Osthoff Resort and the Old World Christmas Market

In December there’s nothing more magical than a holiday-themed getaway, and no one does Christmas better than the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Our family had an incredibly busy fall and somehow even busier start to winter, so we were all craving a magical experience to kick off the holiday season and get us in the mood to celebrate.

It took a flurry of packing for four little kids (no easy task) and driving through a snowstorm to reach the resort. When we stepped foot inside the hotel, though, we knew we had made the right decision. Twinkling Christmas lights, velvety red ribbons, and green garlands adorned the already elegant hotel, and we truly felt we had stepped into a winter wonderland.

For Midwest families looking for a Christmas weekend getaway, be sure to book a weekend at the Osthoff Resort in early December. Between the gorgeous holiday decor, the Old World Christmas Market on property, and numerous holiday-themed activities for kids, nothing will get you in the Christmas mood faster!

Disclosure: Our stay at the Osthoff Resort was hosted in exchange for editorial consideration. This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What to Know about the Osthoff Resort Before You Visit

The Osthoff Resort is located in Elkhart Lake, WI, a small town in the east central portion of the state. It is 1 hour from Milwaukee, 1 hour and 45 minutes from Madison, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Chicago, and 5 hours from the Twin Cities.
The Osthoff was founded in 1886 by a German entrepreneur by the name of Otto Osthoff. At the time it was a luxury hotel for the well-to-do from Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, and beyond.
In the 1950s, the Osthoff was sold and converted into an arts camp, but by 1989, new investors turned the property back into a resort. From there it developed into the AAA Diamond Resort that it is today.
The Osthoff specializes in outdoor recreation and hosting events on-property, so there is plenty to do year-round.
There are multiple options for dining at the Osthoff. Otto’s Restaurant is family-friendly and serves American cuisine. Concourse Restaurant and Lounge is a great place for lunch and dinner with chef-driven cuisine. The Elk Room is a large open space for appetizer and drinks. You can also order room service, or have your food on the Lake Deck during the warmer months.
There are one-, two-, and three-bedroom guest suites to choose from, so families of all sizes will find accommodations to fit their group.

Accommodations at the Osthoff Resort

Our family stayed in a 2-bedroom guest room at the Osthoff Resort, and we loved how spacious it was! In fact, it was more like a condo than a hotel room!

There were, of course, 2 bedrooms. The master bedroom had a king size bed and an en suite bathroom, and the second bedroom had a queen size bed, and was across the hall from a second bathroom.

I was a huge fan of the fully functional kitchen with a full size refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and sink. This is something I love to see in accommodations for big families, because we love to save money by bringing and preparing our own food.

There’s a small dining room table which opens up to a cozy living room area. The best part is the functional gas fireplace under the tv, especially during these cold winter months where you’ll need to warm up after outdoor recreation, a carriage ride, or just cozying up with a movie!

Finally, the living room is connected to the balcony, which would be perfect for the warmer months. I could just picture having my morning coffee on the patio while enjoying the view of the lake, or sharing after-dinner cocktails with my husband after the kids go to bed.

If you’re like us and have babies and toddler, you should be aware that cribs or pack & plays are provided for a nightly fee. If you want to avoid the fee, you could bring your own along!

Amenities at the Osthoff Resort

When staying at hotels, we often find ourselves with time to fill where we need to entertain the little ones, so it’s always nice to have resort amenities!

The Osthoff definitely has everything you would look for in a family-friendly hotel. There is an indoor swimming pool along with 2 indoor whirlpools. During the warmer months you also have the option of 2 outdoor pools as well!

The Osthoff also has private beach access on beautiful Elkhart Lake, so if you enjoy outdoor water activities like kayaking, paddle boats, SUP, canoes, or fishing, the resort has everything available to rent. You can even rent a pontoon boat by the hour! While these didn’t come in handy during our winter stay, it has us itching to come back during the summer months!

You’ll also find a fitness center, a gift shop, a spa, and an arcade and game room on property.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try the game room, but my kids begged to go in each time we walked past, so that’s another reason we’ll have to come back for another stay!

Restaurants at the Osthoff Resort

As I mentioned above, there are several dining options to choose from at the Osthoff.

Otto’s Restaurant

We ate both breakfast and dinner at Otto’s Restaurant, which serves American cuisine, and is very kid-friendly. They offer children’s menus with crayons and coloring pages, which helped to keep our little ones busy while we waited for our food.

We didn’t have to wait long, though! Despite a full restaurant, the service was quick and friendly. Our kids loved their grilled cheese and corn dogs, and I even had a grown-up version of the grilled cheese! My husband loved his turkey BLT wrap, and the fries that came with the sandwiches were delicious.

Since we were at the Osthoff right before Christmas, I couldn’t resist trying the spiked hot chocolate, a seasonal specialty! it was the perfect drink to warm me up and get me into the holiday spirit.

Parfait at Otto's Restaurant at the Osthoff Resort

For breakfast, I enjoyed the parfait, while my kids loved the buttermilk pancakes. My mom came to stay with us overnight, since my husband had to get to work the next day, and she said the Otto’s Omelet was amazing.

The Elk Room

Perhaps my favorite experience during our stay was having a coffee in the Elk Room. This coffee and cocktail lounge is spacious and open, yet cozy at the same time. The fireplace was so inviting with comfortable chairs and couches nearby, and the most gorgeous Christmas tree was set up for the season.

I could have spent all day in the Elk Room sipping my latte if it weren’t for my active 1 and 4 year old pulling me away!

Old World Christmas Market

Old World Christmas Market Elkhart Lake.jpg

Something that sets the Osthoff Resort apart from other hotels during the holiday season is the Old World Christmas Market they set up on property each year.

For 10 days each December, guests can walk over to the traditional German Christkindlmarkt in a heated tent with booths set up selling food, Russian nesting dolls, crafts, apparel, decor, jewelry, scarves, alpaca products, and more!

The Old World food court has giant warm pretzels, schnitzel, potato pancakes, and, of course, hot glüwein in an adorable and festive souvenir mug. The entire experience had me feeling like I was at a European Christmas market!

My mom and I shopped, sipped our glüwein, and enjoyed the atmosphere while the kids ate sugar cookies and looked at the beautiful artisanal products and decorations.

While my kids did absolutely great there, and it is a family-friendly environment, I would just recommend bringing a stroller and keeping them close! It’s busy and bustling inside the market (as it should be!), so make it easy on yourself to keep tabs on kids that love to wander or run away.

Other Holiday Activities

Osthoff Resort property decorated for Christmas

We stayed on a Sunday night into a Monday, so we missed out on some of the weekend holiday activities. However, there are tons of fun experiences to get your whole family in the mood for Christmas! Check the website for: