Louis Hotel Munich: A niche hotel as a design gem

Bar at the Hotel Louis

The house turned out to be a jewel on the Viktualienmarkt.

(Photo: Louis Hotel)

My absolute favorite hotel in the cosmopolitan city with a heart is the Mandarin Oriental Munich. This house shines in every facet: centrally located in downtown Munich, the rooms and suites offer extremely comfortable attention to detail. The service is always warm, the food is delicious, the culture pays homage to the tradition of the international hotel chain Mandarin – without neglecting the local characteristics. Everything is simply at the highest level, just like the sisters and brothers of the selection of German luxury hotels.

But in times of the pandemic, I can feel very clearly: the hospitality industry is changing. Munich’s hotel landscape is being rearranged. Fresh hotel players are entering the market, the old top dogs now have to assert themselves against young, lively concepts or even quietly capitulate.

The hotel industry in Munich has been in this process of change for a long time. This is how the traditional Hotel Königshof am Stachus changed hands. The house will no longer exist in this form. In 2023 there will be a new type of property here – perhaps a new milestone in the hotel industry? The Bayerischer Hof and the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski will try to assert their position, although the newly created Rosewood Hotel in the unique inner-city location will be on an equal footing from the start in one to two years. At least! The hotel brand is known as one of the best in the world and is therefore probably more on the level of the Mandarin Oriental.

Hotels like the Sofitel in Munich will have an even harder time of it in the future. Accor now operates world-class hotels under excellent brands; look out for Raffles or Fairmont. If you are interested in design, look to Mama Shelter, Delano or Mondrian. Munich’s Sofitel does not belong in this category. In the end, luxury is always about everything.

Top jobs of the day

Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.

Design gem in downtown Munich: the Louis Hotel

There are exciting hotels that were previously hidden in the shadow of the big players and are now finally shedding the gray veil of mediocrity. The design hotel Louis on the Viktualienmarkt is definitely breaking new ground with its orientation. Maybe even past the big players? The location with a view of what is probably Germany’s best-known delicatessen market, the Viktualienmarkt, is excellent, and the furnishings inside are special.

Until now, the house has been run by scene restaurateur Rudi Kull, who plays a key role in shaping Munich’s gastronomy. After a few years he decided to sell the hotel to the company Atlantic from Bremen. The fortunes of the house are now in luxury-tested, professional hands. Among other things, the company owns the Severins Resort & Spa on Sylt, is building another branch with the same name on Tegernsee and is now closing an interesting niche in Munich with the Louis Hotel.

Night Manager Adam

The employee provided an exceptional service experience.

(Photo: Carsten K. Rath)

The Frauenkirche with its two towers, the extensive English Garden, the Oktoberfest (perhaps you still remember) and of course the delicacies from the Viktualienmarkt are the landmarks of the southern German city in the foothills of the Alps. Owning a hotel and/or restaurant near one of these landmarks automatically draws the attention of travelers and visitors, right? I’ll admit that the Louis Hotel has so far eked out a living in the Mandarin’s shadow on my city agenda. So I am all the happier to have experienced this jewel at the Viktualienmarkt myself.

I arrive in Munich in my car at half past four in the morning. The streets are snowy, it’s cold. I’m tired from the long drive and want to spend the remaining time before my meetings as quietly as possible. Hopefully the check-in process won’t take that long. Fortunately, these thoughts are completely unnecessary. Adarm, the night manager from Turkey, is already waiting for me with a warm and bright smile. “Welcome, I’ve been expecting you. Just leave your car, I’ll take care of your car and bring your luggage straight to your room.”

Carsten K. Rath discovers a niche hotel as a design gem in downtown Munich

This greeting sounds like soothing music to my ears. This is exactly the service I was hoping for. Everything is prepared, I don’t need ten seconds to check in. I show my vaccination card and, as if by magic, I am led to my room. As if Adarm can read my mind, we’re deferring the personal information and credit card scan until later, when I’m rested. I didn’t even have to ask for it.

I later learn that this extraordinary service experience was not a one-hit wonder, but is lived across all levels in the Hotel Louis. Almost as if the tour had become acquainted with Asian traditions. My first impression was then surprisingly confirmed: the general manager Mike Fuchs worked for the Mandarin Oriental for many years. The hotel has been changed, the Asian attention to detail has remained and is now being passed on to all employees.

That distinguishes an outstanding manager from mediocrity, at least I experience great dedication at the Viktualienmarkt. Distinctive craftsmanship is also reflected in the loving design of the individual rooms. A lot of wood and warm colors convey a very comfortable feeling. Almost like coming home.

Almost like at home

Lots of wood and warm colors convey a cozy feeling.

(Photo: Hotel Louis)

The restaurant The Louis Grillroom offers cozy places to end the day. In summer you can enjoy the view of the Viktualienmarkt from the terrace, but the windows also offer excellent views of the hustle and bustle indoors. The focus is on grilled food, or rather on fire. Vegetables of all kinds, vegan dishes, fish and of course meat get their delicious grilled flavors here.

On my first evening, I decide on a composition of various types of vegetables and am amazed at the delicate flavor and the intensity of the taste. Nevertheless, my personal dinner recommendation is a bit more meat-heavy: Cauliflower with bacon. Solid home cooking at a high level.

Conclusion: Munich is diverse

Dining with a view of Munich

In summer you can enjoy the view of the Viktualienmarkt from the terrace of the Mandarin Oriental.

(Photo: Mandarin Oriental Munich)

The Hotel Louis gives the motto “small but mighty” a luxurious touch and can certainly serve as a new benchmark for design and boutique hotels in downtown Munich. Another jewel that exudes the charm of a private residence, a private luxury apartment in a downtown location, is the Geisel Hotel, managed by Nikolai Bloyed as the group’s CEO. This hotel also moves in an exciting hotel niche, although due to its size it does not offer all services. I will continue to look out for special hotels for you in the charming Bavarian town. Because one thing is certain: Munich moves.

The Louis Hotel is not yet included in the ranking of “The 101 best hotels in Germany”. Will it be among the top addresses in the German hotel industry in 2022? My impression: yes. At the end of November you will find out here in the Handelsblatt whether my impression has become reality.

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of a travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a professional globetrotter. He travels to all the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account. Rath is the brain behind the ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany”, whose partners include the Handelsblatt.

More: Ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany” – Four Seasons Hamburg and Schloss Elmau together at the top.

.
source site-13