Holiday at the White Horse Inn – Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Review

 

While visiting Innsbruck, we wanted to be in the heart of the city. With less than 48 hours to experience all that Innsbruck has to offer, we wanted to step out the front door ready to explore. We chose to spend two nights at the family run Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck. Located in Old Town, it was the perfect spot to start our adventure.

Hotel Weisses Rössl or “The White Horse Inn” dates back to 1590.  In the 1500’s many people couldn’t read, so they would refer to an inn or establishment by it’s sign such as the white horse or golden lion.  You can still see these old signs throughout the Old Town.

Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Review

The White Horse Inn has traditional decor with antlers and stuffed animals hanging from the walls. You really get the old inn feel as you walk through the halls.   It’s more of a guesthouse, where you’re given the keycard to come and go as you please. On holiday’s, Sunday’s and at night the front door is locked so you have to use your keycard to enter the building.  You also won’t find anyone at the front desk during these times.

The family room is the perfect size, offering plenty of space to move around plus ample storage for luggage. Each of the kids had their own bed, which is a must to keep the bickering down. The beds are comfortable with crisp white linen, plush duck down duvets and fluffy pillows.

We chose a balcony room over having a larger bathroom. The size of the bathroom was adequate with a large tub/shower, sink and a separate water closet. I’d much rather have the added space to slip outside with a glass of wine while the kids are sleeping than to have an oversized bathroom.

Air conditioning would have been a nice feature. Luckily it wasn’t that hot in the room, even in the summer, so the lack of A/C wasn’t a huge deal. Keeping the windows open wasn’t an option as it’s a bit noisy in the evening.   Also while wifi was included, we didn’t have a good signal in our room.   Even with these couple of negatives, we enjoyed our stay and highly recommend the inn.

Breakfast is included in the rate, so you’ll want to plan time to fuel up before heading out to tour Innsbruck. A large spread including cold meats and cheeses, yogurt, cereals, fruits, vegetables and breads was available for guests to enjoy, buffet style. Coffee or tea is provided once you sit at a table as well as a choice of made-to-order eggs. Derrick chose fried eggs each morning while the kids and I enjoyed scrambled with ham and chives.   It was a real treat to have so many breakfast choices included.

The Hotel Weisses Rössl restaurant has been in operation since 1600 and is a great choice for a meal even if you’re not staying at the hotel. It’s also the only restaurant terrace in the Old Town. The food was delicious and the waitstaff were efficient and friendly.

Local fare and Tyrolean specialties are served with seasonal ingredients, so you know you’re getting quality food at a reasonable price. While we were traveling through Germany, the kids found they loved Wiener (veal) Schnitzel. It’s a thin piece of veal battered and fried to perfection. They were excited to be able to enjoy this dish in Innsbruck as well.

We enjoyed a few other tasty treats such as frittatensuppe which is a beef soup with thin strips of pancakes, sauerkraut salad and a hearty Tyrolean Gröstl with pan fried potatoes, roast beef pieces, and a fried egg on top. YUM! Lucy ordered the fish fillet so they could split that and the schnitzel. I wouldn’t recommend the fish as it tasted more like a frozen fillet. When in Austria, go with the Tyrolean dishes!

Make sure to obtain a lunch or dinner reservation in advance as it’s a popular restaurant in town.

Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Information:

Website:
http://www.roessl.at/en_index.html

Contact Phone:
+43 (0) 512-583057

Email:
[email protected]

Address:
Kiebachgasse 8
A – 6020 Innsbruck

Notes:

:: There is no parking at the hotel as it’s in the Old Town. If you’re coming by car, you can park at the nearby car park for a reduced rate. We took the train in, and walking to the hotel wasn’t an issue for us.

:: If you arrive on Sunday, you will need to ring the bell to be let in. I don’t see this as a huge issue, but it’s something to be aware of.

:: Upon entering the inn, walk to the back, past the staircase. The lift will take you up to the 1st floor reception/restaurant area.

Overall, I highly recommend the White Horse Inn and the onsite restaurant. It’s a wonderful location and you can’t beat the 600 years of history!

Make sure to read all about our 48 hours in Innsbruck.  Get our recommendations on what to see and do plus our thoughts on the Innsbruck Card.

Have you stayed at the White Horse Inn? What can you add to this Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Review?