Hotel St. Daniel: Award-Winning Eco-Hotel in the Slovenian Karst Region

A small linen pouch filled with salt and sage leaves—sewn by local seamstress Tjaša—hangs on the door of every room at Hotel St. Daniel. It’s a small gesture in a hotel that thrives on hundreds of such gestures: locally grown vegetables on the plate, wine from the farmer down the road, a farm that has been returned to the community that has been cultivating it for centuries.

Welcome to Hruševica, a hamlet near Štanjel in the Slovenian Karst region, where Nina and Miran Prodnik have converted an old farmhouse into one of Europe’s most award-winning eco-hotels.

The Karst region—the region that gave its name to the geological phenomenon known worldwide as “karst”—is just a stone’s throw from Trieste and the Italian border, nestled among vineyards, oak forests, and limestone villages. Hotel St. Daniel isn’t just a place to stay—it’s the perfect starting point for exploring the region at the pace it deserves: leisurely, and with an appreciation for what has been growing and thriving here for centuries.

From Farm to Award-Winning Eco-Hotel

Nina, originally from the Vipava Valley and a nutritionist by training, and Miran, who hails from Koroška in northern Slovenia, bought a neglected farm in Hruševica and converted it into Hotel St. Daniel. Their guiding principle: sustainability isn’t just a trend, but the most logical way to practice hospitality in a region where the land has always shaped the way people live.

That decision garnered international attention. In 2017, Hotel St. Daniel became the first accommodation in the Karst region to receive the international Bio Hotels certification—a label awarded to hotels that operate in an organic and environmentally friendly manner across all areas (food, energy, building materials, waste management). The German travel magazine GEO SAISON included the hotel in its list of the 100 best hotels in Europe, in the sustainable development category. In 2024, the hotel’s restaurant was named one of the three best organic restaurants in Europe by the EU Organic Awards.

Rooms, Suites, and Apartments

The hotel offers a handful of room types, each with its own name and character, all housed in the original farmhouse:

• Standard double room: compact and simply furnished, with a private bathroom and a view of the courtyard or the countryside.
• Superior Double Room (37 m²): more space and natural light, suitable for 2 to 3 guests and longer stays.
• Suite (33 m²): spread over two floors with separate living and sleeping areas, for extra privacy.
• Apartment 1 and Apartment 2 (70 m² each): the most spacious option, with multiple sleeping areas and a shared living area, suitable for families or longer stays.

Sustainability: A Daily Practice Rooted in Our DNA

At Hotel St. Daniel, sustainability is not a separate initiative alongside regular business operations, but rather the foundation of every decision. This translates into concrete choices:

• Recycling and composting of all organic waste from the hotel and kitchen.
• Heating from non-polluting sources and reduction of light pollution around the building.
• Only organic cleaning supplies and personal care products are provided in the rooms.
• Conscious water use, evident, for example, in the compact bathrooms (a design choice that reflects the karst landscape, where water is scarce and precious).
• Furniture made from recycled wood and bedding made from organic, hypoallergenic cotton and linen.
• Ongoing partnerships with local, organic food and wine producers (see below).

The hotel also works with a regular group of local organic suppliers, including Bio mlin Stražar (flour, seeds, oils), Ipavec Farm (fruits and vegetables), Iztok Obad Farm (olive oil), Evrosad (apples), Ekološke dobrote Kravos (bread and pastries), Ivan Kobold Farm (raspberries and blueberries), and Škapin Farm (dairy products). At dinner, the hotel serves organic and biodynamic wines from local wineries such as Derenda, Santei, and Guerila.

Food and drink: one set menu per evening, no à la carte options

The restaurant at Hotel St. Daniel does not have a fixed menu. The meals are prepared using fresh, seasonal, and organic ingredients sourced from the local region that day, served as a four-course dinner. During the winter months (October through May), dinner is served at 6:00 p.m.; during the summer (June through September), it is served at 7:00 p.m. (for all guests together).

Breakfast, an organic buffet featuring products from local partners, is included with every stay and is served between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Wellness: The Healing Spa

In addition to a heated swimming pool during the season (May through September, open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., weather permitting and unheated), the hotel features the Healing Spa: a self-guided experience that begins on a jade mat and continues with a herbal sauna, a full-spectrum sauna, relaxation on heated stones, and sound therapy.

The Healing Spa requires a fee and is open only to adults. It is open only in the morning (two time slots, usually at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.), closed during the summer months, and by reservation only.

Things to Do Near Hotel St. Daniel

Its location in the Karst region makes the hotel a great base for hikers and cyclists. Several themed trails start from Hruševica, including Fabiani’s Way, Pliska’s Way, and Rilke’s Way, named after famous figures with ties to the region. For cyclists, there’s the Kostanjevica–Novelo–Temnica–Trstelj route. If you want to go further: Štanjel, Lipica, and the Škocjan Caves are a short distance away, and Trieste, with Miramare Castle, is about half an hour away.

Activities

• Hiking and biking along themed trails starting right from the hotel.
• A base for exploring Štanjel, Lipica, the Škocjan Caves, and the coast near Trieste.

Practical Information

• Address: Hruševica 1b, 6222 Štanjel, Slovenia
• Check-in / check-out: 2 :00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. / by 10:00 a.m.
• Breakfast: Organic buffet, included, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• Dinner: Four-course menu , winter at 6:00 p.m. / summer at 7:00 p.m., reservations required
• Pets: Welcome up to 10 kg; a surcharge applies; not allowed in the wellness areas
• Parking: Free
• Accessibility: About 30 minutes from Trieste, just over an hour from Ljubljana

Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel St. Daniel

Is Hotel St. Daniel a good choice if you want to combine a visit to the Karst region with a trip to Trieste?

Yes. The hotel is centrally located in the Karst region and about half an hour from Trieste and the Italian coast, making it easy to combine a stay here with a visit to northeastern Italy.

Are pets allowed at Hotel St. Daniel?

Yes, dogs weighing up to 10 kilograms are welcome for an additional fee. Pets are not allowed in the wellness areas for hygiene reasons.

Is dinner included with every stay?

No, breakfast is included with your stay; the four-course dinner is offered separately and requires a reservation in advance.

Is the Healing Spa open year-round?

No, the Healing Spa is closed during the summer months and is open only in the morning, by advance reservation. The outdoor pool, on the other hand, is available only during the summer (May–September).

When is the best time to visit Hotel St. Daniel?

May and June are considered particularly pleasant because of the long days and mild weather, making them ideal for hiking and biking. July and August are warmer and have a more relaxed pace, with the pool open.