Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In bed

From funky boutique hotels to special romantic escapes here’s where to sleep in style

Louis Hotel

MUNICH
Viktualienmarkt 6, tel. 80, www.louis-hotel.com

The Louis Hotel captures the essence of Munich, the gentlemanly capital of Bavaria, a city that puts great store in its history and traditions. The hotel is named after a fictional but well-travelled character, Louis, with elements from his travels reflected in the interior design. Kilims from Iran and Tibet deck the wide oak floorboards, Paris Metro tiles line the bathrooms while Indonesian coloured-glass lamps sit on the dark walnut furniture that has a Czech-cubist style. His linen covered travelling trunk, bound by leather and wood straps, stands upright in each guest room as a symbol of homeliness. Various sections of the trunk open out to reveal a flatscreen TV, minibar and safe. The quality of the finish is outstanding; think more Louis Vuitton than Delsey. The same strap idea extends to the stucco finish that runs up the walls, over the ceilings and binds together the clear design of the grey-green coloured guestrooms. Top quality materials, local stone, wood, brass and leather, are all set to gently develop a patina with time. The “Gentleman’s” bar in each guest room is opened as part of the turndown service, with a bucket of ice added should guests wish to add a cube or two to their Slyers whisky, the only one distilled in Bavaria.

The maple and rattan lined Emiko restaurant also reflects the travels of Louis and serves Japanese cuisine rated as the best in Munich. The menu is based on a sharing principle with plates of sushi, sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls prepared by the two Japanese chefs. But for those craving something more meaty Wagyu fillets and Scottish entrecote are amongst the carnivorous alternatives. Breakfast, also served here, includes several vegan options, unusual anywhere let alone conventional Bavaria.

The most centrally located hotel in Munich, Louis Hotel is a minute’s stroll to the Glockenspiel of the town hall on Mariensplatz. The hotel’s roof terrace looks towards the twin towers of the Frauenkirche while a good number of guest rooms have French windows overlooking the city’s oldest and most valued fruit and veg market, the Viktualienmarkt. Double Room with breakfast from €135 (opening rate). Guy Dittrich

The Ring Hotel

VIENNA
Kärtner Ring 8, tel: +, www.theringhotel.com

Walk into The Ring Hotel’s low-key check-in at 9 o’clock on a Saturday evening and you’ll understand why this place has figured on the Vienna favourites lists of celebrities like 50 Cent and J-Lo since it opened in 2007. No queuing at the front desk, no liveried bellhops, no grand pillared entrance lobby – The Ring is all about behind-the-scenes luxury, not up-front pomp and ceremony. And in this it succeeds well making it a very agreebale place to stay. Behind the lobby’s downbeat approach – it feels like the large and luxurious living room of a well-off, design-conscious friend – the rooms and suites are beautifully decked out in soothing tones, wood floors or soft-pile carpets and beautiful details such as the wood and metal-filigree lampstands.

The staff, of course, are impeccably discreet and yet present - appearing, disappearing and re-appearing like Viennese versions of PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves – lending to the feeling that you are staying at a fortunate friend’s large city residence, rather than in a 5-star urban hotel.

The Ring Hotel offers the usual bar and restaurant facilities as well as an excellent day spa and fitness on the top floor. The bar ‘Drings’ specialises in vodka – it must have at least 300 different tipples – while the restaurant ‘At Eight’ offers an ‘aroma cuisine’ using herbs, oils and spices designed to stimulate the senses, as well as other excellent creations, essentially using bio-friendly ingredients. Rooms from €275. James Kevin Mac Goris

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