A First Look At Rosewood Munich’s Historic Bavarian Grandeur
Celebrating Munich’s baroque heritage.
Rosewood Munich has made a bold debut in Germany by reviving two landmark buildings in the heart of the old town.
Housed in the former State Bank of Bavaria headquarters and the one-time aristocratic residence Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, the hotel brings new luxury to the city whilst celebrating Munich’s baroque heritage and Bavarian culture. The Munich-based architecture firm Hilmer Sattler Architekten Ahlers Albrecht and London interior design studio Tara Bernerd & Partners joined creative forces to carry out the sensitive restoration, which blends the grandeur of baroque and rococo architecture with contemporary elegance. Outside on the restored façade, four imposing standing figures crafted from Bavarian limestone hold objects that represent aspects of the region, from a plough referencing its agricultural roots to a spindle and beehive. Inside, the grand lobby greets guests with a grand crowned by an ornate vaulted ceiling, whilst through the marble arches a contemporary reception and salon set the tone for the Bernerd’s take on modern luxury.
In a nod to the Palais Neuhaus-Preysing’s former life as an aristocratic residence, the 73 guest rooms and 59 suites and houses are reminiscent of an elegant private apartment. A classic neutral colour palette is complemented with earthy shades of green loden cloth, brown leather, and grey linen to offer guests a tranquil haven after a day spent sightseeing. The pied-à-terre feel is further enhanced by the sofas, coffee tables, and a mix of vibrant artworks, books, and objets d’art. In the bathrooms, the soft hues of the stone flooring and textured tiles show off the striking centrepiece—a smooth green-marble sink—to maximum effect.
Downstairs, Bernerd handed the keys over to Munich-based Dippold Interior Architecture to design the hotel’s three restaurants. In the main dining room, Brasserie Cuvilliés, layers of warm wood and tan leather mirror the sophisticated neutral shades of the guest rooms and create a soft contrast to the striking monochrome flooring and black-tiled walls of the open kitchen, where chef Caspar Bork puts a contemporary twist on classic alpine and Bavarian dishes such as wiener schnitzel and venison goulash. Over in the adjoining Palaishof courtyard and the Wintergarten, relaxed lunches and afternoon tea are served in a garden-inspired setting, with a paving pattern inspired by Bavaria’s formal gardens and a pergola surrounded by leafy foliage. By night, a custom-made stained-glass installation greets guests with a myriad of colours at Bar Montez, which dials up the glamour with sumptuous velvet-clad furnishings set around black columns and a gleaming gold-hued bar.
Rosewood has also debuted its signature Asaya Spa,. a two-floor space with an indoor pool, dual saunas, a herbal steam room, and treatments from the likes of Dr. Barbara Sturm and EviDenS de Beauté. Guests can book one of the spa’s Journeys, multistage treatments that draw upon Bavarian nature and folk remedies, or unwind in the Social House, an exclusive wellness suite for full-day retreats in the heart of the Bavarian captial.
Photography by Davide Lovatti.
