As Munich’s first notable five-star opening in over 10 years, it’s easy to see why Rosewood chose the Bavarian capital to make its German debut. However, it did not set itself an easy task. Set amongst the high-end boutiques and grand facades of Kardinal-Faulhaber-Straß, one of the Old Town’s best-preserved streets, the Hong Kong hotel group found the perfect location in two adjoining historic buildings: the former Bavarian State Bank headquarters built in 1894 and the adjacent aristocratic residence of Palais Neuhaus-Preysing dating back to 1703.
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Walking a tightrope between creating a contemporary luxury retreat without sacrificing the buildings’ original baroque and rococo architecture was no mean feat. For the job, Rosewood Munich enlisted the expertise of leading German architects Hilmer Sattler Architekten Ahlers and highly-coveted London interior firm Tara Bernerd and Partners, with Munich-based Dippold Interior Design Studio tasked with the hotel’s restaurant and bar.
The result is a masterclass in both restoration and innovation with many original features such as the main entrance’s double marble staircase and ceiling frescos, as well as the palace’s gold leaf gilding, remaining untouched. Married with modern design elements, German artworks and a refined color palette in velvet, tweed, and leather, the hotel feels distinctly Munich; a city that merges old and new seamlessly.
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Stay
Rosewood Munich features 73 guest rooms and 59 suites – including five ‘Houses’, the hotel’s signature suites.
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Though the hotel’s 54 standard suites offer a truly luxurious stay, the House Suites elevate this to a whole new dimension, with each coming complete with personalized butler service and in-suite kitchen, as well as finer details such as original art pieces and hand-crafted Nymphenburg porcelain.
Located on the hotel’s exclusive top floor, each House Suite is distinct and named after historic members of the Bavarian royal family. They range from the comparatively bijou one-bedroom Prinzessin Ferdinande House at 840 sq-ft to the sizable one-bedroom König Maximilian I House at 2,690 sq-ft, which can nearly double in size to 4,840 sq-ft by adjoining two Deluxe Suites and a Grand Deluxe Suite to create a palatial four-bedroom residence.
If we had to choose, our favorite would be Prinzessin August House, a sweeping light-filled suite that pays homage to Princess Augusta Wilhelmine Marie of Hesse-Darmstadt. The second largest suite at Rosewood Munich, it features a chic bedroom leading to an Italian marble bathroom, with a shower that – rather uniquely – opens to its own private terrace. The living room boasts a lavish second terrace with sublime views over the Old Town’s rooftops and the city’s iconic 15th-century Frauenkirche cathedral. Back inside, the spacious living and dining area (which seats 10) is perfect for gatherings.
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Dine
In the sophisticated Brasserie Cuvilliés, which takes its name after an illustrious 18th-century Bavarian court architect, curved leather booths seat both cosmopolitan locals and hotel guests. Focus is split between a bustling open kitchen and an eye-catching 10-ft long Rococo-inspired ceramic sculpture by Munich artist Angelika Maria Stiegler.
The menu offers a modern take on Alpine and Bavarian classics such as weißwurst sausages for breakfast, spinach dumplings with brown butter for lunch and wiener schnitzel with lingonberries for dinner (as well as classics such as chateaubriand). Much of the produce is German with chef Caspar Bork and his team partnering with local farms.
The hotel’s elegant Wintergarten also offers an all-day dining menu and afternoon tea with exquisitely crafted sweet treats by the hotel’s resident pastry chef. The space leads to an inviting central outdoor courtyard which will come into its own in Munich’s sun-filled summer months.
Atmospheric Bar Montez is reminiscent of a bygone era, with live jazz performances most nights. Make sure to book as tables soon get snapped up. A hidden speakeasy – the entrance to which looks deceptively like a cupboard – only adds to the bar‘s allure.
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Relax
In the depths of the hotel sits the irresistibly tranquil Asaya Spa with an indoor pool, sauna and steam, and a comprehensive treatment menu that features OxyLight and Dr Barbara Sturm facials, as well as wellness journeys drawing from traditional German folk remedies using local herbs and flowers.
Explore
Moments from Marienplatz, Rosewood Munich couldn’t be better placed for exploring central Munich. The hotel’s friendly concierge team is on hand to organize everything from sightseeing tours and top restaurant reservations, as well as offer insider advice on where in the city to get the best apple strudel and the must-visit bierhalles.
Prinzessin Ferdinande House specialty suite from approx. $4,260 per night.
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