regular.

It’s safe to say we’ll be back.