A retreat for the soul that reaches beyond the traditional idea of a holiday.
Among the Dolomites, the welcome of a historic, forward-looking hotel puts the whole person at the centre of the experience. Awareness lies at the heart of this philosophy, expressed through pleasures for the palate and the spirit, and time shared with loved ones. A pioneer since 1862, Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa continues to surprise its visitors: it was home to one of South Tyrol’s first indoor swimming pools and still appeals to discerning diners. At the centre of its culinary offering is the Johannesstube restaurant, led by chef Philip Lochmann and awarded one Michelin star.
Val d’Ega is a spectacular corner of South Tyrol, half an hour from Bolzano, surrounded by the UNESCO-listed Dolomites, ski slopes and snow-covered forests. In the village of Nova Levante, amid the mountain quiet at an altitude of 1,200 metres, stands Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa. This historic hotel combines good food, wellness, active holidays, family stays and romance, fittingly located on Via San Valentino.
Its story began in 1862, when the Kohler family decided to turn part of their home into an inn. Now in its fifth generation, the hotel remains focused on nature and caring for the body. «Holidays that inspire» is its motto, expressed through outdoor experiences, first-class cuisine and deep relaxation in the wellness centre and beyond. The people who live and work here give Hotel Engel - meaning angel in Italian - its distinctive character and charm.
With just under two thousand inhabitants, Nova Levante, or Welschnofen in German, is one of the villages of Val d’Ega and a base for skiers keen to explore some of the Dolomites’ finest slopes. Staying in a hotel with a long tradition adds warm hospitality, high-quality cuisine and a wide range of services. The hotel is close to the lifts of the Carezza and Obereggen ski areas, with a combined 90 kilometres of pistes in a striking landscape beneath the Catinaccio and Latemar, part of Dolomiti Superski.
Hotel Engel also has a green outlook, reflected in practical, daily efforts towards sustainability and a lower environmental impact. Heating comes from its own wood-chip plant. The kitchen uses almost exclusively regional products, many grown by a local farmer. Plastic has also been replaced with biodegradable materials.
Rooms, suites and spa
Hotel Engel combines an eye for beauty with a sincere affection for the past. Its 46 generously sized rooms and suites, ranging from 25 to 70 square metres, are furnished mainly with natural materials such as wood, warm colours, soft fabrics, carefully chosen details and large windows. Their styles range from Mediterranean to regal and country-inspired. Refinement meets mountain atmosphere, bringing together comfort, luxury and a natural feel.
A 2,500-square-metre wellness area provides a peaceful setting for guests to unwind. Facilities include an indoor pool at 30°C, an outdoor infinity pool at 32°C overlooking the woods, a whirlpool at 35°C and a children’s pool at 36°C. There is also the large panoramic Dolomites Fire event sauna at 90°C, with infusions, lighting, sound and cinematic effects; a bio sauna at 60°C; an aromatic salt-water steam bath at 45°C scented with mint and lemon; an ultrasonic brine steam bath; the infrared Soledom with salt-stone walls and suspended sofas; a Kneipp pool; a cooling mist channel; an ice fountain; and a relaxation area with seating and a fireplace. Sauna infusions with the sauna master take place daily. On Thursdays and Sundays from 10am to 1pm, the sauna area becomes a wellness space for the whole family: children and teenagers under sixteen may enter, with swimwear compulsory.
Johannesstube, the Michelin-starred restaurant led by Philip Lochmann
Food also plays a central role in the pursuit of wellbeing. The care and refinement of the kitchen are reflected in the Michelin star held by Johannesstube, led by chef Philip Lochmann, an advocate for sustainability and local produce.
He completed his apprenticeship in the nearby village of Aldino before moving into luxury hospitality in Val Gardena, followed by Switzerland, London, Dubai and Austria, working at several Michelin-starred establishments.
Open to non-residents too, Johannesstube has recently undergone a complete redesign. It offers an intimate experience with just six well-spaced tables in a softly coloured setting. A striking block of dolomite stone welcomes guests and serves as a chef’s table, where the kitchen’s first small bites are presented with an aperitif. The dining room is a Swiss-pine stube with carefully crafted furnishings and details, highlighting stone and other local materials.
The gourmet restaurant’s philosophy is summed up by «Lightness to taste», inspired by lightness and wellbeing and centred on produce from local farmers and suppliers, especially vegetables. Every dish is designed so that guests finish their meal feeling satisfied rather than weighed down, ready to enjoy the rest of their stay.
Johannesstube’s menu follows the seasons and remains deeply rooted in nature. Its list of culinary partners is presented alongside the menu: from wild herbs and berries to yoghurt, ricotta, fish and meat, each ingredient has an identified producer and place of origin.
Chef Lochmann describes his approach as «a cuisine shaped by silence, purity and intention». Local freshwater char has a special place on his menu: poached in an Alpine herbal tea, it is served on a nettle taco with wild-herb salad, spruce shoots and powdered fir needles. Local veal is accompanied by marrow cream and a courgette flower stuffed with chanterelles. The experience moves between established classics and new culinary directions, a spirit also reflected in the cellar. Johannes Kohler and his brother Matthias run the hotel and restaurant. Johannes personally oversees the wine selection, bringing together expertise and a taste for experimentation. With more than 300 labels, the Kohler cellar pairs prestigious bottles with bold, innovative choices. Particular attention is paid to modern interpretations of native grapes such as Schiava, a local wine emblem reinterpreted in a contemporary style.
The hotel’s wider culinary offering is available through its popular three-quarter-board arrangement, with breakfast, a light lunch, tea time with a choice of cakes, and dinner with a menu selection. Detox and Ayurvedic cuisine may also be chosen according to the selected all-inclusive package.
Special attention for families
Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa is also a family holiday destination and a member of Familotel, an association devoted to relaxing, enjoyable family stays. The property aims to leave stress and complications outside the door, with several reasons for families with young children to stay. These include care for babies from six months old and the extensive creative programme at the Happy Club and Junior Club: craft workshops, evening cinema, movement and music games, torchlit walks, ski courses, local legends, go-karts, snow outings and horse riding. Traditional games such as table football, table tennis and billiards are available too. The hotel also offers food specifically designed for children and teenagers, with appealing choices for young palates.
Family Sunday at the Michelin-starred Johannesstube is another family offering: a Sunday designed to introduce younger guests to fine dining and new flavours.
Sport, indoors and out
Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa is close to the lifts of Carezza and Obereggen, whose combined 90 kilometres of pistes run through the landscape beneath the Catinaccio and Latemar. They belong to Dolomiti Superski, with 1,200 kilometres of pistes. The Latemar lifts at Obereggen are due to start the 2026-2027 season on 27 November 2026, while Carezza Ski Area opens on 4 December 2026. Both areas offer groomed pistes and opportunities to explore the wider ski regions. Obereggen-Latemar has eighteen lifts, including the fast ten-person Latemar gondola, and 50 kilometres of pistes; the wider Val di Fiemme/Obereggen ski area totals 111 kilometres. Carezza’s new ten-person Franzin gondola is one of thirteen lifts serving 40 kilometres of pistes, within the wider Val di Fassa/Carezza ski area, which totals 110 kilometres.
For non-skiers who prefer snowshoeing and winter walks, the well-known Lake Carezza can be reached from the hotel. Val d’Ega has more than thirty kilometres of winter trails, while around thirty mountain huts offer breaks and traditional South Tyrolean food.
Adults who want to keep fit on holiday can use the gym’s Technogym cardio and strength equipment. Activities include Pilates, stretching, Nordic walking, Hatha yoga, Aqua Fit, sports swimming courses, postural exercise and meditation.
Advent Magic
The Advent Magic at Engel package, available from 27 November to 8 December 2026, includes two nights in a Junior - Suite Deluxe room with gourmet full board, access to the spa, an Advent programme with a market, Advent-wreath making, a winter torchlit walk, music and lights, festive-edition tea time and a Christmas atmosphere throughout the hotel, plus childcare for children aged three and over from 9am to 8pm. From €585 per person; one child up to eleven stays free.
Family Christmas
The Family Christmas package, available from 18 to 27 December 2026, includes five nights in a Junior - Suite Deluxe room with gourmet board, spa access, guided winter excursions in the Dolomites, guided skiing, the fit & active programme, gift-giving for children, a special Happy Club programme from 9am to 9pm, and a free ski bus. From €1,250 per person; one child up to eleven stays free.
Baby and Toddler Weeks
The Baby and Toddler Weeks package, available from 3 to 31 January 2027 and from 27 February to 27 March 2027, includes five nights in a family room with gourmet full board, spa access, a full weekly programme of fitness and indoor activities, guided Dolomites excursions, at least thirty hours of weekly care for children aged six to thirty-six months, at least forty-eight hours of weekly care for children aged three and over, and free hire of trekking poles, a backpack and mountain bikes. From €930 per person; one child up to seven stays free.
Rates: from €185 per person per night in a Junior Suite double room with three-quarter board, including breakfast, a light lunch, cake buffet and dinner with a menu selection, spa access and the Südtirol Guest Pass for free use of public transport throughout South Tyrol during the stay. For two adults and one child under eleven, rates start at €450 per night with three-quarter board.
Getting there: from the A22 Brenner motorway, take the Bolzano Nord exit and follow signs for Val d’Ega/Nova Levante (Eggental/Welschnofen) on the SS241. Nova Levante is approximately twenty kilometres away.
Guests arriving by bus, train or plane can use a shuttle that collects them at the bus station, Bolzano railway station or the airport.
Information
Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa
Kohler family
Via San Valentino 3 - 39056 Nova Levante
+39 0471 613131
booking@hotel-engel.com
Sources and images: Photo credits: Hotel Engel Gourmet & Spa (opening image, room and Johannesstube); Tiberio Sorvillo (relaxation area and toys). Press materials supplied by Raffaelli Monicelli Public Relations. All image rights are reserved to their respective rights holders.
