Altstadt / Viktualienmarkt

Hotel Blauer Bock

★★★★★

Hotel Blauer Bock is one of the best-value addresses in Munich's old town, and one of the most charming. It stands on the Sebastiansplatz, a quiet little square behind the Viktualienmarkt and next to the St Jakobs Platz, home of the Jewish Centre with its striking synagogue, so you are a minute from the market stalls and five minutes from Marienplatz, yet away from the main tourist flow. The building is a listed historic house whose story as a place of hospitality goes back more than four centuries, and it has been carefully modernised while keeping old features such as its parquet floors. Rooms are offered in several categories: singles and doubles in Economy, Standard and Premium versions, plus junior suites, so there is a price point for most budgets. The Economy rooms are compact and simple, ideal for travellers who will be out all day, while the Premium rooms and junior suites give more space and nicer finishes for a longer stay or a special trip. Breakfast is included in the rate, along with Wi-Fi, and the kitchen focuses on regional, seasonal food, with a quick espresso always on hand. The team is available around the clock. There is no spa, gym or full restaurant, but you hardly need one in this location: the Viktualienmarkt's stalls, beer garden and snack bars, the cafes of the Gaertnerplatz quarter and the restaurants of the Glockenbachviertel are all on the doorstep. The Marienplatz U-Bahn and S-Bahn hub and the Sendlinger Tor station are both close, making connections to the main station and airport easy. For travellers who want a characterful, central, independently run hotel with a real sense of the old city, at a moderate price, it is hard to beat.

Location: the Sebastiansplatz is one of the old town's best-kept secrets, a small, calm square with a few cafes, between the Viktualienmarkt and the St Jakobs Platz. From here you can walk to Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, St Peter's tower, the Asamkirche and the Hofbraeuhaus in under ten minutes, and the Isar and the Deutsches Museum in fifteen. Evenings are quieter than around Marienplatz or the Platzl, though the Viktualienmarkt area is busy by day.

Who it suits: couples, solo travellers and first-time visitors who want to be central on a moderate budget and appreciate an older building with character. Families may find the standard rooms small, though the junior suites help. Travellers who need a gym, a spa, a bar or room service should look elsewhere.

Compared with nearby options: the LOUIS Hotel, overlooking the Viktualienmarkt, is the polished, design-led choice at a much higher price, and the Platzl Hotel offers more facilities, including a sauna and restaurants, for more money. Motel One Sendlinger Tor is cheaper and slicker but more anonymous. Blauer Bock sits between them, with old-town character and an included breakfast, and it is an excellent base for the Christmas markets, which begin a few minutes away. Book early for Oktoberfest and Advent weekends.