Fodor's Expert Review Gästehaus am Englischen Garten

Name: Gästehaus am Englischen Garten
Address: Liebergesellstr. 8, Munich, Bavaria, 80802, Germany, Munich, Germany
Telephone: 089-383–9410
Price range: $$

Liebergesellstr. 8, Munich, Bavaria, 80802, Germany, Munich, Germany See on Map Fodor's Choice

Jennifer Rigby

Reserve well in advance for a room at this popular and charming converted water mill, more than 300 years old, adjoining the lovely English Garden. The quiet hotel is only a five-minute walk from the bars, shops, and restaurants of Schwabing, and there is a well-known Bavarian restaurant across the street. It's family-run, which only adds to the heritage charm of the place (it's pet-friendly too).

YOU SHOULD KNOW The Wi-Fi can be a bit patchy (and you need to keep re-logging in), so it's not the best choice for those on business trips.

room

Rooms in the historic main guesthouse building have a home-like feel, with some antique furniture, but a sense of freshness - they were refurbished in 2017. The nearby annex has 20 apartments, most with balconies and all with kitchenettes.

Be sure to ask for one of the 11 nostalgically old-fashioned rooms in the main building, which has a garden on an island in the old millrace.

bathroom

Bathrooms are reasonably sized, modern and functional.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Not all of the rooms in the main guesthouse have their own bathrooms - prices are adjusted accordingly but do check.

lobby

The hotel's old-school reception is staffed by the family and their employees, who are all very accommodating.

dining

In summer, the generous breakfast is served in the garden.

LOCATION

Getting Around

The hotel is obviously in a plum location for the Englischer Garten, but it's easy to get to the main sights too--either on foot, in around 40 minutes (and the walk can take you through the park), or via the nearby U-bahn station.

Restaurants

Traditional Bavarian food and atmosphere are both dished up at Osterwaldgarten (1-minute walk), the aforementioned restaurant across the road. Or authentic Italian food can be found in pleasant surroundings at Birreria e Trattoria Seerose (4-minute walk).

Bars

Not to be missed in summer: the gigantic, cheerful, and usually heaving Restaurant and Beer Garden at the Chinese Tower (16-minute walk) in the Englischer Garten (in German, Chinesischer Turm). It seats an astonishing 5,000 people. There's a nearer biergarten in the park too, by the lake just steps from the hotel. Or head into the city for a more refined and hipster-ish experience at Call Soul bar and kitchen (4-minute walk). No spoilers, but for fans of Breaking Bad, it's a treat - and pretty good for the uninitiated, too.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Many hotels claim to be 'hidden oases in the city' but--for once--this little gem of a guesthouse has a reasonable claim to the cliche thanks to its traditional welcome, lovely garden, and location next to the gorgeously green Englischer Garten. It's not the cheapest, but that blend of city-center location and leafy relaxation is hard to come by.