Forestis, a luxury wellness hotel perched in the Italian Dolomites, has debuted Yera, a fine dining restaurant carved directly into the mountainside.
Honoring heritage at Yera
Hidden from view and accessed via a discreet woodland path, Yera offers a deeply immersive gastronomic experience that honors the region’s natural beauty and ancestral heritage.
The name Yera means “harvest” in the language of the Rhaetian people, who once inhabited the region and lived in harmony with the forest, guided by the rhythms of nature.
Forestis owners Teresa and Stefan Hinteregger, together with executive chef Roland Lamprecht, conceived the space as a tribute to that heritage, celebrating alpine farming traditions, craftsmanship, and the primal connection between food and the earth.
Rooted in the earth
Architect Armin Sader of ASAGGIO took inspiration from ancient cave-building techniques to create a structure that feels timeless and protected. Walls and floor are defined by deep red soil sourced from the Peitlerkofel mountain, visible from Forestis, while the ceiling’s wooden substructure mimics the shape of an inverted ship hull.
At the center of Yera is a communal fire pit, encircled by tree trunks that serve as both seats and tables. Guests can watch Lamprecht and his team live-cook a menu rooted in “forest cuisine” that channels the ancient principle of gathering in circle around a fire.
The restaurant was conceptualized to avoid traditional distractions—there is a phone-free policy, for instance—so guests can fully be fully rooted in the moment and the people around them.
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