Classic luxury
Our verdict:
This is class that can’t be copied, style without strings. The Bayerischer Hof is one of the few Munich top-enders that’s not part of a hotel chain. The "Grand Olde Dame" opened in 1841 and has been owned by the Volkhardt family since 1897, now into its fourth generation. If you’re really out to spoil yourself and money is no object, this is the place to do it. Some of the rooms have a colonial African-style, tastefully done in red and yellow and finished in black wood. The suites further upstairs are even more impressive. Some have individual themes such as "Paris" or "Paradise Island". There are three restaurants and a half dozen bars. Outstanding is the Palais Keller, done up as a Bavarian hunting lodge, and the south seas-themed Trader Vic’s. An attached theatre (the Komödie) and a nightclub fill out the entertainment options. Other facilities include a ballroom with space for 2500 guests and 40 (yes, 40!) conference rooms. Some are decorated so opulently that they'd give the state rooms at Munich's Nymphemburg Palace a run for their money. The top floor is home to a spa centre, terrace and pool with retractable roof. Female guests can pamper themselves with a facial, massage or a hair cut, while the gents can chat around a barbecue enjoying one of the finest views of Munich’s historic centre. The gym was designed by (who else?) former Mr Universe Ralf Möller. To top it off, the service is excellent, efficient and refined.