Bogen Bistro & Apartments

Just step through the round arched doorway into another time. What a room! Here on the first floor of the white plastered building you can imagine them right in front of you, the goldsmith and the town clerk who were at work here in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the shoemakers, carpenters, carters, wood and fruit merchants who followed. It’s hard to imagine a more apt name; the bistro has been beautifully showcasing its historic vault with spotlights and warm lighting since 2021. You eat at a long table, under woven rattan lights and a canopy of upturned baskets filled with dried flowers (don’t worry, they’re well fixed!). The food, made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, is fantastic; you’ll find linguine with swordfish, panzanella, and involtini on the menu. Needless to say, the combination of southern Italian cuisine combined with regional wines is hard to beat, especially when served by friendly people like those at Bogen. And when replete contentment and the anticipation of your next day combine into delicious drowsiness, you can simply drop into one of the king-size beds in one of the apartments above—the beautiful surroundings, waiting to be enjoyed again the next morning. Host Roswitha has created a harmonious mix of romanticism and bohemian style in the five apartments. They look great and feel wonderful—like a breath of fresh air and life lived to the full.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• It’s not only the varied and delicious lunch and dinner menus in the bistro that are enticing, the breakfast is an absolute highlight too: Sourdough bread, poached eggs, granola or pancakes with warm wild fruits. Sold?
• In the mood for privacy or socializing? The bistro has a choice of seating between a seven-meter-long table or small wooden tables in cozy seating niches.
• The former workshop may be the smallest building on the street with only two floors, but with its reinterpreted original architecture you can’t miss it.
• The sense of history; sometimes a creak under foot or as you open an antique wooden door reminds you of the building’s past. And that’s exactly how it should be!
• Dried flowers tied into bouquets can be found not only in the bistro, but also in the apartments. “They symbolize transience, but also the beauty of life,” says interior designer Silvia Marzani.
• You’ll feel the warmth of welcome here in all the beautiful little touches for guests in the apartments: South Tyrolean care products, cozy terry slippers and organic tea.
• The mix of contemporary furnishings and freshly spruced-up vintage pieces in the five apartments
• The apartments, the largest sleeping up to seven people, have something for (almost) every color preference: “Floral”, “Blue”, “Yellow”, “Purple” and “Green”.
• Which tour would you recommend today? Oh, actually none at all. One of the best things to do here is to drift through the winding streets of the old town. And that starts right outside, at the front door.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Those who like to switch off the alarm and savor a few more minutes under the blankets can do so here: Breakfast is available until 11.00 a.m.
• Children up to three years old stay free of charge.
• A kitchenette with dishwasher, refrigerator, hob and a coffee maker are available in most apartments.
• It doesn’t get more central than this: The Bogen Apartments are located in the pedestrian zone of the old town. If you want to visit the Neolithic glacier mummy “Ötzi”, you’ll find it 400 meters away in the South Tyrolean Museum of Archaeology.
• For a nice stroll: On weekdays, the fruit market in the center of the old town offers vegetables, fruit, flowers, bread, cheese and smoked meats.
• For a dose of city life, take an aperitif on the piazza with a view of the Dolomites and a walk through the arcades of Bolzano; for excursions in the surrounding countryside, head to the Dolomites, the vineyards or, in summer, take a dip in Lake Kaltern.
• Whether it’s skiing, snowboarding or sledging you’re after—winter snow here brings plenty of options. With 1,252 kilometers of slopes, the only difficulty is deciding: Sarntal, Eggental, Ritten, Seiser Alm—you can’t go wrong.
• Car friendly? There are parking bays three minutes away that can be rented for 18 euro per day.
• Traveling by train? You can reach the Bogen Bistro & Apartments in a comfortable ten minute walk from Bolzano train station.