The Charles Hotel in Munich has always been that sort of place — discreetly opulent, confidently five-star, and, like a well-cut Max Mara coat, quietly elegant in every season. But this summer, the Rocco Forte property has unveiled a bold new look, one that trades buttoned-up classicism for a more botanical, design-forward glamour.
Following an extensive renovation of its ground floor, the hotel now feels less like a hushed grand dame and more like a friend who spent spring in Sicily and came back with better stories — and a new Paolo Moschino wardrobe. With a lush green palette and updated interiors courtesy of Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen (with the ever-stylish Olga Polizzi overseeing the vision), the transformation leans into whimsy, warmth and high design.
A Lobby That Says, “Yes, You’ve Arrived”
The newly redesigned lobby makes a first impression in the way that only truly great hotels can — dramatically, but never shouty. There’s a grand floral display on a central table, sculptures that nod to classicism without veering into cliché, and curved plasterwork by French artist François Mascarello that’s more gallery wall than hotel wall. It’s elegant, it’s surprising, and it’s exactly the kind of space you’d expect to check into while carrying Loewe.
Florio Restaurant & Bar: A Greenhouse, but Make It Chic
The updated Florio Restaurant & Bar, named for Italy’s famously decadent 19th-century industrialist family, feels like it was designed for the Instagram age — though thankfully, not just for it. Italian culinary icon and Rocco Forte’s Creative Director of Food, Fulvio Pierangelini, has crafted a menu inspired by the nearby Old Botanical Garden. Think: moss-green linen wallpaper, silvery olive trees, and prints of flora that are more Fornasetti than farmer’s market.
The newly launched Florio Bar continues the theme with rainforest-green marble and strelitzias so tall they practically deserve their own suite. Drinks are very much in the Italian aperitivo tradition — expect Campari, but elevated — and the setting is perfect for mid-afternoon Negronis or post-opera gossip.
There’s also a Private Dining Room, which by day hosts breakfast beneath floral murals and by night transforms into the kind of space where you might accidentally share too much over Chianti. And outside, a 200-square-metre terrace beckons with wrought-iron furniture, oversized parasols, and those elusive balmy Munich evenings. The vibe is curated garden party, but the lighting (thank you, Haberdashery) is pure jewellery box — 258 porcelain leaves, some glazed in actual precious metals, hanging from near-invisible threads.
The Circle Bar: Because Not Everything Should Be a Square
And then there’s Circle Bar, whose name is a nod to the room’s shape — and, in a slightly more conceptual twist, to a red steel ring sculpture by Italian artist Mauro Staccioli that sits in front of the hotel. If Florio is where you go to see and be seen, Circle is where you go when you want to be lightly seen — over champagne, patisserie, and polite murmurs about the current state of European art collecting.
Why It Matters
Luxury hotels relaunch all the time. But The Charles’ new look feels different — not just another facelift, but a point-of-view shift. It’s rare that a hotel refresh manages to be both aesthetically relevant and emotionally resonant. This one does both, managing to capture something we don’t talk about enough in luxury: joy. It’s colourful, it’s confident, and yes, it smells faintly of jasmine.
With this renovation, The Charles has positioned itself not just as one of Munich’s most luxurious hotels, but one of its most fashionable. And in a city that’s not always known for taking risks in design, that’s no small feat.
Dining & Drinking at The Charles Hotel:
Florio Restaurant
Open daily
Lunch: 12:00–14:30
Dinner: 18:00–22:30 (kitchen closes at 22:00)
Florio Bar
Sunday–Thursday: 12:00–00:00
Friday–Saturday: 12:00–01:00
Terrace (weather permitting): 12:00–23:00
Circle Bar (Lobby)
Daily: 10:30–20:00
