Location
Bled, Slovenia

Tucked away in the Julian Alps is spring-fed Lake Bled, a remnant of the Bohinj Glacier. In 1928, Merchant Adolf Starkl and his wife Josipina took over this inn on its shores, updating it and renaming it the Hotel Starkl. It remained under their care until World War II. Later, when democracy came to Slovenia in the 1990s, it was returned to the Starkls' heirs and eventually sold to the Galicic family, who renovated it fully in 2021, keeping its rich heritage at the heart of the redesign. Alpine architectural touches like log beams complement the hotel's forested setting, thick with pine, beech and Norway spruce. Set right on the edge of the lake, Hotel Starkl offers a perfect view of the 17th-century Chapel of St. Maria on Bled Island (listen for the bell tolling from the steeple) and Slovenia's oldest castle, perched atop a precipice overlooking the lake. 

Air-conditioned rooms are both modern and romantic, with large windows that open onto a view over the enchanting lake. Crown molding and wallpaper depicting a forest with golden pears is the backdrop for king-size beds dressed in crisp white linens and deep emerald-green coverlets. The dark green theme carries over to the desk and velvet chair, and brass accents add a touch of gold to the decor. Bathrooms have marble and tiled walls and shower, a brass shower head and faucet, high-end toiletries and a hair dryer. Amenities include a flat screen TV, phone, coffee maker, and a bottle of Blejka natural mineral water for each guest. Highlighting fresh, locally source fare, the Starkl Restaurant offers a traditional Slovenian menu with a Mediterranean flair, including an excellent selection of fine Slovenian wines.