I am looking for a hotel for four couples for one night and I don't know what area I should be checking. We will arrive early one morning and leaving the area the next day. We would like to be within walking distance of Marienplatz, City Center?

Here is a link to the Munich Tourist Office. Click on Accomodations. It lists just about every hotel in Munich by area. Many of the hotels also have links to their website.

http://www.muenchen-tourist.de/englisch/index_e.htm

Curious

Try the Hotel Platzl, very near the Marienplatz.

I second Underhills recommendation of Hotel Platzl.
It's a four star property of good quality that is smack in the city center adjacent to Hofbraeuhaus.

http://www.platzl.de/

http://www.torbraeu.de/english/torbraeu.cfm

The Platzl is well-located for the Marienplatz area but it is NOT air conditioned if that is an issue.

I don't know what your budget is, but if you are looking lower budget, I can recommend the Hotel Jedermann, especially if you are coming into the train station.

It is a 5-10 min walk from the station, or you can take the tram. The hotel is simple, but very clean and the staff is quite helpful. Breakfast is pretty hearty, and the tram stop is literally right outside the hotel door. It is a straight line into town and takes no more than 10 minutes. It was so easy that I felt no inconvenience whatsoever.

My husband and I enjoyed Hotel Blauer Bock (Sebastianplatz 9; tele: 49 (89) 231780. This hotel is located in the Sebastianplatz (good location), a 2-minute walk to the Viktualianmarkt (one of my favorite markets!), and a 5-minute walk to the Mairenplatz, U/S Bahn; other sights are nearby. We paid 170DM at the time. Read more about it: http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/germanyhotels.html

Thanks!
Monica

I recommend the Bayerischerhof, where my family stayed in July 2001. We had 2 beautiful rooms, with very comfortable beds, a very good breakfast buffet, a 5-minute walk to the Marienplatz and very friendly and attentive hotel staff. The hotel may not be air-conditioned however. It was so cool when we were there, that it was not a concern.