From the outside, it looks almost inconspicuous. A chic hotel, certainly, perhaps even upscale. From the façade alone, nobody would guess that this is the place where the stars and starlets of the world spend the night. But inside, guests can expect luxurious furnishings and a service that leaves nothing to be desired. When A-list celebrities visit Munich or high-ranking state guests are invited, every Munich resident knows where they are staying.
A hotel fit for royalty
The aristocratic entrepreneur Anton Joseph von Maffei commissioned the construction of the hotel. He received support for this project from none other than King Ludwig I. His wish was to make Munich more attractive to tourists and offer them a stately place to stay. The hotel opened in 1841 with 100 beds and two halls. Even then, it welcomed prominent personalities such as Empress Sisi and the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud as guests. King Ludwig I himself was also a regular guest here, at least twice a month.
The ownership changed in 1897. Under Hermann Volkhardt, the hotel was transformed both inside and out. The façade was redesigned and the furnishings upgraded. Extensions were made at the beginning of the 20th century, so that the hotel had more than 700 beds by the First World War. However, this was not to last: During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force attacked Munich, causing damage to the Bayerischer Hof.
After the war, the hotel was gradually rebuilt and remodeled; more extensions were added. As a result, the Maffei-Palais, next to which hotel founder Maffei had had the Bayerischer Hof built, was also demolished in 1969. The Hotel Montgelas, also located on Promenadeplatz, was integrated into the hotel and inaugurated in time for the Olympic Games in Munich. In the same year, the Bayerischer Hof became a member of the “Leading Hotels of the World”.
The luxurious furnishings of the Bayerischer Hof
Today, the Gand Hotel has 337 rooms, 74 suites and 40 function rooms. The hotel was extended in 2005. This new floor houses the Blue Spa with pool and opening roof, so that the swimming pool can be transformed into an outdoor pool. Instead, you can also take a sauna or have a massage. Access to the spa is included in all room categories. If you want to get some exercise before doing something good for yourself, you can do so in the fitness studio with a view of the Frauenkirche. Ralf Möller personally designed the concept.
The five restaurants in the hotel cater for your physical well-being and you can enjoy delicious cocktails and other drinks in one of the six bars. Evening entertainment is also provided with the hotel’s own cinema, the Boulevard Theater and the Jazz Club. If you stay at the Bayerischer Hof, you won ‘t need to leave the hotel for the duration of your stay, as you’ll find everything your heart desires here.
The Bayrische Hof is the favorite hotel of celebrities
On the Bayerischer Hof website, you will find a guest book that lists a long list of names of well-known personalities. Whether actors, directors, musicians, artists, politicians or even aristocrats – the Bayerischer Hof has had them all. In addition to the luxurious furnishings, this is also due to the discretion and special service.
They gain access via the underground car park or the rear entrance, where they can enter the house unmolested. The windows are bullet-proof glazed, which is not least due to the security conference taking place here. But other, less serious events also take place here, such as the Film Ball or the Jazz Summer.
The concierge reads every wish from the guests’ eyes and fulfills them. “Can’t” is not an option at the Bayerischer Hof. He is well connected and provides everything visitors need, whether it’s sold out or in the middle of the night. In this way, he ensures a smooth and pleasant stay for the five-star guests, who don’t have to worry about anything in the meantime.
The Bayerischer Hof has seen many famous faces over the years. Romy Schneider, Brigitte Bardot, Angela Merkel, Charlie Chaplin, Nicolas Cage, Mick Jagger, to name but a few. The name that probably comes to most people’s minds first is Micheal Jackson. During the singer’s lifetime, the Bayerischer Hof was his favorite place to stay in Munich. As a result, after his death, his fans decorated the Orlando di Lasso statue with posters of the musician and put up grave lights. This tradition has continued to this day.