Over the past two years of our travels, we’ve stayed at more than 45 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments. Many stays have been quite routine; the accommodation merely serving as a place to rest and recover from an active day exploring a city or attraction. Our time at the Mandarin Oriental in Munich, however, was far different. Every aspect of the hotel hit the perfect balance for a hospitality experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, but not overbearing. The food was bursting with flavor, served at the perfect portions for our family. The hotel was at the heart of the city, making it easy to explore and simple to return to. Simply put, our time at the Mandarin Oriental Munich truly was one of our favorites, and we absolutely recommend staying there if you plan on visiting Munich!
The Hotel
The Mandarin Oriental Munich is located in the heart of Munich’s Old Town, right next to the historic Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall. Everything about the hotel just radiates elegance, from the classy and contemporary décor, to the professionalism of all staff members. After a long train ride into Munich, we were welcomed with a refreshing beverage while we checked in. More importantly, our kids were treated like absolute rock stars! The staff had a personalized check-in for the kids, which we have never experienced before and made the kids feel very welcome and included in the process. Next to the reception desk is the Lounge, where you can order from a small menu, and even have a tea time experience arranged for you (which Jess and Nora absolutely loved).
On the hotel roof lies The Terrace, where, during the summer months, you can relax, eat and drink, and take in the spectacular views that the city offers. And, if you’re so inclined, the Mandarin Oriental Munich also has a well-equipped fitness center, with cardio machines and free weights. The Spa next door also offers a variety of treatments, as well as access to the sauna.
In terms of dining options, we were thrilled to find that the hotel’s restaurant, Matsuhisa, features an expansive Japanese-Peruvian menu. We took the recommendation to try the Black Cod, which was basically one of the tastiest seafood dishes we’ve ever tried. The kids were treated to goodie bags at the beginning of our meal, which kept them occupied and happy for the whole meal! The restaurant is also open for a breakfast buffet, and there’s also a very good room service menu, which we took advantage of one day after hours of walking and activities around town.
The Room
The Mandarin Oriental Munich is a smaller hotel, with 48 rooms and 25 suites. We stayed at their Corner Suite on the 6th floor, and our jaws collectively hit the floor as soon as we entered the room. The suite featured beautiful views of Munich’s Old Town, including the iconic Neues Rathaus Town Hall, St. Peter’s Church, and the Frauenkirche. The room was more than spacious enough for our family of 4, where Jess and I slept on the king bed, while the kids slept on the pull-out sofa bed in the living area (which, surprisingly, was more comfortable than many regular hotel beds we’ve slept on). There’s also a work desk, stocked minibar, and just about any other hotel amenity you can think of, so we felt very well taken care of while in our room!
Munich Activities
Although we would have been more than happy just staying at the hotel during our entire stay, Munich also called to us, and we were charmed by the Bavarian capital’s sights, food, and activities. We spent one day exploring the Old Town, where we walked into Marienplatz (the central square) and gazed at the incredibly detailed Neues Rathaus Town Hall. We then walked and visited a few of the churches, some of which were heavily damaged by bombings during World War II, and subsequently repaired. We toured the ornate Munich Residenz, which was a castle that was transformed into a palace for Bavarian dukes over centuries.
On a separate day, the Mandarin Oriental treated us (and especially the kids) with tickets to the Munich Zoo Hellabrunn, which was about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. We have been to several zoos and nature parks during our full-time travels, but the Munich Zoo Hellabrunn really distinguished itself with its very natural-looking enclosures. Many zoos make a very distinct barrier between the walking paths and the animals by using large fences, gates, and iron bars. This zoo utilized its space by using water features, trees, and small cliffs to separate the spacious animal exhibits from the viewing areas. This made it very easy to see the different species throughout the park and admire the natural beauty of the forest environment that the zoo is located in. Plus, there’s a playground, petting zoo, and train ride, which kept our kids entertained for the day.
Overall, our expectations were blown away during our stay in Munich, thanks to the luxurious comfort, attention to detail, and friendly service that we received at the Mandarin Oriental. We felt blessed to stay for 3 nights, and already hope to be able to return to Munich to dive deeper into its Bavarian culture and indulge in some more local dishes, and of course, German beer!
This post was produced in partnership with Mandarin Oriental Munich. As always, all views and opinions are our own.
