Forsthofgut Nature Hotel Brings Slopeside Dining, Fire-Led Cuisine and Ice Skating to Austria From December 2026

Forsthofgut Nature Hotel in Leogang, Austria, is preparing three major additions for the 2026/27 winter season. From 1 December 2026, Restaurant 1617 will move directly onto the ski slope. The property will also introduce a new 20-seat Grill restaurant and an outdoor ice rink.

The changes broaden the resort’s appeal beyond conventional skiing. They combine slopeside dining, fire-led gastronomy and family winter activities within the hotel experience. The timing also coincides with another strong winter outlook for Austrian tourism.

Austria recorded 74.2 million overnight stays during winter 2025/26, up 2.5% year on year. International overnight stays increased 3.1%, underlining continued demand for Alpine holidays.

Forsthofgut’s additions therefore arrive as travellers increasingly seek experiences beyond lift access. They also reinforce Leogang’s position within one of Austria’s largest interconnected ski areas.

A New Slopeside Base For Alpine Dining

Restaurant 1617 will move into a new building directly beside the slopes. The two-storey restaurant will retain the heritage associated with the Forsthofgut name.

The restaurant takes its name from 1617, when the property began as a forestry holding. That history remains central to the hotel’s identity after more than four centuries.

Inside, three traditional wood-panelled dining rooms will create a distinctly Austrian atmosphere. A tiled stove and open fireplace will provide the visual and sensory centre of the restaurant.

A classic bar counter will anchor the interior. Meanwhile, the terrace will frame views towards the Leogang mountain range.

The location changes the restaurant’s role during a winter stay. Skiers can reach it without leaving the mountain environment. Hotel guests and outside visitors will also be able to use the restaurant.

The concept consequently links skiing, regional cuisine and après-ski dining in one setting. It gives visitors another reason to remain on the mountain after their final descent.

Austrian Cuisine Takes Centre Stage

The culinary direction will remain firmly connected to Austrian inn culture. The kitchen will emphasise regional ingredients and traditional dishes.

Fondue will become one of the restaurant’s principal winter experiences. Guests will be able to choose between meat-based chinoise fondue, cheese fondue and chocolate fondue with fresh fruit.

That approach reflects a broader shift in Alpine hospitality. Restaurants increasingly use regional identity as part of the destination experience rather than treating food as an ancillary service.

For international visitors, this creates another layer of destination discovery. Travellers can experience Austrian cuisine without leaving the resort environment.

The hotel’s existing culinary philosophy also places strong emphasis on regional sourcing. Its current cuisine programme spans Alpine-Mediterranean, vegan and consistently regional options.

Fire Becomes The Focus Of Dinner

The second major addition will be the new Grill restaurant. Unlike the larger Restaurant 1617, the concept will accommodate only 20 guests.

That limited capacity creates a more intimate dining format. Fire will become the central cooking element, with selected dishes completed directly at the table.

The culinary inspiration will extend beyond Austria. The concept draws partly from Argentina’s long-standing fire-cooking tradition while retaining a connection with regional Alpine produce.

The menu will also encourage sharing. Guests will therefore experience the meal as a social occasion rather than a conventional sequence of individual plates.

This style fits the wider premium hospitality market. Luxury resorts increasingly use destination dining to differentiate the overall stay.

For travellers, the significance goes beyond another restaurant opening. It creates an additional evening experience for guests who may already spend their day skiing, hiking or exploring the surrounding mountains.

An Ice Rink Adds Family Appeal

The third addition will introduce a new ice rink immediately outside Restaurant 1617. The setting will place skating against the backdrop of the Leogang mountains.

The rink will cater to several visitor groups. Activities will include ice hockey, children’s programming and evening ice discos.

That combination is particularly relevant for families and mixed-interest groups. Not every traveller wants to spend an entire day skiing.

A hotel-based rink can also help fill the hours before dinner. Families can move from skiing or sightseeing to skating, followed by an evening meal.

The development complements an existing winter ecosystem across Saalfelden Leogang. The wider region already offers cross-country skiing, winter hiking, snowshoeing, tobogganing and ice skating.

Forsthofgut will therefore add another activity directly within the hotel environment. This could make the property more attractive to multigenerational groups seeking different activity levels.

Leogang Already Has A Major Skiing Advantage

The hotel’s expansion is taking place within a substantial winter-sports destination. The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn offers 270 kilometres of pistes and 70 lifts.

Travellers can expand that network through the Ski ALPIN CARD. The pass connects the Skicircus with Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See and Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun.

That creates access to 408 kilometres of pistes and 121 lifts across three major ski areas.

The 2026/27 Skicircus season is scheduled to operate from 27 November 2026 to 4 April 2027, subject to snow and operational conditions.

The timing is important for guests planning an early December break. Forsthofgut’s new offerings begin on 1 December, only days after the regional ski season starts.

Austria’s Winter Market Remains Resilient

The development comes against a backdrop of sustained demand for Austrian holidays. Statistics Austria recorded 48.17 million arrivals and 157.29 million overnight stays in 2025.

The average stay stood at 3.3 nights. International demand remained a particularly important component of the national accommodation market.

Winter performance was also robust. Austria recorded 74.2 million overnight stays during the 2025/26 winter season.

International overnight stays increased by 3.1%. Arrivals from international markets rose 3.9%.

Several important source markets posted particularly strong growth. US overnight stays increased 13.9% during the season, while Poland rose 10.4%.

The UK market also recorded 2.5% growth in overnight stays. Germany increased 2.1%, while the Netherlands rose 2.0%.

These figures provide useful context for new premium winter products. Hotels are operating in a market where international demand remains significant.

At the same time, competition between Alpine destinations continues to centre on the quality of the overall holiday. Skiing remains fundamental, but food, wellness, family entertainment and non-ski activities increasingly shape destination choice.

Why The Changes Matter For Travellers

The three additions create a more complete winter programme within the property itself. Guests can now potentially structure an entire day around skiing, dining, skating and evening entertainment.

That matters particularly for families. Parents and children can pursue different activities without necessarily travelling away from the hotel.

It also benefits non-skiers. A companion who does not want to ski can still access the restaurant, mountain views and ice-skating programme.

Food-focused travellers gain another reason to visit. Restaurant 1617 emphasises regional Austrian cooking, while the Grill introduces a more contemporary fire-led format.

For longer stays, the expanded programme can reduce dependence on external excursions. However, travellers should still check operating schedules before departure.

The regional tourism authority notes that winter conditions can influence activity and opening dates. Visitors should verify live lift and piste information before travelling.

What A Winter Stay Could Look Like

A typical day can now combine several distinct experiences. Guests could begin with skiing in the Skicircus before returning for a relaxed afternoon.

The new ice rink provides another option after the slopes. Families can skate while other guests choose wellness or leisure activities.

Dinner then becomes part of the destination experience. Restaurant 1617 offers traditional Austrian flavours, while the Grill provides a smaller fire-focused alternative.

The structure reflects an important development in luxury winter travel. Resorts are increasingly selling time well spent, rather than simply accommodation close to a ski lift.

For travellers, this means the value of a winter resort increasingly depends on what happens between ski runs. Dining, wellness, entertainment and family programming can determine how much of the holiday is spent on property.

Planning The 2026/27 Leogang Escape

Travellers considering an early winter trip should distinguish between hotel opening dates and regional ski operations. The Skicircus is scheduled to begin winter operations on 27 November 2026.

Forsthofgut’s own winter packages already cover several periods across the season. Its current website lists Winter Joy stays from 29 November to 19 December 2026 and later winter periods.

The property also lists winter wellness and ski-focused packages. Prices and inclusions vary according to the selected dates and accommodation.

Skiers can also access lift-ticket services through the hotel. The property states that its nearby Asitzbahn is around 200 metres away.

That proximity remains useful even with the new slopeside restaurant. The hotel can function as a base for skiing while its new dining and leisure facilities expand the evening programme.

Travellers should nevertheless confirm lift schedules, snow conditions and individual restaurant availability before departure. Early-season dates can remain weather-dependent across the Alps.

A Broader Winter Experience Takes Shape

Forsthofgut’s 2026 additions point towards a broader definition of the modern Alpine holiday. Restaurant 1617, the 20-seat Grill and the new ice rink will create a stronger mix of food, recreation and mountain culture.

The development also fits the wider evolution of Saalfelden Leogang. The region combines major ski infrastructure with cross-country trails, winter hiking and other non-ski experiences.

For international travellers, the appeal lies in that combination. A visit can include serious skiing while retaining space for food, family time and slower evenings.

Austria’s strong winter accommodation figures provide a favourable market backdrop. Forsthofgut is responding by adding experiences that can keep guests engaged well beyond the piste.

As winter 2026/27 approaches, Leogang is therefore positioning itself around more than skiing alone. The destination’s proposition increasingly combines Alpine sport, regional gastronomy, family entertainment and high-end relaxation.