Review of Cortiina Hotel in Munich

It’s often said that Munich, well known for its convivial spirit and laid-back approach to life, is Italy’s northernmost city. Cortiina Hotel bears that sentiment out, right down to its name. Cortina is Italian for curtain, and the mood here is all about retreating from the busy world outside. The extra i in the moniker is no accident — it’s meant to suggest slowing down and savoring the relaxed atmosphere that the hotel strives to create. And while that may seem like a stretch for parents with kids in tow, the Cortiina’s thoughtful setup and carefully culled amenities make it a natural fit for families.

Family-Friendly Review and Highlights of Cortiina Hotel

Location

Right in the thick of Munich’s picturesque Old Town, the Cortiina is perfectly positioned for taking in the best of the historic center. The famous Hofbrauhaus beer hall lies just around the corner, and the Marienplatz, the iconic city square, is a few minutes by foot. There’s at least two days’ worth of sightseeing within walking distance, from the royal Residenz to the enormous English Garden, but access to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn train systems is a breeze from here. A small park behind the Marienplatz provides a perfect outlet nearby for little ones to run off energy.

Accommodations

The main accommodations wing of the Cortiina has its own outdoor entrance next to the lobby, and that’s by design. In keeping with the apartment-style setup, autonomy is the goal. Note, that doesn’t mean hands-off service; the front desk staff is friendly, helpful and very well-informed, should you need to engage them for restaurant or activity recommendations, special requests and more.

Parents traveling with children of all ages have a luxury of choice — almost all rooms work well for families, from Superior Rooms and Junior Suites to Two-bedroom Suites and the bi-level Maisonette Suite, which offers a pair of private balconies. Cribs and rollaway beds (fee-based) are available on request. The Cortiina is a design hotel, and the look is chic and contemporary, yet not at all off-putting. Accommodations are arranged along the principles of feng shui for a soothing ambiance and natural flow.

The hotel takes great pride in sourcing organic surfaces and materials: natural cotton sheets, stone walls and heated stone flooring in the bathrooms, and more. Bathrooms themselves are sleek and zenlike, with both tubs and showers in most room categories (be aware that if you book the Business Suite, the tub is exposed in the middle of the space). Plush sofas, comfortable leather butterfly chairs and colorful rugs invite kids to flop down with a book or a game.

We stayed in a Deluxe Double Room with a rollaway, which was more than spacious enough for our family of three. I was impressed with the amount of storage; our pile of suitcases and day bags hardly filled a corner of the walk-in closet. The smart room configuration was another plus — the sleeping and sitting areas were divided by a wall of integrated shelving and a built-in kitchenette, complete with a small cooktop, microwave, mini-fridge and sink.

Standard in-room amenities include air conditioning, free WIFI, iPod/iPhone docking stations and DVD players. With enough notice, the Cortiina staff also can stock groceries and supplies in advance, including baby needs such as diapers.

Dining and Amenities

Both the buffet and the a la carte breakfast at the Cortiina are excellent, with an emphasis on local and organic foods tailored for European and American palates. Don’t miss the traditional weisswurst (white sausage), a Bavarian breakfast staple that’s especially delicious here. At 22.50 € per adult, the morning meal is not inexpensive, but kids under 6 eat free and kids 7 to 12 eat for 7.50 €.

Full afternoon tea is available from late fall through early spring, and dinner is served onsite daily from 6p onward. Guests also get a 10% discount at Bar Centrale, the hotel owners’ Italian cafe, across the street.

Although public transport in Munich is so comprehensive that a car isn’t necessary, guests can access covered parking for a daily fee. There are no workout facilities or pool, but a fitness center and a sauna are available at the Cortiina’s equally lovely sister property, Louis Hotel, a few minutes’ walk away.

Relevant Links:

Browse family-friendly accommodations and things to do in Bavaria on Ciao Bambino

72 hours in Munich with kids

A summer holiday in Germany’s Bavarian forest

Editor’s Note: Cortiina Hotel provided a media package to facilitate our review of the property. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Lisa Frederick except where noted.