312mrslu
July 7, 2021
We started our romantic vacation week driving our oldtimer Citroën Traction Avant through the Emmental to the Hotel Bären Dürrenroth. Somewhat confusing two stately guesthouses are situated across from one another: the “Bären” is the restaurant, the “Kreuz” is the actual hotel. They have a garage with free overnight parking and an elevator that brings you directly to the reception area. The hotel staff was friendly and informative. I booked the Romantic Suite with it’s own whirlpool bath and it was charming! The suite is filled with beautiful antiques. It is on the ground floor with a lovely view of the gardens, for more privacy just close the long cream colored curtains and the room is set in a beautiful glow. For a small extra charge (Fr. 19.-) the room was romantically decorated with artificial rose petals, candles and a remarkable sweet chocolate thingy (yum). There are complimentary scented oils for the whirlpool bathtub and fluffy bathrobes and slippers. There is a music player in the room with a selection of romantic music (next time: bring my own). The restaurant has one small flaw: the staff is not very attentive. Coffee in the afternoon: there was one table left, not yet cleared off, though the waitress said she would “come right back” it took ten minutes until anyone came out again. Then it was a man who seemed to be the manager, who asked if we had ordered yet. He cleaned the table when we told him it wasn’t ours. Another ten minutes later two espressos finally came. Apero: again in the garden, where another couple was already seated. After 10 minutes, the other man got up to order directly in the kitchen, they had been there a while he said. We had an Emmentaler Plate with different cheeses, pickled radishes (lovely!) and charcuterie for the meat eater. Dinner was inside and - though full - everyone had there own little niche to eat in. Dinner was fantastic. The regional steak came with a polenta cube filled alternately with morelpaste. I preordered the “Rösti” (Swiss specialty, like hashbrowns) off the lunch menu. Very crunchy, eggs on top super creamy, perfect and up to my expectations. No room for desert though. For small eaters one plate is enough. The bed is super comfortable, the breakfast buffet is in the restaurant and you have your same dinner table. At check out, they give you a complementary bottle of elderflower syrup from the region. Great place for a weekend getaway!