My Arbor - Dolomites. Foto: Benno Prenn

eMove360° Hotel Tip: Recharge Your Batteries Among Forests and Treetops at My Arbor – Dolomites in Brixen, South Tyrol

Sleep like in a nest, high up in the treetops, surrounded by crisp mountain air and birdsong. Who hasn’t dreamed of spending a night in a treehouse? The Huber family from South Tyrol turned this dream into reality seven years ago by opening My Arbor – Dolomites, a stilted “tree hotel.” Perched above Bressanone in South Tyrol, they created a magical place with great sensitivity – a place where time seems to slow down, where you feel deeply connected with nature, leave behind the hectic everyday life, and rediscover your own rhythm. We had the chance to visit My Arbor for the current issue of the eMove360° Magazine.

By Sabine Metzger

Curve after curve, the Polestar 3 winds its way up the well-developed mountain road to St. Andrä, a district above Bressanone. The bends get sharper, and we are now nearly 1,000 meters above sea level. Did we take a wrong turn? Suddenly, almost at the same time, we exclaim “Wow.” South Tyrolean hoteliers are known for daring and innovative hotel architecture, but this is something truly unique: a special architectural gem built on 65 stilts like a giant treehouse, blending harmoniously into the forest landscape. The amazement continues as we step into the pleasantly wood-scented lobby. Tree trunks hang from the high ceiling, tree trunks form the reception desk. Arbor, Latin for “tree,” is the design element of choice. Combined with warm lighting, large windows, cozy fabrics, and heartfelt hospitality, it creates the perfect atmosphere to feel at home and recharge your batteries.

Nature cinema: every suite a tree dream
We feel sheltered like birds in a nest inside our Nest Suite—a fine, 38-square-meter room furnished with larch and spruce reclaimed wood, natural stone, loden, and linen. Other options include the Hangout Suite (46 sqm) and the Treetop Suite (100 sqm). In total, 104 suites are spread across four floors. Each comes with its own balcony and a cozy, nest-like alcove with a daybed facing the large windows. All suites face south, basking in sunshine throughout the day. No matter the floor: the view across the Isarco Valley and the mountain world is pure “nature cinema.” We enjoy it leaning back against the warm wooden wall.

Pure indulgence: traditional and creative
Have we ever experienced such a diverse breakfast? The scent of freshly baked braided loaves and bread fills the room. Everything the heart desires is here: sweet and savory. Largely local products, homemade jams and pastries, breads, an impressive selection of sausages and cheeses pile up on the buffet. In addition, a refined daily menu offers treats served directly at the table. My favorite: toasted kamut bread with young spinach and a poached free-range egg. Breakfast is always special, extraordinary, and creative—always accompanied by panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Culinary delights continue at dinner with a seven-course menu crafted by head chef Matthias and his team, balancing fine dining and casual, mountain and sea. Traditional South Tyrolean dishes meet creative international cuisine. Italian specialties are all homemade from the freshest ingredients. Depending on the theme night, the menu might feature Schlutzkrapfen with Schüttelbrot, Vinschgau sauerkraut with local pork fillet, or Cavatelli Cacio e Pepe with black Molise truffles and grilled gilt-head bream. Classics such as alpine cheese dumplings, polenta gnocchi, or Black Angus tagliata are always on offer. The philosophy is consistent throughout the house: regional, plastic-free, homemade—much of it even from the hotel’s own farm.

A perfect day: everyone in their own way
As the name My Arbor suggests, the “My” concept plays a central role. The Huber family invites guests to find what’s often missing in everyday life: time for yourself and your own rhythm. Here, you consciously shape your time individually: breakfast until noon, swimming after sunset, yoga or hiking, massage or skiing, biking or shopping in the bishop’s city of Bressanone. Dolce far niente or immersing yourself in nature—whatever you like. The guided forest bathing sessions offer a particularly intense nature experience. Those who want to go even higher can take a tandem paragliding flight from Plose, Bressanone’s local mountain. Too much adrenaline? Then better enjoy the amenities of the 2,500-square-meter My Spa Arboris, floating in the Jacuzzi above the treetops with the Isarco Valley beneath you.

When the Dolomites glow in pink
For those who love hiking, the trails begin right at the hotel’s doorstep. On foot or by cable car, you can reach the Plose hiking area. Depending on the time of day—at sunrise or sunset—the jagged Dolomites turn into a unique natural spectacle. The special property of Dolomite rock is that it absorbs light and then radiates it. The result: mountain ranges glow in shades of red during dawn and dusk. This phenomenon is called Enrosadira in Ladin language. On our last evening, we wanted to see these “burning mountains” with our own eyes. We had heard and read so much about it. After a good two-hour hike up the Plose, we were rewarded with a grand Alpine cinema—the jagged Geisler peaks glowing magically in the evening light. Another WOW moment of this weekend.

Where: My Arbor Dolomites, Leonharderstraße 26, 39042 Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Tel. +39 0472 694012, info@my-arbor.com, www.my-arbor.com

Category: Adults-only five-star hotel
Rooms: 104 suites
Charging: 14 charging stations, guests pay per kWh
Spa: 2,500 sqm, 5 saunas, indoor and outdoor pool, Jacuzzis, beauty treatments
Summer: guided hikes, forest bathing, mountain biking, yoga, fitness program, Pilates, tandem paragliding
Winter: Plose ski area with 40 km of slopes, 12 km of winter hiking trails, 12 km of toboggan runs
Price: from €255 (Nest Suite) per person/night with half-board

Click tips: www.brixen.org; www.plose.org; www.suedtirol.info

You can read this and more articles on electric mobility and autonomous driving in the current issue of the eMove360° Magazine  in German language. Get the free downloadable PDF or order the print version for only $39.90 (four issues per year) here.