Socialite Olivia Palermo’s Guide to Famed German Spa Town Baden-Baden
As socialite and fashion influencer Olivia Palermo neared her 10th wedding anniversary, she dreamed of a favorite spa town: Baden-Baden, on the edge of the Black Forest in south-western Germany.
Palermo—who has 8.2 million Instagram followers and is the founder and CCO of the Olivia Palermo Group—had originally wed her husband Johannes Huebl, a German model and photographer, in a small private ceremony in Bedford, N.Y., back in 2014. Back then, she kept it casual, wearing a Carolina Herrera cashmere knit sweater and tulle skirt over shorts to her ceremony. Now, it was time to have the celebration they’d always wanted.
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“We decided to throw a great party,” Palermo tells Robb Report. “We wanted a nice intimate setting with all of our friends and to have a great time. The majority of our friends love wellness, love culinary, and love to travel around the world, so I also kept that in mind. It wasn’t only our needs, but our friend’s needs.”
The native Upper East Sider—who played a pivotal role on The Hills spinoff, The City, in 2008—had discovered Baden-Baden back in 2012. She had stayed at the Villa Stéphanie Spa Suite at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, and it left a lasting impression. It seemed like the perfect setting for a fabulous party and an excuse to dress to the nines (on repeat). And it was.
The party began on June 28, with a welcome cocktail party for their 64 guests on the hotel’s lawn looking out on the Oos River.
“It’s a great place to get sort of lost in,” Palermo says.
The event was such a success that she now wants to spread the joy around. Below is Palermo’s guide to the perfect weekend in Baden-Baden.
Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa
Located just an hour and a half from Frankfurt airport, this Oetker Collection hotel houses Baden-Baden’s premier suites. “It’s super private and absolutely beautiful,” Palermo says.
It’s even more private at this very moment. Currently, the main building, constructed in 1872, is undergoing a massive renovation that’ll wrap up in 2025. The first five floors, which include 78 rooms, will be upgraded with new electrical and air-conditioning technology, water pipes, and bathrooms. The hotel is operating during this time with a capacity of just 22 rooms and suites for guests, including the Villa Stéphanie—where Palermo and guests stayed. The stately bedroom suites provide direct access to the spa, and the corner suites have their own saunas and steam rooms.
“We love that hotel,” she says.
Wintergarten Restaurant, Fritz & Felix Restaurant, and Oleander Bar
Palermo’s festivities continued at the Wintergarten Restaurant with an epically long table carefully curated with cherry blossom tree arrangements. The evening ended with an afterparty at Fritz & Felix Restaurant and the Oleander Bar. The next day, the party moved to Brenners Lounge at Iffezheim Racecourse for a luncheon and then concluded at Ebanat at Kopp Winery for the evening.
The healthy couple wanted all the culinary offerings to be authentic and locally sourced but also light with meat as well as many vegetarian options.
“It’s warm outside, and we don’t want you to feel like you’re in a coma [after eating]” Palermo says.
They offered a full bar at every event, but Bollinger was the favorite drink of the weekend.
Villa Stéphanie Spa & Wellbeing
Part of the appeal of the destination for the couple was the spa. A renowned wellness hub that has led European spa innovation since the 1980s, Baden-Baden is part of the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, which use their thermal mineral waters to enhance health. In addition to the hotel’s proximity to the city’s historic thermal baths and springs, Brenner’s Medical Care Center is a real draw. It has access to top doctors and specialists, preventive health care, comprehensive exams, and even aesthetic dentistry.
“We wanted our guests to feel their best throughout the weekend,” Palermo says, who enjoys starting the day at 5 a.m. with a steam room workout and a Tracy Anderson class. “For you to have the best sense of yourself, you need to make time for yourself, no matter what you do.”
Iffezheim Racecourse
Palermo’s day-two luncheon came with an excursion to the Iffezheim Racecourse, which holds 10 race days a year. Guests drank rosé as they took in a stunning view of the finishing line from the Brenners Lounge in the Club Tower. There’s a large covered terrace overlooking the home straight. The manager of the racetrack gave a tutorial on how the races work as well as the rich history of the Iffezheim, which has been operating since 1858. As you can imagine, guests followed the assignment of looking fabulous for the day.
“It was all over-the-top girls, with ball gowns and flats and all day with sunglasses,” Palermo says.
Gero Mure and the Fabergé Museum
Palermo also recommends wandering the streets, as there are many beautiful boutiques—like chic shoe shop Gero Mure.
“Some of the girls found some really cute shoe stores, and they were very happy,” she says. “They have great things that you can add to your home.”
The Faberge Museum, a privately owned treasure trove of bejeweled eggs, is also a controversial must-see.
“Something that I love is having time to be able to walk around, and take time for yourself, and that’s something we wanted for a guest between all of our events,” Palermo adds. “The great thing is as you walk around you see things, you go in person and something always catches your eye. That resonated with a lot of our guests.”
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