Luxury dining has long been synonymous with impeccably plated courses served on fine porcelain, bespoke tasting menus, sommelier-curated wine pairings, and exclusive, often invite-only experiences that redefine dining into an immersive experience.
Today, true luxury is evolving—and it has never been more compelling. It is no longer defined by grandeur alone, but by novelty, intention, and emotional resonance. In South Tyrol, Italy, with the launch of Yera, the owners, Teresa and Stefan Hinteregger, are pioneering a new era of mindful luxury.
A Celebration of the Roots
Tucked behind the Forestis retreat, a quiet path leads you to Yera, a culinary sanctuary offering an immersive sensory experience. Peiterkofel, the twin-peaked mountain, stands opposite, majestically. Yera's architectural design is an homage to the old world. The wooden substructure of its roof curves like the hull of an upturned ship, reminding the forgotten eras. Circular tables arranged with intention, recalling a simpler time, when communities gathered around fire and food, sharing warmth, food, and connection with their loved ones.
Yera is a hidden gem situated in a cave into the mountainside within the historic Forestis house, next to the Alpine Art Nouveau building from 1912 that is heritage-listed. So, dining at Yera isn’t just a culinary experience; it’s a journey into history and culture.
A Luxe Taste of Forest Cuisine
At Yera, Executive Chef Roland Lamprecht and his team are devoted to preserving culinary traditions in a way that feels almost unimaginable in today's fast-paced world, where so much pulls us away from our roots.
“We do nothing different from our ancestors. We use traditional techniques such as fermenting, salting, drying, smoking, and working with low temperatures and infusions. We use old techniques in a modern way. We source our ingredients from the regions of the main Alpine ridge,” says Lamprecht.
The connection is tangible. Dishes are crafted and served amidst the very forest from which their ingredients are picked. Think spruce shoots, wild berries, nettles, wild licorice, tree mushrooms, coltsfoot, ground elder–all handpicked for authentic flavour, rooted in nature.
There’s no printed menu. Instead, diners are served thoughtfully curated seasonal dishes, crafted from a mix of hyper-local ingredients, herbs, and forest finds. Chef Lamprecht and his team prepare each course around a central open-fire pit right before your eyes, drawing you to the soul of the ingredients. Each dish is paired with a low-alcohol beverage, naturally fermented in-house and never exceeding five per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).
Dining unfolds around tree trunks that serve as tables, with intentionally unconventional cutlery, small wooden sticks, or you are encouraged to simply eat with your hands. Yera's dining space strips away the superficial and draws you closer to what truly matters.
When any culinary experience reconnects you to simplicity and tradition, it can be incredibly powerful, and this is something we recommend for travellers seeking something less ordinary.
Information | Yera at Forestis, Italy
Seating capacity: 18 guests
Operational days: Tuesday to Saturday
Timings: 6:30 PM to approximately 10:30 PM
Access: Open to both Forestis guests and external diners (only by reservation)
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