Sofitel Munich Bayerpost

It’s a bit like a microcosm of Munich itself, the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost: at first glance conservative, traditional as can be, but upon closer inspection surprisingly modern, even hip. The old post office building, just a hundred meters from the Munich city-center rail station, retains its classic facade, but the interiors have been completely re-imagined, and the result is an utterly contemporary and breathtakingly stylish luxury hotel.

You’re a long way from the Bavaria of beer halls and Oktoberfest. The Sofitel’s public spaces are marked by the kind of forward-thinking design once only seen in the most exclusive boutique hotels. And the guest rooms, while unmistakably luxurious in orientation, show a streak of minimalist chic alongside their massive stone bathtubs. Up in the eaves, on the eighth floor, are the distinctive “maisonette” suites, with attic-style canted ceilings and views of the Munich rooftops or the Alps.

A full-service spa is a certainty in a hotel like this, but the Sofitel’s Spa Lagune goes beyond, detailed stonework and mosaic tile providing a striking backdrop for the treatment rooms, the fitness center, and the indoor swimming pool. And as is the Sofitel group’s custom, the cuisine is all French, from Délice brasserie to the rich breakfast buffet — home to what must be the best croissants in Munich.