When in Munich, The Sybarite recommends a stay at the luxuriously discreet Charles Hotel located on a quiet and picturesque corner of Sophienstrasse and right opposite the Old Botanical Garden. Within a few mere minutes, one will also find themselves in the city centre, making the hotel for a very convenient yet peaceful setting.
Compared to the Bayerischer Hof which is more of an experience, The Charles Hotel feels more like your ‘home away from home’ – it is peaceful, spacious, refreshing, luxurious and comfortable all at the same time. Each of their Deluxe rooms come with a French balcony – an element of the room which we loved, as you can open the balcony doors each morning to the sound of birds and children playing in the garden.
Our room measured 40 square meters and contained a sofa that perfectly seats two people, a table ideal for using laptops, and an armchair, perfect for kicking back and taking a power nap. Rooms are modern in design, incorporating art deco furniture making for a refreshing and modern stay.
When travelling with a toddler, it is always a pleasant relief to see that the hotel’s staff takes much notice to the little traveller; the crib was perfectly placed near the side of our king-sized bed, complete with a baby blue striped mattress, pillow and a little toy lion as a memorabilia. We popped our little one down in his crib and he was brimming with glee, perhaps due to the fresh sheets!
The layout of the deluxe room is rather simple, a foyer that leads to the bathroom on the right and then to a very spacious room – perfect for singles, couples or those travelling with a child. In terms of amenities, it is what one would expect – television full of international channels to choose from, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for up to 5 devices, an in-room bar and safe, ironing and laundry facilities, slippers (medium and large), plush robes, a mini-bar (they have a healthy version upon request) as well as wonderful bathroom amenities from the Malin +Goetz line. We were delighted to find a few things for the little one as well, including a rubber ducky and baby shampoo and soap, placed in the tub area.
Speaking of the bathroom, which is made of limestone, we loved that the toilet was separated from the walk-in shower and bathtub area. We found that the lighting throughout the room was thoroughly thought out and with the French balcony; there is no lack of sunlight.
We loved the discretion and tranquillity that the hotel offers, combined with the luxury aspect of the rooms. Art plays a central part of the hotel as it boasts a large collection of original 19th-century paintings by respected artist, Franz von Lenbach. Art deco is also one of the main recurring architectural themes of the hotel, which can be found in the smallest things – from the packaging of the toiletries to the curves found in the shape of the sofas, mirrors, and hotel façade. It is a hotel that wants you to relax and understand the definitive meaning of modern luxury living in Munich.
The hotel does offer its own spa but on this occasion, we only managed to try out their 15 x 8 meter indoor pool, which is apparently Munich’s longest. The hotel also boasts a Finnish sauna, steam room and state of the art gym, should you need a workout session during your stay. Children are allowed in the pool during set hours, from 11 AM to 4 PM.
In terms of dining, The Charles offers Sophie’s Restaurant and Bar – located on the ground floor. Breakfast is served here and usually runs from 6 AM to 10:30 AM. On this occasion, we only managed to try their breakfast buffet, which was replete with pastries, cold cuts, marmalades, fruits and the like. One can also order eggs any way they like. The cuisine at Sophie’s is of “regional and seasonal products, with some guest appearances from more exotic flavors and ingredients”. We would definitely recommend taking breakfast by the terrace, as you are able to bask in the sunshine when the weather is fine and look out into the Botanical Gardens.
Besides our room, The Charles Hotel offers six different types of suites: Junior, Classic, Executive, and Executive 2-bedroom, Deluxe, Presidential bedroom and Monforte Royal. All the suites are of similar design, each offering a French balcony and just as luxurious and comfortable to stay in.
Depending on your preferences, we highly recommend The Charles Hotel if what you are looking for is a hotel that doesn’t have heap loads of tourists, is discreet, super modern yet homey, spacious, refreshing, and conveniently located without the noise of the city.
