Nature: Bavaria is famous for its green countryside and Munich itself affords visitors the chance to experience that through its local parks, such as the English Garden. A huge urban park dating back to the late 18th century, it also holds some manmade items of interest including follies and a traditional Japanese teahouse.
Day Trips: Munich is also an excellent base from which to branch out and explore the broader Bavarian hinterland. Popular day trips include excursions to the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. For those seeking a more mountainous environment the town of Garmisch is easily accessible and affords access to Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Visitors can ascend all year round and skiing is available throughout the winter.
Where to stay: For those wishing to experience the modern side of the city as part of their stay rather than the more customary styled municipal lodgings, such as the Bayerischerhof, the Roomers Hotel is a classic option.
With 280 extravagant rooms and suites the hotel offers a wide choice in lodging levels while still preserving an overall element of intimacy. Housed in a modern building, the style focused nature of this concept design hotel, which is a member of the Autograph Collection, is immediately apparent when you enter the reception area. This is strikingly adorned with a Harley Davidson motorbike, one of the brands that has collaborated in initiatives with this hotel concept.
Rooms are all fitted to the highest standards, featuring 42-inch flat screen TVs and Bang and Olufsen sound systems throughout. The marbled bathrooms, retro-inspired furniture, rug-lined floors and mirrored walls imbue the rooms with the ambience and intimacy of an upscale apartment rather than the sterility often associated with hotel rooms. Notable facilities of the hotel include the spa and fitness centre as well as its bars. Apart from the sedate and ambient main reception bar, the sleek Roomers Style bar offers an extravagant array of cocktails and bar nibbles in a more night club type ambience with a live DJ at weekends until the early hours. It’s a hugely popular spot within the city so guests can enjoy an insight into contemporary Munich style and nightlife right on their doorstep or use it as a base from which to explore the nocturnal city life beyond.
Eating out: While Munich houses many restaurants offering traditional hearty Bavarian fare it’s also home to a diverse range of establishments offering a global choice of cuisines, many of which have been adapted and refined to meet local tastes. A great choice for those wishing to experience contemporary cuisine of a more international flavour in a stylish environment is IZAKAYA, conveniently located on Langestraase, adjacent to the Roomers hotel. Their ‘shared-dining’ menu offers modern Japanese cuisine with South American influence.
A traditional Robata grill sits at the heart of the restaurant, giving centre stage to chefs creating dishes such as Temari Sushi, Kombujime and Corn Tempura, as well as some Rabata specialities. IZAKAYA also has a sophisticated menu of small Sakana dishes and a Japanese hot plate, as well as sushi and sashimi seasoned with exotic Peruvian spices. However, apart from the sublime exotic food, the restaurant stands out due to its avant-garde interior design, which features contrasting natural materials crafted to create an atmosphere that exudes warm sensuality. An intricate fish mobile made of natural beech wood floating over the main table is also a memorable iconic feature of the restaurant.
In short, it’s clear that Munich offers visitors an array of exciting cultural options to experience far beyond the scope of its stereotype!
