Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski strikes that rare and resolutely German balance between venerable tradition and fastidious, tech-savvy modernism. Case in point: you'll marvel equally at the Pinakothek reproductions gracing the walls and the iPad in every room. Whether you’re booking spa treatments, exploring local cuisine or just in need of a spectacularly knowledgeable butler, you’ll find it all in easy reach from the comfort of your Ludwig II-era quarters. Not to mention the seasoned concierge team’s stellar reputation — these ladies and gentlemen are the very definition of proficiency and punctuality.

There’s probably something to be made of the fact that the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski’s name is German for Four Seasons. In fact there’s a resemblance, if a superficial one, between this central Munich luxury hotel and the Canadian-owned pan-global luxury chain of similar name. But just as its name remains resolutely German, the hotel, with its equally illustrious German management, is a distinctly local affair.

The location is central, right on the Maximilianstrasse, at the heart of the city’s high-end retail haven, and steps from the opera house. The sandy-colored neoclassical façade is pure Bavarian, and the interiors, freshly renovated, maintain the same sort of warm-toned elegance. They’re not aggressively stylish, but they are smartly turned out, and lack for essentially nothing in the way of luxury.

It’s probably the glass-enclosed rooftop pool, though, that most forcefully drives home the point that what sets Munich apart from its northern neighbors is a certain dedication to quality of life. This is the centerpiece of a lavish spa complex, complete with a well-equipped fitness center — add a fine-dining restaurant and it’s not hard to see why this is the first choice for so many of Munich’s high-end travelers.