Hotel of the Week: Rosewood, Munich

Munich is one of those cities that people consistently underestimate. Most visitors arrive with Oktoberfest on the brain and leave having barely scratched the surface of what is quietly one of Europe's most compelling capitals. It’s a hub of innovation, tradition and very good beer, home to BMW’s headquarters, world-class art institutions, and a thriving food and drinks scene, including no fewer than forty public beer gardens. Enter Rosewood Munich, which opened in October 2023 as the brand's first German property and the first ultra-luxury hotel to open in the city in over a decade.

The Hotel

Rosewood Munich spans two landmark buildings in the heart of the historic old town – the former Bavarian State Bank headquarters and the adjacent Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, once an aristocratic residence. The architects (Munich firm Hilmer Sattler Architekten Ahlers Albrecht) kept the magnificent Baroque façade, the grand entrance staircase, the vaulted ceilings and the preserved frescoes intact. The interior design draws on Bauhaus principles to create something that feels refined without being stiff – natural, warm tones, custom furnishings and pops of blues and greens throughout. 

At the heart of the hotel, the central staircase has just been unveiled as a dedicated space for contemporary art. Launching the programme is Woven Maps, Woven Lands, an exhibition by Chilean-German artist Constanza Camila Kramer Garfias, curated by Yara Sonseca Mas – on display until 12th October 2026.

Rooms

Rosewood Munich has 132 rooms across 77 guestrooms, 51 suites and four signature houses named after Bavaria's royal Wittelsbach family. It is a scene-defining destination that sits comfortably between living history and serious luxury.

The rooms are spacious, well-considered and genuinely comfortable. Tall ceilings keep things feeling expansive, while the detail is in the thoughtful touches: heated bathroom floors, a Dyson hairdryer, a Marshall speaker, complimentary shoe shine. The four signature houses are the standout - one even features a suspended glass bridge connecting the living areas, offering an excellent vantage point above Munich's bustling streets below. Each house comes with personalised butler service, too!

Food and Drink

The biggest drawcard to staying at Rosewood Munich is its food and drinks offering. The main dining room, Brasserie Cuvilliés, offers an Alpine menu that draws on the whole mountain food canon – think the kind of food you'd eat at a luxury ski chalet, spanning southern Germany, Switzerland, northern Italy and France. The wine list is also worth exploring properly, particularly the Austrian wine. Through Rosewood's Partners in Provenance programme, the kitchen works with regional suppliers including Helmut Schlader Alpine caviar and Wagyu beef from Tegernsee. In spring, white asparagus season descends on Munich in full force, and specialist menus appear everywhere. My biggest advice – try it all, you really shouldn't resist.

For breakfast, walk to Beim Sedlmayr, a traditional Bavarian tavern that has cult status in the old town. Order the Weisswurst – white veal sausage – before noon. The old rule was that they had to be eaten before midday because there was no refrigeration, and the tradition stuck. They arrive in hot water – tip: do not drink the water. Peel off the skin, and eat them with the various condiments such as sweet mustard, alongside a pretzel. There will also be beer – it may be 9am, but it is absolutely correct.

Back at the hotel, Bar Montez is a fantastic way to enjoy the evening – a striking space featuring a stained-glass mosaic by the renowned Mayer'sche Hofkunstanstalt, with daily live jazz, inventive cocktails and an atmosphere inspired by Lola Montez and the city's 1920s jazz scene. As summer arrives, the Schanigarten terrace menu offers a relaxed outdoor dinner option before stepping inside for the music and more cocktails once the sun disappears.

Then there is 100B, the new martini speakeasy hidden within Bar Montez, due to open in October 2026. Cosy and discreet, it’s already promising to be one of the city's most talked-about new addresses.

What to Explore Nearby

Rosewood is located steps from Marienplatz, Munich's central square, which makes orientation easy. From there, walk to the Viktualienmarkt - Munich's beloved open-air food market, selling exceptional fresh produce, wines and what may be the finest pickles in Europe. Try one. Adjacent to the market is one of the city's forty public beer gardens, where locals bring their own food and enjoy the beer offerings in the shade of chestnut trees.

For something entirely unexpected, Munich also has river surfing - the Eisbachwelle, a standing wave that attracts surfers year-round regardless of temperature. The Englischer Garten (English Garden), Munich’s largest city park, sits next to it, so there’s plenty to explore nearby.

Wellness

Rosewood Munich is home to Germany’s first Asaya Spa, a holistic urban wellness sanctuary inspired by Alpine landscapes and Bavarian traditions. Spanning two floors, with six treatment rooms, an indoor pool, dual saunas, an herbal steam room and a Technogym fitness centre - it’s a great way to start or end your day.

Who's Who

Keep an eye out for Mario Sel at Bar Montez. Born in Bavaria and shaped by a series of international bartending postings, Mario is Bar Manager at Rosewood Munich and makes a perfect martini. He will also be running 100B, so if you're visiting before then, consider it a preview of things to come.

SPHERE's tips for Munich

• White asparagus season runs through spring – order it at every opportunity.
• At Beim Sedlmayr: peel the Weisswurst, use the sweet mustard, ignore the water it comes in. Do not skip the pretzel.
• The Viktualienmarkt pickle is non-negotiable.
• Live Jazz at Bar Motez is a must.
• Fun fact: The English Garden is larger than New York City’s Central Park.

Book a stay at Rosewood Munich: rosewoodhotels.com