To mingle with Munich’s locals and begin your appreciation of Bavaria’s historic brewing traditions while staying at the elegant The Charles Hotel, head to one of the city’s lively beer gardens for an afternoon or evening of delicious food and drink.
Waldwirtschaft
Meaning ‘forest inn’, this leafy beer garden overlooking the Isar valley offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city. Nicknamed ‘WaWi’ by the locals, ask our Concierge Team to arrange a chauffeured excursion and you’ll soon be sipping a beer while listening to the smooth sound of a live jazz recital.
Chinesischer Turm
Munich’s sprawling Englischer Garten is home to several beer gardens but this offering, located beneath a 25m-high Chinese pagoda, is perhaps the most attractive. The ornate tower might be closed to visitors, but it does host regular brass band performances during summer.
Seehaus
Another beer garden located in Munich’s most picturesque park, this Englischer Garten idyll sits next to the sparkling waters of Lake Kleinhesseloher. With handsome red benches set up alongside the shoreline, the only way to get closer to the water is by hiring a rowing boat from the nearby jetty.
Zum Flaucher
Renowned for its roast meat dishes – and vegetarian versions – this gourmet beer garden is surrounded by woodland parks and grassy playing fields, making it the perfect urban escape. From the city centre, walk or cycle along the banks of the Isar river and you’ll be rewarded with a stein of the local Löwenbräu beer when you arrive.
Hofbräukeller
Situated under the shade of ancient chestnut trees amid the picturesque surroundings of Wiener Platz market square, this garden adjoining one of Germany’s most famous breweries is the perfect place to sample freshly poured Hofbräu beer, accompanied by a gingerbread heart or salted pretzel.
Aumeister
Another of Englischer Garten’s pretty beer destinations, join walkers and cyclists on a refreshment stop and sip a seasonal beer. Expect weissbier (wheat beer) in autumn, refreshing and deliciously hoppy maibock lager during summer months and rich porters when the weather is cooler.
Augustiner-Keller
Opening in 1812, this welcoming beer garden prides itself on maintaining the centuries-old tradition of serving beer straight from the barrel – listen out for the bell that signals the opening of each new wooden cask. Escape rainy days by taking a seat in the cosy cellar space.
Hirschgarten
Once a royal hunting ground, today it’s still possible to spot fallow deer grazing in this 40-hectare park. Find a seat under one of the parasols and choose from a range of traditional Bavarian snacks, including obatzda – a delicious cheese, paprika and onion dish.
Viktualienmarkt
Set among the fresh produce stalls of Munich’s historic food market, this is the perfect place to raise a glass to the two patron saints of brewing, St. Boniface and St. Florian, who are both depicted alongside scenes of Oktoberfest on the Viktualienmarkt’s iconic maypole.
Sip a pure Bavarian beer in the summer sunshine with an escape to The Charles Hotel. Book yours now by emailing reservations.charles@roccofortehotels.com
or call +49 89 544 555 1430.
Paris is always a good idea. Except, perhaps, when it’s hosting the Olympic Summer Games, and the usual tourist throng looks set to multiply almost prohibitively. Of course, the Games are exciting, but if wading through crowds feels like a marathon effort, try a cultural relay around one of these stunning European cities instead.
The name Bernardo Buontalenti might not mean much to those outside of Florence, but it should. A prestigious Florentine architect and artist favoured by the Medici, he is also widely credited with inventing gelato. This frozen delight is now as synonymous with Italy as pizza and is deeply intertwined with Florence’s heritage. Take a tour of the city’s most celebrated gelaterias, curated by the expert concierge team at Hotel Savoy.
As the gentle glow of each ornate chandelier begins to dim, a hush descends upon the audience before an all-consuming world of tragedy and triumph unfolds. Both exhilarating and deeply moving, a night at the opera has the distinct power to evoke emotion, while offering a unique insight into a perhaps unfamiliar city.
Journey through Europe’s symphony of unmissable opera houses, each steeped in history and grandeur.
