The 9 absolute best hotels in Munich

If ever a Munich hotel felt like your most stylish friend’s apartment, it’s Cortiina. All of its rooms, and particularly the suites, are impeccably laid out, with parquet flooring, smooth pine furnishings and an array of beautiful fabrics from the soft-toned bed throws to the cosy armchairs. The on-site Grapes Wine Bar is a knockout restaurant in its own right, serving the likes of grilled octopus with salsiccia and salmon with a wild herb salad, as well as smaller bites to enjoy alongside one of the bar’s expertly chosen wines. Grapes also hosts the hotel breakfast, which includes excellent coffee and fresh dishes made using local ingredients. If all that weren’t enough, Cortiina is bang in the middle of the Altstadt, with Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt within easy walking distance.

Time Out tip: Like something you had for breakfast? You may be able to take home some of the same – Cortiina gets much of its produce from the Viktualienmarkt.

For those who appreciate sumptuous history and elegance, look no further than the five-star Bayerischer Hof, the epitome of Munich luxury lodging dating back to 1841. Superbly located for the Marienplatz and other Altstadt attractions, it houses 337 rooms and 74 suites, as well as an exceptional line-up of bars and restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Atelier and the opulently-mirrored Falk’s Bar. Bedroom décor ranges from warm, earthy tones in the new deluxe doubles to lavish interior themes in the classic suites, whether French Art Nouveau or Laura Ashley-styled English romance. The Bayerischer Hof has a superb gym, pool and spa with an extensive range of massage and Ayurvedic treatments, as well as private yoga classes.

Time Out tip: Want a real treat? Take a look at the all-inclusive Bayerischer Hof packages, such as the Art, Culture and Architecture package, which includes a champagne breakfast and tickets to leading Munich galleries and museums.

Not yet ten years old, design hotel Louis delivers understated elegance in a hard-to-beat location right on Viktualienmarkt. You’re a minute’s walk (max) from Marienplatz and five minutes from the river Isar. The whole place exudes restful, pared-down comfort, with beautiful wooden floorboards, hand-woven rugs, soft lighting and a serene palette of whites, cool greens and mellow greys. Many rooms have a generous wooden writing desk, plus delicate Japanese prints on the wall. Louis’s excellent Emiko restaurant continues the theme, serving modern Japanese cuisine in a luminous dining area or, in summer, on the striking rooftop with views over St Peter’s, Frauenkirche and the Rathaus.

Time Out tip: Take a look inside St Peter’s. It’s Munich’s oldest church, with an elaborate rococo interior and some superb views from the steeple.

Just over a mile from the city centre, but within walking distance of Google’s Munich HQ and other big offices, Roomers is particularly popular with business visitors. Appropriately, the aesthetic in communal areas caters to a certain kind of corporate cool, with lots of dark woods and leather, copper shades and metallic surfaces, all softly burnished by dim, warm lighting. All 281 rooms come with a flat screen TV, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, iPad, WiFi and Nespresso machine, as well as a deluxe, black-marbled bathroom. The superb Izakaya Kitchen & Bar blends Japanese and South American flavours to create impeccable rolls, sushi, sashimi and Robata (charcoal-grilled dishes).

Time Out tip: Feel like some old-school Bavarian fare instead? You’re in luck! The restaurant of Munich’s venerable Augustiner brewery is just across the road.

The Munich branch of the Ruby Hotels chain wins on both location and comfort. Around the corner from the Königsplatz, one of the finest squares in town, it’s also excellently placed for the illustrious Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne, as well as the modern and contemporary collection at Museum Brandhorst. Behind its boxy glass façade, the hotel channels a philosophy of ‘lean luxury’ with simple rooms, beautiful bed linen and all the makings of a superb night’s sleep, from soundproofed walls to the blackout blinds and box-spring mattresses. Downstairs, the Ruby Bar and Café serves light Italian dishes and drinks round the clock, including an organic breakfast of fresh fruit, wholegrain cereal and bread from local bakery Mauerer.

Time Out tip: Need somewhere peaceful to work? Head to the cosy ‘library’ area.

Around the corner – as the name suggests – from the Bavarian State Opera, the Hotel Opéra is one of Munich’s most charming boltholes. With its striking black and white façade, the place makes a refined impression from the start, further polished by its marbled lobby, elegant portraits and excellent service. The 25 bedrooms are individually (and sometimes idiosyncratically) designed, but the real boon is the hotel’s beautiful Italianate courtyard, an ideal spot for a sunny breakfast or relaxed evening aperitif.

Time Out tip: Check out the hotel’s affiliated Restaurant Gandl and Bar Lehel.

The award-winning Laimer Hof is all about familial Bavarian hospitality. Dedicated hosts Alexandra and Sebastian Rösch, along with their twin boys, create a distinctly homely environment by greeting guests on arrival, offering tips on what to see and do in the area and serving drinks each evening in the lobby or outside when warm. The light, peaceful bedrooms are furnished in a simple, old-fashioned style with en-suite shower rooms. Particularly suited for visitors to the Nymphenburg Palace, Laimer Hof is also very family-friendly, with free breakfast for kids under six and the option to combine some rooms into a family suite.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the nearby Königlicher Hirschgarten, the largest beer garden in Bavaria (if not the world). 

In the heart of the Glockenbach district, design hotel Flushing Meadows is a good choice for travellers looking to enjoy some creative flair alongside the neighbourhood’s excellent restaurant and bar scene. On the top two floors of an industrial building, the hotel promises lots of light, striking views and cutting-edge furnishings, with each of its third-floor rooms designed in collaboration with a creative luminary, resulting in an array of outstanding interiors from the likes of Albert Oehlen and actress Birgit Minichmayr. The fourth-floor penthouse rooms are more streamlined in style, but have private balconies with enviable panoramic views. Breakfast is served in the Flushing Meadows’ rooftop bar, also a popular aperitif spot for guests and locals alike.

Time Out tip: Fancy some luxury grooming while you’re here? Check out the top-notch Barber House down the road.

Quaint’s probably the best word to describe the English Garden Guesthouse, although that doesn’t quite do it justice. This lovingly converted old water mill – which dates back 300 years – is steeped in old-world charm but comes with all the mod cons. Watch a flat screen TV in your room among rococo revival furniture and make use of the free wifi beside the babbling brook. Things to do nearby include the classy Seehaus restaurant in the English Garden, a Bavarian beer sesh at Osterwaldgarten and the 18th-century Chinese Tower.

Time Out tip: Hop on your bike (or one rented from the front desk) and explore the English Garden.