Hotel Blauer Bock

The Blauer Block sits in a popular, central area crawling with tourists. Though it’s housed in a building that's over 400 years old, there have been plenty of updates, including a renovation of all of the rooms in 2009 and the addition of an elevator in 2010. The restaurant and bar area were refurbished in 2013. The property definitely has a homey vibe, with an antique wooden front desk in the lobby, as well as wood-paneled walls, and blue polka-dot chairs and a bench. There’s another seating area with dated maroon carpeting and leather armchairs. The red carpet in the hallways could do with an update, though the botanical prints and other artwork here brighten the space a bit. And not everything feels uniformly vintage -- the elevator is illuminated in distracting neon shades. The restaurant has a more modern vibe as well, with contemporary orange chairs, forest green chairs and booths, floral displays, and abstract art pieces. 

The Hotel Blauer Bock is located in central Munich, in an area surrounded by shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The popular outdoor market -- Victuals Market -- is three minutes away on foot, while the historic Schrannenhalle is a two-minute walk. Marienplatz, a popular square, is only five minutes away. Munich Residenz is a 14-minute walk away. To explore other parts of the city, there’s a bus stop that’s about a minute away on foot from the hotel and a U-Bahn station that’s six minutes away. It’s a 33-minute drive to Munich International Airport. 

The 69 rooms and suites at Hotel Blauer Block are spacious, simple, and comfortable, with a prep-school vibe. Features include leathery headboards, beds with cream linens, black-and-white prints on the walls, and a generous use of plaid in curtains and bed runners. Modular wood desks with black steel legs provide a work surface. Suites are a bit more spacious and have seating areas with sofas, while Standard Single Rooms can be a bit of a tight squeeze. Amenities across all room types include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, though rooms lack air-conditioning and minibars. Higher-category rooms have Nespresso machines and free bottled water. Note that not all rooms have en-suite bathrooms; a few have shared bathrooms that are clean with showers and toiletries. The en-suite bathrooms have lovely tan tiling and shower/tub combos and come with toiletries and hairdryers. 

For a hotel of its size, the Blauer Bock has some pretty good features, including a free breakfast buffet of eggs, pastries, muesli, and fruit. On Sundays, a typical “Bavarian breakfast” is offered and includes white sausage, pretzels, and sweet mustard. There’s a restaurant that offers a three-course meal at a set price for dinner. The hotel also has an on-site treatment room where guests can book beauty and spa procedures from a cosmetologist. Other features include free Wi-Fi, a public computer, and limited underground parking (for a fee).