Short break in the Black Forest with half board — relaxing 2 to 3 nights in the Upper Black Forest, featuring a Black Forest breakfast buffet in the morning and a fine 4-course regional menu in the evening. Here you will find all packages, half-board services and a sample menu from our kitchen.
A short break in the Black Forest with half board is the most straightforward way to get away for a few days — you book a package, the rest is taken care of. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price, you spend the day out in nature, on a hike or in the wellness area, and in the evening a 4-course menu featuring regional produce awaits you. At the Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde in Ühlingen-Birkendorf, we call this concept the „pampering package“ — it is the basis of all our short break offers in the Black Forest.
What does half-board mean at Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde?
Half-board at Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde is more than just breakfast and dinner. The half-board concept included in the pampering package comprises:
- Black Forest breakfast buffet – daily, a comprehensive spread of regional sausage and cheese varieties from local farmers, home-baked bread, fresh fruit, muesli, egg dishes and savoury Black Forest ham.
- 4-course regional set menu in the evening at the Sonnenhof restaurant — traditional Baden cuisine combined with modern touches, cooked by Ulrich Blatter and his team.
- „Sweet & Savoury in the Afternoon (1:30 pm to 4:30 pm) — Cake, sweet treats, savoury snacks and wellness teas in the Black Forest Lounge, OR alternatively a Packed lunch for your day trip.
- 1 × „nightcap“ Your choice after dinner in the Black Forest lounge.
This means that the half-board at the Sonnenhof is actually a „half-board plus“ — it covers not only breakfast and dinner, but also provisions in between.
Pampering package inclusive services — the basis of our short break packages
In addition to half-board, the pampering package includes the following services that make for a true short break in the Black Forest:
- Use of the spa area across 450 m² of indoor and 1,650 m² of outdoor space (indoor pool, Finnish sauna, textile sauna, outdoor loungers)
- Wellness bag with Bathrobe hire and Sauna towel hire per person in the room
- Bottle of mineral water in the room
- Free WLAN throughout the hotel
- Free car park right at the hotel (including EV charging facility)
Price: €66.90 per person per night in the pampering package. By booking online directly on our homepage, you also save up to 35 % compared to booking portals.
We are happy to offer extensions upon request: surcharge for a 5-course menu for €8 per person per day or the Aperitif and wine pairing (aperitif sparkling wine plus 3 × 0.15 l wine) for €20 per person and day. Both can also be booked as a one-off on individual days.
Sample menu: 4-course regional menu at the Sonnenhof restaurant
To give you an idea of what to expect in the evening, here is a typical sample menu as prepared in the Sonnenhof restaurant. The exact menu changes seasonally and according to the availability of regional produce.
Compliments of the chef
Tartare of Black Forest brook trout on beetroot carpaccio with roasted hazelnuts
Appetiser
Wild herb soup from the Hotzenwald with baked Black Forest smoked bacon and croutons
or
Homemade organic beef Maultaschen, served with glazed carrots and wild herb salad
Intermediate course
Confit of Black Forest trout on juniper berry cream with crispy fried potato chips
Main course
Medium-roasted saddle of venison from local game, served with red cabbage, chestnuts and celeriac purée
or
Braised pot roast of Baden pasture-raised beef, served with spätzle and beans
or (vegetarian)
Buckwheat risotto with chanterelles and wild herbs from the monastery garden
Dessert
Black Forest gateau „reinterpreted“ with kirsch parfait and chocolate praline crunch
or
Curd cheese cream with berry compote and poppy seed sponge cake
Upon request, we can adapt the menu to suit allergies, intolerances or special requirements. Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are always available — just let us know when making your reservation.
Short break packages: 2 or 3 nights with half board
2-night midweek package (Mon–Thu)
A classic for a short break between working days. Arrival on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, two overnight stays with half board, use of the wellness area, mineral water in the room, free parking. Ideal for an extended wellness weekend that isn’t really one — weekend surcharges do not apply, and the hotel is quieter.
Recommended connections: Hike in the Wutach Gorge, Day trip to the Feldberg or a extended day spa package.
3-night weekend package (Fri–Mon)
The slightly longer short break. Arrival on Friday, three nights with half board, Sunday breakfast, departure after breakfast on Monday — or not until late morning. This leaves time for two day trips and an extended spa day.
Recommended daily schedule: Friday arrival and gently settling in, Saturday hike along the Schluchsee Jägersteig, Sunday wellness day and massage. Also a combination with the Day trip to the Rhine Falls is popular.
3-night gourmet weekend with wine
Upgraded option: Three nights with half-board, plus aperitif and wine pairing on all three evenings, single supplement for the 5-course menu on Saturday evening. Plus: recommendation for a farm shop visit or a brewery tour (e.g. Rothaus) on Saturday morning.
What makes our half-board different from the rest
Three points that are important to us. First: Regionality. We buy our food predominantly from local farmers and producers in the High Black Forest — from brook char from the Wutach to game from local hunting. Where possible, we know our suppliers personally. Secondly: Craftsmanship. Our sauces are made from bone broth, we make the pasta and Spätzle ourselves, and the bread comes from our in-house oven. Thirdly: seasonality. What is not strictly in season does not make it to the plate — wild garlic and asparagus in spring, berries and wild herbs in summer, game and mushrooms in autumn, and root vegetables and classic roasts in winter.
Ulrich Blatter, hotelier and head chef in one, has built up this line over more than two decades. His ethos: „Traditional Baden cuisine combined with modern accents.“
Spa area as part of the short break
Half board includes the use of our wellness area: a 450 m² indoor and 1,650 m² outdoor area, a Finnish sauna (90 °C), a textile sauna with infusions (60 °C), an indoor pool and an outdoor relaxation area. After a hike in the Wutach Gorge or on the Feldberg, this is just the ticket — a sauna session, a cold shower, a break in your bathrobe, and then the 4-course menu in the evening.
Anyone who wants a more extensive wellness focus can complement the pampering package with a massage (book in advance) or a beauty treatment. Also Wellness in the Black Forest more generally, we have described in detail elsewhere.
Short break in the Black Forest with half board: Which season suits you?
A short break in the Black Forest with half board has a distinct character in every season — and our cuisine consciously caters to these differences. In Spring (April to June) the Southern Black Forest opens up with blooming mountain meadows, wild garlic in the valley bottom and the first asparagus dishes. Those planning a short break in the Black Forest with half board in April will experience our „wild garlic weeks“ with wild garlic Maultaschen, wild garlic soup and wild garlic pesto. The asparagus comes from the cultivation areas of the South Baden Rhine valley and is part of our menu until June.
I’m Summer (July to September) the focus shifts to lighter dishes with wild herbs, trout from the Alb valley and berry compotes for dessert. A short break in the Black Forest with half board in the summer combines early morning hikes, an afternoon in the spa area and a cool glass of Riesling with the starter.
The Autumn (October to November) is game season — roe deer, red deer and wild boar from local hunts, accompanied by chestnuts, savoy cabbage and root vegetables. Anyone who likes game dishes is best advised to plan a short break in the Black Forest with half-board during precisely this period. In the Winter (December to March) classic roast dishes, Black Forest ham, venison goulash and sweet dishes from the monastery kitchen dominate. With mulled wine as an apéritif and a braised pot roast as the main course, you are hitting the very traditional line.
Frequently asked questions about short breaks with half board
What is included in the short break half-board package at the Sonnenhof?
Breakfast buffet, 4-course regional dinner, afternoon snack OR packed lunch, a nightcap, use of the spa area, bathrobe and sauna towel for hire, mineral water in the room, complimentary Wi-Fi and parking.
What is the minimum number of nights I have to book?
The pampering package can be booked from one night upwards. For a classic short break, we recommend 2 to 3 nights — giving you enough time for a day trip, a spa day and at least two half-board evenings.
Is the half-board also suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We offer a vegetarian alternative for every course, and vegan menu options upon prior request. Please let us know your dietary requirements and any allergies when making your reservation.
Can I alternatively have dinner in the Black Forest Lounge?
The 4-course menu is part of the main Sonnenhof restaurant. In the Black Forest Lounge, there is a snack service in the afternoon and a nightcap plus a small menu in the evening — guests on the pampering package have dinner in the restaurant.
How do I book the pampering package with half board?
The easiest way is directly via our Pamper package page here you can see current prices and availability, and only as a direct booker will you receive the online discount of up to 35 % compared to booking portals.
How much does a short break with half board in the Black Forest cost?
The pampering package at Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde costs €66.90 per person per night (in addition to the room rate depending on the room category). Two midweek nights in a comfort room typically cost around €350 per person incl. half board — depending on the season and availability.
Is there an extra charge for a 5-course menu or wine pairing?
Yes. Surcharge for 5-course menu: €8 per person and day. Aperitif and wine pairing (aperitif sparkling wine and three 0.15l glasses of wine with the menu): €20 per person and day. Both can also be booked once for individual evenings.
Further resources regarding short breaks in the Black Forest
- Hochschwarzwald Tourism — Region, Places of Interest, Events
- Black Forest Tourism — overarching association with trip planner
- Southern Black Forest Nature Park — hiking maps and nature conservation information
- Wikipedia — Upper Black Forest: Region, Climate, Economy, Tourism
- Wikipedia — Baden cuisine: history, dishes, specialities
Reservation
Book directly online and save up to 35 % compared to booking portals — the exclusive direct-booker discount is only available via our homepage.
Telephone: +49 (0)7743 9201-0
E-mail: info@sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de
WhatsApp: +49 160 93232237
Wellness Hotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde, Schwarzwaldstraße 9, 79777 Ühlingen-Birkendorf, TOP WELLNESS HOTEL 2025.
Image credits: Pixabay, Pixabay — Pixabay Content Licence. Video: YouTube.
