The Hotel Königshof, which first opened in 1862, is situated directly on Karlsplatz, making it minutes away from just about everything.  Many of Munich’s museums (including the three Pinakothek museums) are practically at the hotel’s doorstep as is great shopping.  An S-Bahn (Karlsplatz/Stachus) station is just steps away, making it possible to quickly go from airport to hotel without the need to change trains.

THE ROOM

Looking through the windows, with a wonderful view in the direction of Stachus, I could see automobiles and streetcars passing by non-stop, thousands of people leaving work, yet all was quiet within. Despite the traffic outside, my elegant and spacious Deluxe Room was peaceful and tranquil.

The room’s décor was traditional but not stuffy and the sitting area was perfect for several informal business meetings I held in the room.

A large, flat-screen television was mounted on the wall opposite the bed.  There were numerous closets with more than sufficient space for an army of business travelers.

The bathroom had a separate bath and shower and I was impressed that three bath mats were provided.  The evening turndown service included placing a mat and complimentary slippers next to the bed.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

Wireless Internet was free and reasonably fast.  My guests were pleasantly surprised that they could connect to the Net for free during our meetings.  The writing desk provided more than sufficient workspace and the desk chair was comfortable.  Lighting was excellent both for reading (there are halogen reading lamps above the bed) and computer work.

The front desk staff responded quickly to several requests including one for packing tape for a homeward-bound package.  Guests arriving at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) are picked up at no charge.

For business travelers who want to take advantage of some of Munich’s best stores, a shopping package includes two nights lodging, champagne breakfast, a welcome gift, and discounts at stores ranging from Ludwig Beck to Karstadt (Hauptbahnhof).

DINING

Breakfast is served daily in the Restaurant Königshof, whose windows look out over Stachus.  The selection of hot and cold dishes, cheeses, breads, cold cuts, cereals, yogurts, and juices was excellent.

The Restaurant Königshof, which also serves lunch and dinner, is one of the finest in Munich and its kitchen is well known for innovative and flavorful cuisine.  I didn’t have an opportunity to dine here during my all-too-brief stay but I hope to try it during a future visit.

The Königshof Bar is a pleasant venue for a drink or two with friends or colleagues and live piano music is provided on the weekends.

BOTTOM LINE

At the check-in desk, I was offered coffee, tea, or water (I opted for coffee), a nice touch that made me feel especially welcome.  Throughout my stay, service was impeccable and the combination of location, service, and food made for a memorable stay.

Hotel Königshof

Karlsplatz 25
80335 Munich, Germany
+49 89 55136-0
www.koenigshof-hotel.de

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

Once in the salon-style lobby, which features a mosaic glass roof portraying the four seasons (the hotel’s name, Vier Jahreszeiten, means Four Seasons), you could bump into royalty: former guests include Empress Elisabeth of Austria (known to her subjects as “Sissi”), the King of Siam, and Winston Churchill.  Today, the Vier Jahrezeiten is the temporary home for heads of state, royalty, and the discerning business traveler.

WHERE IS IT

Built in 1858 at the behest of Kaiser Maximilian II. (after whom the street out front is named), the Vier Jahreszeiten is, appropriately enough, near the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach royal family of Bavaria and a central point in Munich’s Altstadt (old city).

Indeed, it’s one of the most perfectly situated hotels I’ve visited as it’s less than 500 meters from the National Theater (home of the Bavarian State Opera, State Ballet, and State Orchestra) and English Garten, as well as from Marienplatz (the main pedestrian zone shopping street) and the Rathaus (city hall).  The Maximilianstraße itself features arcades and individual, elegant shops where one can walk amongst the Schickeria (Munich’s chic crowd).  Indeed, this is the place to purchase Schiki-micki (trendy goods).  Excellent public transportation is also near by.

ROOMS

The hotel was expanded from 180 to 340 rooms in time for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.  A €13.8 million renovation was completed two years ago; the 42 rooms with  views of the Maximilianstraße were the first to be redone.  The hotel currently offers a total of 303 rooms including 65 suites.

My generously-sized Deluxe Junior Suite (50 sqm), one of the rooms already renovated, was both comfortable and green (for example, the air conditioning turns off if one opens a window).  Furnishings and décor were both modern with elements of traditional charm– a difficult feat to pull off but one that works quite well here. The room featured a copy of a masterpiece from the Alte Pinakothek, which had been photographed and then installed as wallpaper onto walls, giving many rooms their own Rubens or van Dyck.

The bed was exceptionally comfortable.  I fell asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow and awakened early the next morning feeling completely refreshed.

Technology was everywhere although I would prefer a less complicated and more clearly marked system to turn the room lights on and off.  On the other hand, to enter the room, all I had to do was wave the contactless key in front of the lighted sensor and turn the handle.   Once inside, pressing the green LED button on the door from the inside locked the door and the LED turned red.

My room included a very comfortable sitting area and the sleeping area could be cordoned off by curtains, making the room a perfect place for meetings.  Many rooms (including mine) feature a small high-tech television built into the bathroom mirror, which itself is heated so it doesn’t fog.

While many hotels now offer heated floors in the bath area, this was the first room I ever encountered to have a heated floor in the shower stall.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

When the hotel first opened in 1858, it boasted state-of-the-art technology including gas lighting in all of the rooms.  Today, rooms boast fast – albeit expensive, at €21.80/day – Internet (I clocked it at over 2 Mbps) and excellent (electrical) lighting to read by.  The desk and work area, including chair, were quite comfortable.
The Cherubin ballroom (one of several meeting rooms) can accommodate up to 500 people in a meeting.  There are several other rooms that can accommodate a group of 10 to 150 attendees.

The spa features a pool, sauna, steam bath, ice fountain, and grotto shower and the gym offers superb views of the city while one pumps iron.

DINING

As a child, I stayed at the Vier Jahreszeiten many times with my family and, since we usually visited Munich in August, a month during which the hotel’s restaurant, the Walterspiel (named after a former hotel director), was always closed, I never had the chance to eat there.  A new restaurant, aptly named Restaurant VUE Maximilian, has replaced the Walterspiel, and treats patrons to a view of the splendor of the Maximilianstraße while dining from a menu by Chef Sven Büttner, who uses many local and regional products in his dishes.

I’ve found the English-style Vier Jahreszeiten Bar an ideal place to relax with friends after an evening out on the town.  A pianist plays a variety of music every evening.

During my most recent visit, due to an early morning meeting, I chose to have breakfast in my room and enjoyed wonderful fresh-baked croissants, rolls, and pastries with yogurt, freshly-squeezed carrot juice mixed with apple juice, and coffee – all while looking out onto the Maximilianstraße from my window.

MY VERDICT

The Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten’s Web site promises  guests Munich cordiality and discreet luxury mixed with “trendition”, a portmanteau that combines the words “trend” and “tradition.”  In addition to delivering on this promise, the Vier Jahreszeiten also combines superb accommodations and a staff that quietly meets every guest’s needs, making it a hotel I will return to again and again.

Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten
Maximilianstraße 17
80539 Munich
Germany
www.kempinski-vierjahreszeiten.com

To keep temperatures down, the banks were covered in gravel and the brewers planted chestnut trees, whose leaves provided shade. The chestnut trees were quickly followed by tables and benches and the breweries began to serve beer. To protect smaller breweries, which were afraid they would lose customers, Ludwig further decreed that visitors could bring their own food, a legally-protected practice that continues to this very day.

Typical Biergarten Schmankerl (delicacies) that one would bring along include radishes (Radi), bread (Brot), sausage (Wurst), cold cuts (Aufschnitt), and cheeses (Käse).

The traditional Biergarten is considered one of the most democratic institutions in the world. Politicians sit next to teachers who sit next to businessmen who sit next to janitors. No one is served (many are self service) and conversations between the guests take no heed of rank or status.

The largest traditional Biergarten in the world is the Royal Hirschgarten, situated in a park in the western part of Munich. The Hirschgarten, whose history goes back to 1720 as a hunting lodge, became a restaurant in 1790 and the Biergarten opened in 1890. Today it can seat up to 8,000 people under shady chestnut trees, serving Augustiner Lagerbeer as well as beer from Herzogliches Brauhaus Tegernsee and Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg.

Although it’s no longer a wildlife preserve, the Hirschgarten is still a favorite for families and children, who can visit the 30 deer who still live in the Deer Garden (Hirsch is German for deer). In addition to almost unlimited green meadows, there is a large climbing wall and a water playground to entertain them while their parents attend to the serious business of drinking beer.

If you don’t bring your own food, there is plenty to choose from. The self-service counter offers a half chicken, spareribs, Leberkäs, Schweinswurst, Wurstsalat, and of course freshly-baked pretzels. The restaurant offers a variety of Wurst (sausage) including Münchner Weißwurst, Schweinswürstl, Wiener, hearty soups (Pfannkuchensuppe, Leberspätzlesuppe, and Kartoffelsuppe), and a variety of hearty main courses including deer, duck, and Tafelspitz (boiled beef).

Other popular Biergärten include the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm (Chinese Tower) in the English Garden, the second-largest in Bavaria with 7,000 seats, and the Biergarten in the Viktualienmarkt in the center of Munich, with room for 1,000.

Immediately outside Munich, the Andechser Klosterbrauerei is a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike. The Andechser Klosterbrauerei is owned by the Benediktinerabtei Sankt Bonifaz in Munich and Andechs. The brewery produces over 100.000 hectoliters of beer each year.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

This is the second in a series of articles on Jonathan Spira’s Munich.  The first covered museums and music.

When you enter the Novotel München Airport hotel, you immediately understand why this is the brand’s flagship property.  Guests are greeted by an ultra modern lobby and reception area, attractive and comfortable Ligne Roset furniture, and an experienced and accommodating staff.

There’s a very cool bar adjacent to the lobby and it was quite popular in the evenings. Both venues are comfortable places to sit, chat,, and enjoy a drink. The word “hip” comes to mind, but there’s no attitude here.

WHERE IS IT

The Novotel München Airport hotel is on the grounds of the Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß (Munich Airport). It’s not, however, within walking distance from the terminals, although it is still a short bus or cab ride away.  To get to the hotel (if you are not driving), you can take a public bus or a taxi or the S-1 or S-8 S-Bahn lines and walk from the nearby S-Bahn station “Besucherpark” (it’s a 10-minute walk).

ROOMS

The rooms were modern, decorated in warm colors, and brand new.  There’s a flatscreen television on the wall and the toilet is separate from the shower and sink area.  The rooms also have a hot water maker for coffee and tea as well as a mini-bar.  My room had a great runway view.

Once in bed, however, I wondered about the foam rubber mattress’ unusual almost eggcrate-like feel, but drifted off to sleep assuming it was a new-fangled, high-tech innovation.  When I enquired about the mattress design the next morning, I was told that my mattress had apparently been placed upside down.  Since my back felt great the next morning, I considered asking the hotel to place my mattress upside down for my return visit a week later but decided against it.

I was disappointed to find out that there are no in-room safes, although the hotel does offer a safe deposit box at the front desk.  For business travelers who regularly place passport(s), wallets, keys, and other valuable items in a safe, even when going down to breakfast, this is not just an inconvenience.

The hotel has a nicely-equipped fitness center and sauna but they weren’t open during my first stay and I was too rushed the second time around to take advantage of them.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

Desk and chair were very comfortable and the rooms were very well lighted and benefited from natural light during the day.  The cleverly-designed desk swings out to create a generously-sized work area when needed.  Internet service was fast and very inexpensive at €9 for 24 hours of Wi-Fi service.

The hotel has six conference rooms, each with splendid views of the runway, and an executive lounge on the fourth floor.

Junior road warriors stay for free and the hotel has placed a video game area, a children’s library, and an indoor playground at their disposal.  These road warriors-in-training also receive a free breakfast.

The lobby has flight departure information screens and Apple computers for guest use.

DINING

Given my travel schedule for both of my visits, I was only able to eat breakfast at the hotel.  While there were many good points (the croissants were light and airy, the pastries were wonderful), the breakfast still needs some attention.  The hot items on the buffet (including the eggs, sausages, and bacon) were lukewarm at best although, when I complained, the chef immediately prepared a delicious omelette.   Service was excellent and this more than made up for the cold food.

MY VERDICT

Start-up issues aside, the Novotel Munich Airport is a wonderful place to enjoy a layover or prepare for an early departure.  The staff was super professional and an outsider would never have guessed that the hotel had just opened its doors.  That having been said, given its location on the grounds of the airport but somewhat distant from the terminals, the hotel should consider offering some form of shuttle service to the terminal area.

Novotel München Airport
Nordallee 29, 85356 München – Flughafen
Germany
Tel. +49 (0)89 970 513-0
www.novotel.com

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

The letter “B” is not found in “Munich” but it might as well be.  The letter B is everywhere in the city, whether it’s on the street (BMW), in a restaurant (Bier), or in a political discussion (Bayern, or Bavaria).  It’s probably the most important letter in the city as a result.

Munich is one of four cities where I have lived and, as my university town, holds a special place in my heart.  It is such a vibrant, diverse city and I know it so well that I have found it almost impossible to write about it, so I am doing it in sections.

Without a doubt, Munich (München) is a study in contrasts. It is the modern and hip capital of staunchly conservative Bavaria, a city where the modern constantly bumps into the old, and a high-tech center with an entrepreneurial spirit where world-class established firms such as BMW and Siemens are also headquartered.

The city is also a polarizing force, whether it’s Bayern München, the premier Fußball (soccer) team, the region’s Catholicism and strong Bavarian identity (the state of Bavaria is formally known as Freistaat Bayern, or the Free State of Bavaria), or just the city’s affluence.

For many years, Munich has lived in Berlin’s shadow. The capital city, with its anarchic attitude and cutting-edge club scene, is hip. Munich, on the other hand, is stodgy and decidedly unhip, at least according to the stereotype.

Three years ago, the International Herald Tribune and Monocle magazine named Munich the best place to live in the world and they were apparently on to something.

Munich is a quintessentially livable city.  It’s clean, has efficient and inexpensive public transportation, a very low crime rate, and benefits from an excellent location near mountains and lakes.

The Bavarian capital is a major destination for beer lovers, history buffs, car lovers, and music fans alike.  It boasts restaurants, concert halls, parks, dance clubs, science and art museums and, yes, beer gardens.

Its Baroque and Rococo architecture and stunning parks captivate visitors of all ages and it is home to some of Europe’s finest museums.

MUSEUMS FROM A TO Z

Museums run the gamut here from art to automobiles to science and technology to zoology.

The BMW Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Munich, alongside the Alte Pinakothek, the Deutsches Museum, and the BMW Welt.  The museum opened shortly before the 1972 Summer Olympics and was designed by Prof. Karl Schwanzer, an Austrian architect who also designed BMW’s neighboring four-cylinder headquarters building.  It was renovated as part of the development of the BMW Welt and reopened in 2008 with significantly increased exhibit space.

The museum presents almost a century of BMW’s history and heritage in seven thematic blocks covering design, company history, technology, motor sport, motorcycles, the BMW brand, and BMW’s cars.

In the original section of the museum, visitors ascend a spiral walkway to see the individual exhibits.  An escalator at the top brings them back to the ground floor.

The BMW Welt is BMW’s “experience and delivery center” which opened in October 2007.  In addition to its primary mission, the handover of new BMWs to customers at the factory, it presents a variety of exhibits on BMW technology and BMW automobiles.

Over five million people have visited the BMW Welt since its opening, making it the most frequently visited attraction in Munich (admission is free).  Designed by Prof. Wolf Prix, a principal at the Viennese design firm Coop Himmelb(l)au and a student of Prof. Karl Schwanzer, the building’s architecture, including the striking Doppelkegel (double cone) and the flying cloud roof, represents a new order in design yet the BMW Welt is harmoniously integrated into the context of the surrounding BMW buildings and Olympic Park architecture.

The BMW Welt is connected to the BMW Museum by a bridge and the BMW plant tours start in the Welt as well.

The BMW Welt staff can deliver up to 250 cars per day to customers who typically pay several hundred euro for the privilege. (Editor’s note: the author was the first customer to take delivery of a BMW in the BMW Welt on the first day of deliveries, 23 October 2007).  Those taking delivery typically plan an entire day for such an undertaking, receiving an extensive multimedia orientation for their new vehicles prior to a dramatic delivery on the premiere level of the Welt, and then taking a factory tour.  The private and exclusive Premium Lounge is reserved solely for these customers and their guests.

The Welt features several restaurants and cafés run by Do & Co, an Austrian restaurant and catering firm.  It also has shops and a multimedia auditorium for concerts and events.

Click here to continue to Page 2 for more museums.