While most of the Rocco Forte Hotels are situated in historical old buildings, The Charles Hotel in Munich is a completely newly built hotel. When planning the hotel together with the renowned Munich architect Christoph Sattler, Sir Rocco Forte had the guests of today and their wishes already in mind. The Charles Hotel, which was named after Lord Charles Forte, the father of Sir Rocco Forte, and which was built on the site of the former university library for natural sciences at the Old Botanical Garden, tells with its interior design three different stories: one of the Forte Family, one of the Old Botanical Garden and one of Munich and its art heritage.
Our team visit the hotel and write a review of The Charles Hotel in Munich
In The Charles Hotel one should feel the ambience and the discreet charm of travelling. The lobby, restaurant and terrace overlooking the Old Botanical Garden give a feeling of tranquillity and harmony in the middle of the busy city. Large windows and a glass dome in the middle as the heart of the hotel allow pleasant natural light in the floors, lobby and restaurant. Noble materials such as lime sandstone, stylish furnishings, cherry wood panelling, crystal chandeliers and selected home accessories convey elegant and simple comfort when entering the lobby.
Olga Polizzi, the sister of Sir Rocco Forte, together with her design team, the Agency Art Consult International from Mainz as well as the interior design studio Markus-Diedenhofen impress with soft decorations and friendly, muted colours. The lighting designer Mrs. von Kardorff from Berlin was responsible for the entire lighting project.
Themes from nature and especially botany are the leitmotifs throughout the hotel. Also the colour schemes of the rooms, with brown, violet and green are reminiscent of discrete earth colours. High quality natural products such as cotton and silk were preferably used.
A characteristic feature of all Rocco Forte Hotels is the fact that every hotel reflects its location. The Charles Hotel is no exception: Already the floors, which are unusually light-flooded due to the windows to an inner courtyard, shine white-sky blue, the typical Bavarian colour combination. The white room doors have been treated with clear varnish, normally not used in the hotel business.
The hotel was built in 2007 as part of a new Munich quarter Lenbachgärten. The Munich art museum Lenbachhaus, including the former villa of the Munich painter prince Franz von Lenbach, is only a few minutes walking distance from the hotel. It is therefore only natural that the Rocco Forte Hotels acquired original paintings of the 19th century painter, which can be found throughout the hotel.
In the rooms, large art photographs of Hubertus von Hohenlohe are an eye-catcher. The pictures show the artist against a background of Munich scenery. A further connection to Munich is the wall decoration in each bathroom – the architect Sattler had this especially made for the hotel in the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory. With Adam or Eve as theme, this also tells the story of creation – this time from a religious perspective.
Olga Polizzi also led the design team in March 2016 on the redesigning of Sophia’s Restaurant & Bar, formerly Davvero. She has developed an ambience through the architecture which is generous and light, with a high ceiling that contributes to the bright and airy atmosphere. Two large fig trees in the centre of the restaurant, and other plants and herbs in rustic pots, mirror the lush restaurant terrace and the gardens beyond.
The bar area is connected to the light-filled restaurant, but boasts a subtler lighting, darker design, and more masculine fabrics. The space features a striking and contemporary eight-metre bar and the Moroccan-inspired interior décor of the lounge space creates a feeling of intimacy and privacy.
In The Charles Spa the natural theme is continued in its interior design: The walls of the pool area are decorated with extensive, elaborately made coral mosaics from Bisazza. The nature theme connects with that of Munich: The members of the royal family Wittelsbach were passionate coral collectors and even used them in their coats of arms.
SUITE LIFE AT THE CHARLES HOTEL MUNICH
The Rocco Forte Hotels is the only European 5 Star hotel chain which is family-managed since four generations. The comfort and the wellbeing of the guests are part of the family tradition. The programme especially developed for the suite guests, the Rocco Forte Suite Experience, gives the guests a maximum of comfort and time to enjoy their suite, the city and their life to the full. „Nowadays, for many people time is the biggest luxury. We give our guests the time by dealing with certain things or think along with them“, explains Frank Heller, Director of The Charles Hotel in Munich. „The Suite Experience Programme, for example, makes packing and unpacking of suitcases or ironing superfluous for our guests“, he adds.
Royal Monforte Suite – highest comfort and optimum security
The Charles Hotel opened in 2007 at the Old Botanical Garden has, apart from 136 standard rooms which are with 40 square metres the largest in town, also 24 individually designed and differently sized suites.
The heart of the hotel is the Royal Suite Monforte on the 8th floor, named after the South Italian small town and place of birth of Lord Charles Forte, father of Sir Rocco Forte. The spacious roof top terrace has a magical attraction and places the Bavarian capital including the Alpine peaks on the horizon at the guests’ feet. The 200 square metre suite impresses with its open-plan concept combined with elegant interior design by Olga Polizzi.
Divided in a sleeping-, living-, dining- and working-area as well as a fully equipped kitchen with separate entrance, the suite offers a maximum of space and privacy. The stylish and nevertheless cosy furnishing is completed with modern art from Max Wiedemann as well as a Bechstein Grand Piano in the living area. An own steam bath, rain showers and a free-standing bathtub with a view over the historical Munich ensure a unique bathing experience. The Monforte Suite can be connected with two further suites. Guests who put special value on an undisturbed stay can also rent the entire floor with a total of four suites and more than 450 square metres.
The Royal Suite is also very convincing with regard to security: In defiance of the fact that the hotel is a detached building, the windows, ceilings and floors of the suite have been made of bullet-proof material. In the corridor, a total of five cameras have been installed which can be monitored from the next suite, the Junior Deluxe Suite. Thanks to the structural conditions, the hotel underground carpark is accessible via three separate underground routes. Guests can reach the suite floor directly from the underground carpark. The hotel lift can be programmed in such a way that only authorised people can reach the top floor. Furthermore, the Royal Suite has an autonomous telecommunication installation as well as an SOS alarm system. Moreover, one can prevent electromagnetism and switch off the entire power supply of the suite from the bed with one manual movement. A security representative of the hotel provides guests with help and support and is also responsible for the control of the sophisticated surveillance system of the hotel. The next police station is only 900 metres, the next hospital around one kilometre and the closest fire station is approximately two kilometres away.
The right suite for every occasion
Whether for a romantic weekend as a couple or for a big family meeting – at The Charles Hotel, guests will find the right suite for every occasion. With a size between 48 to 146 square metres, all suites have separate living and sleeping areas with a comfortable king-size bed and a walking-in wardrobe. Floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies or terraces ensure especially fantastic views at any time of the day.
Guests will find any comfort in spacious bathrooms with daylight, underfloor heating, rain shower and bathtub. For families the Two-Bedroom Suites are the perfect choice. Thanks to the unique location of the hotel in the centre of town and yet quiet at the Old Botanical Garden, the suites surprise particularly with their peaceful atmosphere and a popular garden view.
Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, used high-quality natural products and soft colours when designing the interior of the hotel. Skilfully and unobtrusively placed design highlights, such as paintings custom-made for The Charles Hotel suites, provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Executive Suites located in the corner towers of the hotel are especially charming – due to the semi-circular windows there is a 180 degree panorama view over the city from the bed.
Rocco Forte Suite Experience Programme
The Suite Experience Programme applies to every suite. The programme includes breakfast at the Sophia’s Restaurant & Bar or at the suite, wireless internet access as well as a selection of „Videos on demand“. Check-in takes place at the suite, while guests may mention any possible wishes such as restaurant reservation, transfer or concert tickets. The hotel staff takes care of time-consuming unpacking of suitcases and creased clothes are ironed the same evening. For a pleasurable start of the evening, guests may enjoy the daily In-Suite-Aperó-Bar, which contains an attractive selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as sweet and salty snacks from the hotel kitchen.
The Concierge Team with its extensive network will fulfil even the most unusual wishes. On request, a personal butler can be organised for our guests.
At the urban Sophia’s Restaurant & Bar, Chef Michael Hüsken spoils guests with a modern and international cuisine, during the summer also on the terrace. The spacious The Charles Spa with Munich’s longest indoor hotel pool, sauna, steam bath and the latest generation of fitness equipment will be available for relaxing hours or an effective workout.
Contact:
ADDRESS:
Sophienstrasse 28, 80333 Munich, Germany
TELEPHONE:
+49 89 544 555 0
FAX:
+49 89 544 555 2000
EMAIL:
info.charles@roccofortehotels.com
WEBSITE:
roccofortehotels.com
OWNER:
Sir Rocco Forte