Soncna Hisa

Eating

Breakfast is the only meal officially served, although snacks are available and dinners can be catered on request. Served in a sunny, glass-walled dining room, we were delighted to find a big buffet spread, with options ranging from the super healthy (cereals, nuts, organic fresh fruit salad, pro-bacteria drinks) to the more decadent (cheeses, salamis, pasta salads and desserts). Fruit juice was freshly squeezed and a coffee machine piped out delicious fresh brews.

If you're staying put for the day, there are various snacks on offer from the bar - Caprese, Ceasar or buckwheat salads or a more hearty spread of tuna, sausages, minced lard, cucumbers and homemade breads (yes, all together!). If you're going biking or walking, you might want to take a picnic lunch - ask in advance.

Cold dinners (a range of local dishes) can be ordered in advance, but the usual arrangement is that the hotel book you a table at one of 2 local restaurants: Tramšek and Rajh. Both are very good and offer a choice of a set menu or à la carte. Taxis there and back can be arranged but it's a bit of a hassle and you'll be better off driving.

We visited Rajhand dined heartily and happily: a shared ham and mushroom plate, beef goulash, beef escalopes in mustard and onion sauce, mushroom risotto and buckwheat pancakes with raspberry jam. Our waitress was charming, and the restaurant itself lovely - big leather booths, smart white table linens and a vast array of glasswear (we went with the suggested wines to accompany each course; all excellent). Other tempting dishes included duck, a farmers' plate with smoked sausages and black pudding, foal, Christmas goose and homemade strudels.