Spa- and foodie hotel with own vineyard (and wine production) in the lush beech forests of South Western Sweden
Ästad Vingård / Tvååker / Halland / Sweden
I love people that just go for it. People that dare to take risks and try something new. That seems to run in the Carlsson family. Back in the 1946 they took over a small farm in the Åkulla beech forest of Halland, in South West Sweden. In 1985 Rolf and his wife Ann-Catrine took over the farm from Rolf’s partens and decided to try something that was not that common back then, organic milk production. In addition to this move, they opened a farm café and built some rooms for visitors to stay over night. I guess one can say this was the start of Ästad. Fast forward to 2010 and their three children, Linda, Mattias and Daniel took over the reign of the farm and in 2011 they made the daring decision to plant the first vines of what is now a vine yard of more than 30,000 vines. The kids also saw the potential in the site and started to add more rooms and a really great spa. And this is Ästad Vingård.
We stayed in one of the rooms in what is called Sjöparken. An addition that as added in 2023 which consists of 28 rooms built over a small lake. The draw of these rooms (there are several different kinds of rooms with different level of comfort to choose from) are that they have a terrace from where you can take a dip in a natural pool and a private sauna. The look of the room is very classic Scandi with a Japanese nod. The style is minimalist with low slung furniture and most of the inside is wood and stone.
One thing that must not be missed when staying here is to visit the Sinnenas Spa, a huge indoor-/outdoor spa area with different saunas, pools and recreation spaces. We came here in the dead of winter so it was extra cozy to scurry between the different outdoor pools and into one of the many saunas. The most fascinating one for sure, is the underwater sauna located in one of the cottages.
The spa isn’t the only big draw here at Ästad. It has become something of a foodie destination, thanks to Michelin star restaurant ÄNG. It opened in 2019 and in 2021 the restaurant earned its first Michelin star. ÄNG later moved to a new, purpose-built glass building, located in the middle of a meadow, and reopened in 2022. If you are not a fancy eater, there is a second restaurant on-site, DDD, where we had our dinner which was part of the package we booked. And even though it isn’t a Michelin star restaurant, let me tell you we had an amazing dinner, so the ambition level at Ästad is high all around.
Welcome to Ästad Vingård. M is heading to reception to check us in.
Check in is done in the bar where you can order a glass of their own wines while one of the staff guides you through the process.
The lovely hotel shop. Due to the laws in Sweden you can buy some of the local wine to bring home, but only if you take an onsite educational course first.
Heading to our room. We booked one of the rooms in Sjöparken. A number of interlinked houses built on a small lake.
The style of our room was a combination of classic Scandi and some Japanese elements. I have seen this before, especially when traveling in Japan, that there is a close kinship between Japan and Scandinavian design.
One end of the tree house is all floor-to-ceiling windows allowing the outside in.
The design is all wood and earthy, warm colors.
I think this is my favorite photo from our stay here. I love how the light in this photo and how the rugged surface of the stone basin is visible as a consequence of how the light falls.
When you have your own bathing spot, you have to take advantage of that. Mango is brave enough to go into the freezing water…
…and then run into the warmth of our own private sauna.
I am walking around checking out the premises. This glass house is where you’ll find Michelin starred restaurant ÅNG.
There are several different kinds of accommodation to choose from. These classic log cabins are so cute. Especially so when covered in fresh snow.
Heading to the outdoor spa area to check it out.
In this house, you’ll find my favorite sauna, the under-water sauna.
Darkness is upon us and it is time to head to the restaurant for dinner. Not ÄNG but the second on-site restaurant, Logen.
Dinner time! And below you can see all the delicious things we got to eat.
We had booked a package where we had early lunch and then access to the spa.
The interior of one of the separate sauna buildings. It was the furthest away from the main building so we had it all to ourselves. I don’t think anyone else dared to face the freezing cold weather in just a robe and slippers.
Back to our room and time to call it a night.
Morning has broken and we are out on a short walk…
…before breakfast, which is served in the same restaurant as where dinner was served the night before. Breakfast is (mostly) a la carte. This is the Swedish version of French Toast, called Fattiga Riddare (or Poor Knights in English. Yes, very strange name indeed).
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are curious to visit (and stay) at a Swedish wine producer (yes, you read that correctly!), located in rural Halland in South Western Sweden. If you like hotels with a great spa, sleek Scandi design and excellent food, you will enjoy every minute of your stay at Ästad Vingård.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is that you can stay in a room with our own, private sauna. I am not a huge fan of being in a sauna with a bunch of randos. So to have our own little sauna is such a treat. And what is even better is that our rooms was in these small houses built on a small lake, so we could take an ice-cold plunge directly from our terrace, and then speed back into the sauna afterwards.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to book a package deal that includes dinner so you get to sample the great food they serve at the hotel. And if you are a real foodie, skip the package deal and try to secure a table at ÄNG that has a Michelin star.
If you like this hotel you might also like:
Hiša Raduha / Luče, Slovenia
VYN / Brantevik, Sweden
Mesnerhaus / Mauterndorf, Austria
