Perched dramatically above the chocolate-box town of Brixen, My Arbor is less hotel, more architectural fantasy – a towering ‘tree hotel’ set on angled stilts with sweeping valley views and serious Bond villain energy. From the moment you walk into the soaring atrium, scented with pine and flickering with firelight, you know you’ve left the real world far, far behind.  

Rooms – all facing those jaw-dropping Dolomite views – are minimalist-meets-cosy with oversized beds, balconies, and dreamy daybeds you’ll barely want to leave. But spa-lovers, be warned: you’ll need to. My Arbor takes wellness seriously. The vast spa spans two levels, with everything from candlelit massage rooms to steamy outdoor whirlpools – and yes, an entire no-clothes-allowed sauna zone. Once you’ve recovered from the initial British modesty wobble, it’s strangely liberating. Don’t miss the wild “sauna infusions”, where essential oil-laced ice balls are wafted around to music by semi-naked sauna masters with towels. It’s steamy, slightly bonkers and absolutely brilliant. 

Food and drink are equally well-considered. Aperitifs are crafted with homemade pine and rose syrups, and every stay includes an elegant five-course dinner that’s surprisingly flexible – mix and match from the menu or graze the generous salad and veg buffet like a wellness-loving woodland creature. Expect South Tyrolean classics with a modern twist, mountain-fresh ingredients from the hotel’s own farm, and the kind of desserts that look like they should be behind glass. The wine list is local and lush (13 G&Ts on the cocktail menu too, just FYI), and breakfast is so lavish it deserves its own awards ceremony. 

If you can tear yourself away from the spa circuit and blanket-strewn chill zones, there’s yoga, forest bathing, guided hikes and skiing just minutes from the door. Brixen itself is a fairy tale town worth a wander, especially come Christmas when the Bishop’s Palace turns into a light-filled wonderland. But honestly? You could come here, never leave the hotel, and still return home a more soothed, stylish, slightly steamier version of yourself. Just don’t forget your sliders – and maybe leave the modesty at home.