Some hotels you sleep in. Others make you wonder why you haven’t moved in. The Charles Hotel in Munich sits firmly in the second category. My husband and I arrived for our annual Christmas market trip, cups of glühwein in hand, and as we wandered toward the Old Botanical Garden I already felt smug about our choice.
The hotel sits between Karlsplatz and Königsplatz beside the garden, perfectly placed yet strangely insulated from the city’s December chaos. One moment you are navigating crowds in wool hats, the next you are stepping into a lobby that glows with the sort of composure Munich saves for its most polished corners. The main station is minutes away, the airport around forty, but the world outside seems to soften the second you arrive.
The Charles Hotel was built in 2007 on the site of Munich’s former university library as part of the Lenbachgärten development. Architect Christoph Sattler gave it structure; Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte’s sister and Director of Design, gave it soul. With its nods to botany and books, the interiors are intelligent without ever being cold, refined without trying to impress you. It all feels effortless in the way only very intentional design can.
The rooms and suites were completely refreshed earlier this year. Ours was huge, at least forty square metres, with floor to ceiling windows looking out over winter trees. The sort of room that encourages unapologetic lounging in a robe and slow starts you pretend are good for your wellbeing. The bathroom matched the energy with generous space, soft lighting and the kind of deep bath that makes you question the point of ever checking out.
The eighth floor holds the Royal Suite Monforte, two hundred square metres of terrace, elegance and quiet Italian glamour. We admired it from above, understanding instantly why certain guests stay longer than intended. The other suites range from sixty-seven to one hundred and forty-six square metres and reflect the same Polizzi touch. The Rocco Forte Suite Experience offers in suite check in and thoughtful extras. The unpacking service remained untested by me for the simple reason that my suitcase is a situation no one deserves to unravel.
Florio, the Italian restaurant opened in September 2024 under culinary icon Fulvio Pierangelini, has already earned a reputation for confident simplicity. We passed through more than once and the scent alone was enough to tempt even the most disciplined diner. The Florio Bar next door glows in warm amber light and curved marble. Across the lobby sits the Circle Bar, a glossy little world of champagne, coffee and patisserie with an Art Deco attitude. It is the sort of bar that makes you wish you owned silk gloves purely for the drama of removing them.
This winter, The Charles Hotel continues its collaboration with MCM Worldwide, Munich’s own luxury original. MCM invites guests to board the imaginative Holiday Express, a whimsical concept that ultimately lands on Planet Holiday, the inspiration behind the hotel’s festive décor. The lobby’s six metre tree stands dressed in rockets, robot creatures and shiny silver MCM Rabbots, surrounded by gold and copper ornaments that shimmer under the winter light. It is festive escapism with taste, playful without tipping into chaos.
Each day, one guest receives a surprise from the MCM Advent Calendar. Younger guests collect space themed balloons at check in. Suite guests receive an exclusive MCM gift and a voucher for the Munich boutique or online store. My husband pretended to remain unmoved but spent an impressive amount of time analysing the Rabbots like a man quietly developing a new hobby.
The Charles Spa fills eight hundred square metres below ground with a pool, sauna, steam bath, heated loungers and treatments using Irene Forte Skincare and Cellcosmet. Watching guests float out looking blissfully unbothered did more for my envy levels than any Christmas market trinket ever could.
December at The Charles Hotel is a lesson in elegant restraint. Outside, the Christmas markets buzz with energy and noise. Inside, the mood is calm, considered and quietly indulgent. Festive, yes, but never frantic. Luxurious, absolutely, without ever needing to announce itself. Some winter escapes disappear the moment you unpack at home. This one lingers in the best possible way.
@thecharleshotelmunich | roccofortehotels.com
Sophienstraße 28, 80333 München, Germany
