Hotel Seebichl

"Small hill above the lake" is how Seebichl translates from Austrian. That may sound quite traditional – but what actually awaits you at Seebichl is anything but. When the Tyrolean architect Alfons Walde designed this house, he had no idea what lay in store for it. It was Leni Riefenstahl's film warehouse. It also survived a fire in 1973, although it had to be partially rebuilt. The Witzmann family then turned it into Kitzbühel's first hotel with a bathroom in every room. The brothers Sebastian and Max grew up here. They ran free, sowed their wild oats, sought adventure far from home and returned to their childhood home with lots of new ideas in their heads. And then the real adventure began. Together they woke the house from its Sleeping Beauty slumber. All the ideas that had ripened in their heads now found a place in the Seebichl – good design, a radically regional cuisine and a great deal of love for living in the present. The brothers created a masterful counter-design to the usual Alpine tourism seen in glossy brochures. They painted their hotel black, designed furniture and lamps, and furnished the rooms with design classics, vintage interiors and contemporary art. A refreshingly offbeat mixture that has long since become a landmark in Kitzbühel. The hosts’ quirky passion can be felt in every nook and cranny of the hotel, and makes you feel as if you are at home with good friends. So it almost goes without saying that you want to come back soon, simply because it is so beautiful.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The wonderfully relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere
• The way you start the day and end it – both are excellent in the Green Bar, where you can enjoy breakfast in the morning with hand-picked ingredients from the region and a delicious homemade tonic in the evening.
• In the Seebichl Restaurant you will meet real gourmets from near and far – no wonder, since they serve such delicacies as rib-eye tagliata or pot soufflé; a feast for the senses!
• There is plenty to satisfy the aesthete in you – the rooms are furnished with handmade larch wood pieces, fine design classics, and contemporary art – almost like a museum, only cooler.
• The design mix of the 50s, 60s and 70s makes the whole thing so eclectic and charming.
• When you step out onto the wooden balcony (all rooms have one), the fabulous view of the Kitzbühel Alps opens up; take a short moment here, or a long one, and enjoy the birdsong and the wonderfully fresh mountain air.
• The classic inn with blooming purple flowers looks rather old school from the outside, but is totally hip.
• For more than 15 years, the house has used energy generated from renewable raw materials.
• You can also sit outside in front of the house – for a second coffee, your first gin and tonic, or to round off the evening.
• The heated open-air pool with sun deck, in summer and winter—and in between, of course! 
• When you relax in the outdoor bathtubs after the Swiss stone pine sauna and gaze out at the lake and mountains while sipping Tyrolean herbal tea.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• The 26 rooms vary in size and are individually furnished, all with a balcony.
• All guests who book directly via the homepage get the rooms at a friendship price and can use both the private parking directly at the house and the shuttle service to the ski slopes free of charge.
• The hotel is for all guests aged 16 and over (adults only).
• If you've been to Kitzbühel before, forget everything you know about it and see it with new eyes when you stay at Seebichl; it's worth its weight in gold, because this place really does have some beautiful treasures in store.
• The artistic spirit of the hotel: the hotel was designed by Austrian painter Alfons Walde, who is particularly known for his winter sports motifs and who enjoyed life to the fullest; the artist had close ties to the region and also designed the iconic Kitzbühel logo featuring a chamois, which is still used today.
• im Sommer empfiehlt sich der sonnige Badestrand am Schwarzsee, ein Katzensprung, schon ist man da; einen Rucksack mit praktischem Outdoor-Teppich für den Picknick- oder Badeausflug kann man sich an der Rezeption leihen
• What no one should miss: a bike tour through the mountains with the cult KONA bikes, which you can easily rent.
• On the days the restaurant is closed you should definitely pay a visit to the Seebichl Restaurant's little sister in downtown Kitzbühel (8 minutes with the rental bikes): http://www.hutschpferd.at - the offbeat home of heavenly schnitzel artistry and other classic Austrian cuisine. www.hutschpferd.at - shrill home of heavenly schnitzel art and other Austrian kitchen classics
• Gruppen sind willkommen und können im großen Meeting und Yoga Loft tagen, arbeiten, sich fortbilden, sich als Gruppe zusammenfinden oder Yoga machen – und es sich hinterher im Restaurant gutgehen lassen
• A private ski shuttle departs directly from Seebichl to the slopes every thirty minutes, taking guests to the gondola in five minutes – tickets can be bought on the spot.
• Fun fact: the Witzmann brothers (as the two brothers like to be called) have created a Kitzbühel guide – not just any guide, of course, but probably the only one that includes special hiking routes for both the over-ambitious and the lazy, and also has secret places to stop for a bite to eat. But we don't want to give too much away ...