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Named in honour of Charles Forte, founder of the Forte hospitality empire who died last year, The Charles Hotel is Rocco Forte's third hotel in Germany, following hot on the heels of Frankfurt's Villa Kennedy and Berlin's Hotel de Rome, which both opened in 2006. Unlike those, however, this is a brand-new building and feels utterly international. The decor, overseen by Rocco's sister Olga Polizzi, is neutral and unobtrusive: this isn't a place to arrest your senses, it's somewhere to unwind. The basement pool is a generous 15 metres, the adjoining gym is large and well equipped, and the bedrooms are airy and spacious, with Nymphenburg porcelain in the limestone bathrooms and Everyman editions of European authors on the shelves. The restaurant is Italian (Munich is nearer to Venice than to Berlin), and the chef, Giovanni Russo, has created a light, invigorating menu. The location isn't ideal for sightseeing, but the central station and the Lenbachhaus, one of Munich's finest galleries, are both a short walk away.
WHEN TO GO
In early December for the Christmas markets, when the streets are transformed into festive grottoes.
ROOM TO BOOK
Ask for a room overlooking the botanical gardens, or a corner suite: with windows on three sides, they are light even in midwinter. If your pockets are deep enough, the Presidential Suite has a grand piano, a steam room, and stunning views of the Alps.
Sophienstrasse 28, Munich (00 49 89 544 5550; www.roccofortecollection.com). Doubles from 375 Euros; corner suites from 1,200 Euros; Presidential Suite from 5,000 Euros
Find out more about Munich in our city guide |
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