One of my most favorite recent travel experiences is, hands down, the night I spent at the Bratwurst Hotel in Rittersbach, Germany. Since I visit Munich, Oktoberfest, and a handful of the same cities year after year, I always try to spice up my Germany trips with something new and interesting. And, wow, did I hit the lottery with this one!
Germany’s Bratwurst Hotel is, as I like to put it, a delightfully unhinged hotel experience. Really, there’s nothing like it in the world and I challenge you to convince me otherwise. It’s a meat-lover’s dream, a vegetarian’s nightmare, and a travel addict’s reason for being, all rolled into one (and then squeezed through a sausage press).
The Bratwurst Hotel is not just a hotel to stay in, it’s a destination and experience in and of itself. If the name alone doesn’t convince you to book a stay here, here are 9 more reasons to stay at the Bratwurst Hotel on your next trip to Germany.
Cut to the chase and check Bratwurst Hotel availability here.
1. The Böbel family
First and foremost, the #1 reason to stay at the Bratwurst Hotel is to meet the family who runs it. They are some of the most welcoming and most interesting people I’ve met in a long time. Honestly, I usually just stay to myself when I travel alone, but getting to know them and learning how the whole hotel concept came to be was such an unexpected treat.
This experience is the exact opposite of staying at a faceless corporate chain. They showed me all around the property, even giving me a tour of the kitchen and butcher shop, spent time with me at dinner and breakfast, and always made sure I had everything I needed.
Beyond their service as hoteliers, each family members’ story is so interesting. I have nothing but respect for Claus, the friendly patriarch and longtime local butcher, who fearlessly went after his dream of opening a bratwurst-themed hotel pretty close to the middle of nowhere, at completely full speed.
His wife, Monika, prepared me the absolute best bratwurst dinner. (See #7) And getting to know his daughter, Julia, and her passion for the business was a real pleasure. If you’re tired of soulless corporate hotel chains and the same old stale hotel experience, definitely book yourself a stay at the Bratwurst Hotel.
2. The warm welcome
While checking in for my stay, I was greeted with the warmest of German welcomes – with a beer and a brat of course. A small heart of the most delicious bratwurst spread and what has got to be the smallest beer Germany has ever seen. But after a 7-hour overnight flight and then a 1.5-hour drive from the Munich Airport, it was much appreciated.
This is just a drop in the bucket of how the Böbel family has left out no single detail here.
Also check out: Where to Stay Near Neuschwanstein Castle
3. Rooms at the Bratwurst Hotel
When you get to your room, it’s likely your jaw will drop. Chances are you’ve never seen so much sausage in your life (but no judgment). The first thing that’ll hit you will be the wallpaper, that also covers the ceiling. Then, you’ll start to notice the many, many details.
The pig headboards, the sausage pillows and chair cushions, the bratwurst can/seat, the actual edible bratwursts hanging from the ceiling. And then you’ll go into the bathroom. You’ll walk through a glass door with the image of a pig taking a shower (hilarious enough) and then notice the green tiles and butcher tables, the meat hooks (for towels of course), and finally… the sausage soap.
And that’s all just the start of it. I’d be shocked if this wasn’t the most unique hotel room you’ve ever stayed in. You can literally eat the decorations here.
I asked about the brats hanging over the bed—whether they’re for decoration or for eating—and the answer is “Both!” Julia continued, “Instead of putting chocolates on your pillow, we hang bratwursts from the ceiling.” I took that bratwurst with me when I left the next day and lemme tell you, it was DELISH.
4. The entire property actually
It’s not just the rooms here that are on-theme; the entire property is covered in casing. There are big displays of swine-related memorabilia in the hallways, the directional signs are actually butcher knives, and the stairs are lined with different kinds of bratwurst products.
The wi-fi sign is sausage, the entrance into the butcher shop is through a giant pig silhouette, and there’s a pretty interesting little gift shop. And if it’s not bratwurst, it’s green. Everywhere you look, you’ll see they didn’t overlook a single detail. It’s a feast for the curious eye indeed!
Beyond that, there’s one hallway where guests are encouraged to write, sign, or draw on the wall. In the restaurant, you can flip through the book that showcases the changes they made to the original house to turn it into a hotel. How much this family loves this place is evident all over.
Also read: Where to Drink Kölsch in Cologne (Köln) + What You Need to Know
5. Everything is green!
Green is my favorite color and, since this is my blog and I can do what I want, I’m listing this as one of the reasons to stay at the Bratwurst Hotel. Like I said, they’ve taken their theme above and beyond the limits of what is sane. If it isn’t bratwurst-themed, it’s green, and I’m here for it.
The bedsheets, the walls and décor, the bathroom, the dining utensils, the complimentary earplugs in the rooms, the hangers, the bratwurst vending machine, and even the car they drive are green. But not just green, Bratwurst Hotel Green. I love green, yes, but I also love their undying commitment to accept no substitutes.
6. The Bratwurst Hotel’s location
Like I mentioned earlier, the Bratwurst Hotel is pretty close to the middle of nowhere, at least in terms of access via public transportation. But the location is actually perfect. It’s really the only thing to see in the small village of Rittersbach (pop. 670) and just off the highway that runs between Munich and Nuremberg which makes it incredibly easy to get to by car.
It’s just about 30 minutes outside Nuremberg so you can even stay here if Nuremberg is actually your destination. (Which is what I did on my September 2024 visit.) Once here, the town it’s in is so small, quiet, and peaceful. It’s definitely a great escape from Munich during Oktoberfest season. (#understatement)
Also worth noting is how easy it is to park here since this is a small town with lots of space and no one cares. An underrated characteristic for sure.
Need to know: Getting to the Bratwurst Hotel does require the use of a car. It’s just far enough off the beaten track that getting here via public transportation will take you about 5x longer than driving. Definitely rent a car if you want to stay at the Bratwurst Hotel. (I personally use rentalcars.com and have always had great experiences.)
Visit nearby Spalt
Another thing I love about its location is that it’s super close to the town of Spalt, known as the city that hops built. I’d heard of Spalt before, but only because my husband is a brewer and Spalt hops are pretty well-known. Other than that, Spalt was not a town I’d ever heard of in terms of Germany travel destinations. But, it makes a great way to spend some time while staying at the Bratwurst Hotel.
You can visit the Hop Museum (Museum HopfenBierGut) to learn all about Spalt hops and hops harvesting in general. With your small admission you also get a free beer and you get to keep the glass! Then, take a stroll around this quirky little half-timbered town before driving back to Rittersbach through all the hop fields.
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7. Food at the Bratwurst Hotel
Do I even need to tell you how great the food at this food-themed hotel is? Probably not, but I’m going to anyway. Besides the welcome treat and the ceiling sausages, the Bratwurst Hotel also has an on-site restaurant. Excuse me, a Wurstaurant.
I knew I was going to want to eat here so I pre-booked my bratwurst dinner when I booked my room. They have a full menu here and everything incorporates bratwurst. Everything. Think I’m exaggerating? Go ahead, check out the drinks menu; check out the desserts. Everything.
I like bratwurst the regular amount, I guess. (Well, maybe more than the average person given my above-average appreciation for all things Bavarian.) But I was still interested to see how creative they could get. And if you haven’t figured that out by now, it’s VERY.
The Bratwurst menu
The menu at the Wurstaurant includes appetizers and snacks, traditional Franconian sausage dishes, tons of great main courses, and even bratwurst desserts. You can order a la carte or you can let them help you explore your adventurous side by choosing a “surprise bratwurst menu.”
The surprise bratwurst menu
Tell them you want them to surprise you and choose from either 3, 5, 7, 10, or 12 sample courses. They’ll choose what you have for each course and, trust me, they know what they’re doing. This is the best opportunity to try a bunch of different things and tons of stuff you can’t find anywhere else due to the Böbels’ propensity for experimenting.
I opted for the 7-course surprise menu and have zero regrets. I liked 99% of what I had and found the portion sizes to be perfect. Here’s what I had for dinner at the Wurstaurant:
As you can see from this photo, the Wurstaurant offers a huge selection of different bratwursts to choose from—from the normal stuff to (Julia’s favorite) popcorn infused. On my sampler plate I had wild garlic, fennel, gingerbread, pepper, and asparagus bratwursts. The pepper bratwurst was the only thing at dinner I didn’t love. (I’m just not a fan of peppercorns.) My favorite was the gingerbread bratwurst.
Bratwurst breakfast
If you think that was crazy, just wait until breakfast, which I obviously also opted for. Waiting for me was every kind of bratwurst-infused spread you could possibly imagine. I had scrambled eggs (with bratwurst), breads with brat spreads, brat cheeses, sliced meats, coffee-infused bratwurst, and even my coffee mug had a wee sausage garnish.
8. Drinks at the Bratwurst Hotel
Yes, bratwurst is even in the drinks here. At my dinner I first had a bratwurst aperitif followed by a bratwurst beer. My aperitif was actually delicious and made with pear schnapps and literal pig’s blood and served in a bratwurst tin.
Serving my “bratwurst beer,” Julia brought out a mug in which there was already a shot glass filled with that delicious bratwurst spread I had upon arriving yesterday. Then, she poured delicious local beer over it. Fantastic. Naturally, those aren’t the only two options.
9. A completely unique experience
Maybe the biggest reason to stay at the Bratwurst Hotel on your next trip to Germany is for the chance to experience something completely unique and, dare I say, fully off-the-rails. Hotel stays have become so predictable and boring. This will help reset your passion for travel.
Honestly, I can’t even remember the names of half the hotels I’ve stayed at in the past year, but this one I will never forget. The Bratwurst Hotel is an experience in itself, not just a place to sleep for a night. It’s absolutely worth making a special trip here if you can.
Book your room at the Bratwurst Hotel
The Bratwurst Hotel is open year-round as are reservations. If you’ve got a trip to Germany in the works, book your room as soon as you know your dates. (Especially if you’re traveling during Oktoberfest season.) After you book, you’ll be able to make your dinner reservations.
Note that different rooms have different decor. If you want the allover sausage wallpaper room like mine, you’ll want to book one of the “Standard Double Rooms.” They also have deluxe rooms and single rooms that have different (less intense) decor. I prefer Booking.com but Hotels.com does a better job of showing you what each room looks like before you book it.
Book your room at the Bratwurst Hotel here
More info for your trip to Germany
Like this post? Have questions about staying at the Bratwurst Hotel? Let me know in the comments below. Here’s hoping you have the wurst trip ever!
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