The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Forget about Oktoberfest kitsch and the cliches of provincial Bavaria. Today’s Munich is a modern, cosmopolitan city — and it’s finally starting to get the modern, cosmopolitan hotels it deserves. It’s still a bit light on the funky little boutiques that a lot of us wish for, but The Charles Hotel means at least the high-end business/luxury guest will be well looked after. It’s a Rocco Forte hotel, which means it’s already got a leg up on the competition in terms of design; far from being another beige business hotel, The Charles looks crisp and contemporary, and just rich enough without crossing over into excessive opulence. It’s a new build, but constructed in a style that suits Munich well. Many rooms look out over the Old Botanical Gardens, a surprisingly idyllic setting for a hotel right in the heart of the city center. And all rooms are spacious and wide-open, with all the electronic bases covered and the sort of deeply indulgent bathrooms the luxury customer has come to expect. There’s a fine Italian restaurant, as well as 24-hour room service, and all the facilities you could ask for: spa, pool, fitness, business center, events spaces.