LÜNEBURG, Germany — Guests arriving at the Potato Hotel in northern Germany are greeted by a schnaps served in a potato-turned-tumbler.
After taking a bite from the canapés - potato-zucchini-rolls and sweet-potato pie - it should be clear that potatoes rule all at this cozy refurbished farm to the south-east of Hamburg.
While waiting for the room key - adorned with a stone potato - visitors can purchase sacks of freshly harvested potatoes at reception.
The rooms, some of which used to be cattle pens, are named after old varieties like "Gloria," "Hansa" and "Clivia."
Olaf Stehr, who has run the establishment for 30 years, proudly explains that it is the only potato hotel in the whole world.
Open 365 days a year, it draws guests from around the globe, he says.
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Stehr fondly remembers when managers from Japan's largest chip factory came to stay.
"They were delighted; we cooked Japanese-German recipes together."
Regulars enjoy the tranquility
Angelika Offermann hasn't traveled as far as from Japan, but she's been to the Potato Hotel an impressive 28 times - or maybe 29, she can't remember exactly how many, she says.
Offermann, who is from a town a roughly 2-hour car ride away, initially came with a group of friends.
Years later, she still regularly returns to the hotel on her own, to enjoy the quiet in the village of Lübeln that counts less than 100 residents.
"During the day, I hire a bike, cycle about 20 kilometers and stop somewhere for an ice cream. After that, I relax and look forward to the evening meal," she says.
Many guests are attracted by the tranquility of the nearby Elbe river, or the many walking trails and cycling routes in the Lüneburg Heath region, with tips often exchanged at the breakfast buffet, according to Offermann.
How it all began
The Potato Hotel was born some 35 years ago, when Stehr's family began offering getaways for the farmers of the region at their horse farm.
Payment could be made in kind, with the Stehrs hoping for hay and straw, which was scarce at the time.
But the farmers brought masses of potatoes instead. Since they were unsuitable as horse food, the unique guesthouse was born.
Potato wellness
Offermann has made friends with Gabi Hoffmann from Berlin who is staying for five days.
"I’ve really been able to relax here," she says, praising the staff for their attentiveness.
Yoga sessions are offered three times a day, alongside a meditation practice in the evening.
Guests can also enjoy several potato treatments, including face masks and full-body wraps.
Heide Brohzaht, who has been in charge of treatments at the hotel for decades, mixes cooked, dark-yellow Princess potatoes with oil and honey to make a face paste, while offering tips for making beauty products at home.
Six cooks are in charge of dinner. The main star? Potato of course.
The hotel employs a total of 20 people, while also offering work opportunities for young travelers who are looking for a free stay as well as paid-for German lessons.
"We always have young people from all over the world, and they’re all forced to communicate in foreign languages," says Sylvia Methfessel, Stehr's right-hand woman. "That really brings the team together."
"It's exciting and educational," says Dagmar Lach while preparing the evening menu in the kitchen. Next to her, Gabriel, a temporary worker from Spain's Canary Islands, is peeling buckets full of potatoes. "I like Germany," he says with a smile. He doesn’t speak English, but he's learning German every day.
A nod to the Rolling Stones
Stehr notes that many of his cooks have been working for the hotel for a very long time, including one that has been here for more than 30 years.
"It's actually my second home; I only go back to my flat to sleep," says chef Lach with a grin.
The hotel has 35 rooms. As if the potato theme wasn't quirky enough, one is dedicated to the Rolling Stones, in a nod to a nearby Stones Fan Museum. Visitors to the museum get a discount at the Potato Hotel.
