Mandarin Oriental, Munich — Heritage, Heart and Sophistication
- September 15, 2025
-
As an avid business traveller, I’ve learnt that true luxury reveals itself in the small details, and at the Mandarin Oriental, Munich the small details are ever present, writes Harmeet Sehgal
A house of stories in the Altstadt
The building’s past gives the hotel its distinguished presence. Completed in 1800 by Johann Kilian Stützel, it opened as the Centralsäle, Munich’s grand salon where masked balls, theatre and the city’s social pulse once lived. That neo-Renaissance façade still stands proud. Inside, the narrative has been elegantly, re-edited rather than rewritten.
Since joining the Mandarin Oriental group in 2000 and culminating in a comprehensive rooms and suites renovation in 2020, the hotel has found a voice that is both Munich and Mandarin, cultured, exacting, and quietly confident. With just 48 rooms and 25 suites, it feels more private residence than hotel, which is exactly the point.
Arrival, the lobby and that staircase
Step through the doors and the volume drops as if someone has turned the city down a notch. The lobby is gracious rather than grandiose and light on its feet after the refresh.
Your eye is drawn to the curving staircase, a sculptural sweep by the recreated 1897 August Endell Jugendstil that nods to Munich’s artistic heritage. It is the kind of detail that makes you slow your step, place a hand on the rail and look up. Check in is mercifully swift and personal. There’s no theatre here, just practiced professionalism that is synonymous with The Mandarin Oriental. And there’s a quiet sense that everything has been prepared in advance. After a 20-hour journey, it sets the tone for a restorative stay that respects your time as much as your taste.
Rooms that exhale
The guest rooms continue the lobby’s conversation. Wood floors, bespoke furniture and local art (mountain scenes by Felix Rehfeld) bring Munich’s gateway to the Alps identity indoors. The palette is residential, the layout rational.
Power points are where you need them; the desk is thoughtfully designed for the business traveller, and the lighting is intuitive.
Bathrooms crafted with marble, are spacious and luxurious. Striking that desirable balance of beauty and utility, with underfloor heating, a walk-in shower, separate bathtub, and toilet and bidet.
And the bed, surely the most important requirement at the end of a business traveller’s day, possesses the right equation of support and softness. It’s a bed that reminds you luxury isn’t loud, it lets you sleep and makes you better at what you came to do.
For something singular, the Tower and Bavaria Suites occupy the building’s turrets. Circular salons and round bedrooms that feel secluded, as if the city were spinning around you. At the top of the tower, the Presidential Suite adds a wraparound terrace that suits discreet meetings as much as celebratory evenings.
Service, the Mandarin Oriental way
What sets this hotel apart is a refined, unpretentious service culture that feels instinctive and human at every interaction. From the first greeting, where the genuine smiles are signature, through to the door team, reception, concierge, housekeeping and restaurant staff. It feels as though each department is aligned around to a single aim, total guest satisfaction.
Food & drink as a moodboard
Mornings at Mandarin Oriental, Munich are are a gourmet affair. The buffet showcases local artisans, with world class baking, farm fresh produce, and delicatessen delights. Honey is sourced from around Munich and drizzled over warm bread and you’ll catch those fresh, floral notes that belong to this region alone.
Breakfast includes plenty of health-conscious options, including an array of freshly squeezed juices (think orange, apple, carrot-ginger and seasonal blends) and herbal mineral shots. Those who prefer a more celebratory start can opt for a glass of Champagne, poured with discretion and just the right chill.
Alongside the buffet, an à la carte menu offers international selections and traditional Bavarian fare.
The signature dish for me was the Weißwurst, the classic veal and pork sausages, scented with parsley, lemon, ginger and cardamom. It arrives with sweet mustard, a soft pretzel, and a wheat beer to complete the ritual. The espresso with a tawny crema and delivered at the right temperature. It’s the kind of shot that sharpens focus without harshness. Ask for a macchiato or doppio and the barista lands it with the same precision.
Matsuhisa Munich is the hotel’s heartbeat after dark where Nobu’s Japanese Peruvian signatures are rendered with Bavarian assurance. Rather than navigating the extensive menu, I asked our server to curate a five-course progression.
Portions were perfectly judged, and the sequence moved intelligently through clean, citrus lifted starters to richer, umami forward finales. Our favourites were the Shrimp Tempura, jumbo sized shrimp in a light and airy tempura gently fried to a clean, shattering crisp that gives way to sweet, succulent flesh.
The show stopping Black Cod Miso, was a succulent piece of the freshest Black Cod, glossed with a caramelised miso lacquer and perfectly cooked. The marinade’s gentle sweetness gave way to a deep, savoury umami flavour, finishing with a clean, almost floral lift. Post dinner, we move for a night-cap at the Ory Bar, where the dark green, gold décor brings a cinematic mood. I finish off the evening with my favourite, the Macallan 18 in The Lounge.
During the day guests can find civilised lunches and quietly indulgent afternoon tea in The Lounge.
It also hosts the Mandarin Cake Shop, a dangerous detour you’ll justify with a morning run. In summer, the rooftop Terrace is the city’s balcony showcasing the skyline, spires, and the suggestion of Alps on a clear day. An alfresco cocktail here turns a good day into an excellent evening.
Wellbeing, unforced
The 24-hour fitness centre is compact but intelligently equipped, including Kinesis for targeted sessions. The sauna, steam room and shower nearby offer a post flight reset. There’s no traditional spa, but treatments at Amour Fou Spa de Beauté can be arranged on property.
The Mandarin Oriental idea of Luxury
he Mandarin Oriental’s promise of quiet mastery lets craft, courtesy and context do the talking. The spaces feel designed for people, not just for photographs.
And every touchpoint embodies personalisation, a door held open, a name remembered, a glass poured and adds up to an experience guests truly value. The Mandarin Oriental, Munich is a fusion of Bavarian heritage and high-end service. It’s a hotel that doesn’t perform luxury, it practices it discreetly, consistently, and with the kind of poise that makes both business and pleasure feel effortless. If Munich is on your calendar, make this address part of your stay.
My Rating: 5 Stars
