SD › Munich Boutique Hotels › Marias Platzl Review
Updated: April 14, 2021
Essentials
• Location: Mariahilfplatz, opposite Mariahilfkirche.
• Hotel website: mariasplatzl.de
• Hotel phone: +49 89 622 3370
• Check prices on Booking.com
This Bavarian-themed restaurant and hotel features cozy and comfortable rooms with several mod-cons and an excellent tavern and beer garden opposite the Mariahilfkirche.
Marias Platzl – A cozy, quirky, family-run taste of Bavaria east of the Isar.
Marias Platzl is the place to stay if you want a taste of “real” Munich. Not only does it manage to be a Bavarian delight – Alpine-esque rooms, staff in traditional dresses, and a cute restaurant/beer hall – but it’s also just outside the central area, in the Au neighborhood, so you’ll get to experience local life first-hand. Try to come during the Auer Dult folk fair (every four months) when the huge churchyard outside the hotel is filled with stalls, events, and entertainment. Staying a little outside the center also means you get more for your money; although Marias Platzl is essentially a restaurant with rooms, it oozes quality, care, and great service. The family behind this hotel is well known locally – they also run the Platzl Hotel, Pfistermühle Restaurant, and Ayinger Brewery – and pretty much everything they touch is as golden as their beer.
See Also
Marias Platzl – Location
- Address: Mariahilfplatz 4, Munich.
- Nearest Metro/Subway: Fraunhoferstrasse U-Bahn station is a 10-minute walk (0.5 mile).
- Area: The hotel is in the up-and-coming Au neighborhood, south-east of the Old Town and across the Isar. It’s equidistant to both the U-Bahn at Fraunhoferstrasse (in the hip Glockenbach neighborhood, 0.5 mile) and the S-Bahn at Rosenheimer Platz in Haidhausen (0.6 mile).
- How to Get There: From the airport, Marias Platzl is around 40 minutes (24 miles) by car and around 50 minutes on public transport (S-Bahn, then walk from Rosenheimer Platz station).
- Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about €70 from Munich International Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
- Handy to: Deutsches Museum, Gasteig, Auer Dult folk fair (held thrice a year).
Marias Platzl – The Basics
- Ages: The hotel welcomes guests of all ages.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
- Laundry: The hotel offers a laundry service (surcharge).
- Parking: Some parking spaces are available in the hotel’s private garage at €16/day.
- Extras: In-room SuitePad tablets. Bikes available to rent.
- When to Book: There is a major accommodation shortage in Munich; book well ahead to get prime rooms, especially during Oktoberfest, which starts mid-September and goes on for a month, and during the Auer Dult fair held every four months.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +49 89 622 3370
- Email: servus@mariasplatzl.de
- Website: mariasplatzl.de
Marias Platzl – Amenities
- Pool: No pool.
- Spa: No spa. Guests may use the Platzl Hotel’s spa (1 mile).
- Fitness Center: No fitness center. Guests may use the Platzl Hotel’s fitness facilities.
- For Disabled Guests: The hotel is accessible by elevator.
- For Families: The Superior rooms are considered family rooms and have space for 2 extra beds each. There is a kids’ menu in the restaurant.
- Activities: Tours can be arranged of the hotel’s sister brewery, 17 miles outside the city.
Marias Platzl – Food and Drink
- Bar-Restaurant: Ayinger in der Au is cozy and traditional with modern touches: family photos and farming equipment on the walls with gastro-pub-style copper bar lights. Food is hearty modern Bavarian. As well as copious meat offerings, there’s also a selection for vegetarians and even a low-carb section on the menu. Open Sunday-Thursday 11.30 am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11.30 am-1 am. $-$$.
- Breakfast: Excellent a la carte breakfast. 7-10:30 am. €17.50.
- Room Service: No room service.
Marias Platzl – Rooms
- Room Types: “Anna” Queen ● “Gundi” King ● “Hermine” Superior/Family • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: No smoking throughout the property, except in the beer garden.
- Best Room: The Superior rooms are considerably bigger than either of the other room categories and can be configured with either a double or twin beds. The rooms can fit extra beds for up to 2 children (upon request). In addition to the amenities enjoyed by the other rooms (rain showers, 40-inch TVs, extra-long beds, SuitePad tablets, tea corners, safes, telephones), these rooms also offer Nespresso machines.
Marias Platzl – Local Transport
- Walking: It’s a pleasant 20-minute walk (1 mile) to Marienplatz across the Isar, and most tourist attractions can be reached on foot within 30 minutes.
- Tram/Bus: There are easy bus and tram connections throughout the city with excellent maps and apps available.
- Subway: Fraunhoferstrasse U-Bahn station is a 10-minute walk (0.5 mile), from where it’s another 5 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof on the U1, U2, or U7. Rosenheimer Platz station, which is served by every line on the S-Bahn, is at a similar distance (0.6 mile).
- Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Uber is available in Munich, but its growth has been limited by local taxis which have rallied to compete. Taxi-München uses TaxiApp which is nationwide, has multilingual phone operators (+49 89 21 610 or +49 89 19 410), and accepts text and email bookings. Another reliable local company is IsarFunk (+49 89 450 540), which uses the taxi.eu app.
Marias Platzl – What’s Nearby?
Things everyone should know about Munich:
- Cash is still king – never assume places will accept cards.
- Everything closes down for a holiday in August.
- September-October opening hours vary (especially for bars) because of Oktoberfest.
- Most places are closed on Sundays, even places that look touristy; it’s always worth checking.
Recommended Nearby Tours
- The Local Experience – For all things beer and Oktoberfest related, go to these guys with their range of fun, boozy options. Many of the tours start at Marienplatz (1 mile).
- Munich Walk Tours – As well as the normal range of city tours, this outfit offers a beer tour that takes you round a Paulaner brewery, a bike tour of the Englischer Garten, and a Bavarian food tasting tour. Tours start at Marienplatz (1 mile).
- Radius Tours – Huge range of tours in English, including many day trips to the surrounding areas (Salzburg, Neuschwanstein Castle, Nuremberg), as well as city tours of Third Reich, Dachau, Bavarian beer, and bike tours and rental. Tours start from the Hauptbahnhof (1.5 miles).
Best Nearby Taverns
You do not need to go far to experience a Bavarian Wirtshaus (tavern) – Marias Platzl has its very own, Ayinger in der Au. Make sure to also visit a historic one, like the Hofbräuhaus or Zum Augustiner in Altstadt. They all have elements in common: wood paneling, hearty food, and lots of beer. Look out for features such as lockers for patrons’ Steins (beer mugs) and Stammtischen (tables reserved for regulars). All serve reasonably-priced ($-$$) draught beer and traditional Bavarian food; some close on Sunday.
- Wirtshaus in der Au – It’s motto says it all: “Beer and dumplings since 1901”. You can even take classes to learn how to make the famous knödel, and there is often live Bavarian music to round off your traditional experience. (0.3 mile).
- Zum Kuchlverzeichnis – This place is everything you could ask for from a Bavarian tavern: dark wood, frilly napkins, warm service, and, most importantly, hearty food. (0.5 mile).
- Hofbräuhaus – Do not miss the most famous tavern in the world. Complete with traditionally dressed waitstaff, oompah band, space for 3,000 people, a garden, and great food, it will fulfill your every Bavarian dream. Interesting fact: Hitler loved this place. (1 mile).
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Apostel’s – Friendly and good-value neighborhood Greek restaurant. $-$$. (0.1 mile).
- Pizza Solo – Enormous Neapolitan-style pizzas, good pasta, and home-baked bread, as well as vegan pizza. (0.2 mile).
- Restaurant Ebert – Set 4, 5, or 6-course menus available at this intimate and inventive kitchen. Monday-Friday only. Reservations essential. $$$$. (0.3 mile).
- Hans im Glück – Great, fresh burgers, salads, and cocktails in this German chain, where entering the dining room feels like stepping into a fairytale forest. (0.3 mile).
- Dilan Meze & Bar – Very good Anatolian food in a friendly restaurant that doubles as a local bar. Good value lunch deal. (0.3 mile).
- Showroom – Don’t let the unlikely facade put you off. This Michelin-starred “culinary show” by Chef Dominik Käppeler features a mesmerizing 7-course menu that changes every 2 weeks. Reservation essential. $$$$. (0.4 mile).
- Chopan am Gasteig – Rated as the best restaurant in Munich on a popular review website for its flavorful Afghan dishes and excellent service. $$-$$$. (0.5 mile).
- Blitz – Hip Mexican-inspired bar/restaurant/club on Museum Island that does riverside tacos and pitchers of Margaritas, with dancing in the evening. $-$$. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Cafes
- Henry hat Hunger – Cute cafe with Moroccan tiles, plants, and great coffee. (0.1 mile).
- Cafe Blá – Did you know that Icelanders take their coffee very seriously? You will, if you have one of this stylish cafe’s excellent brews. (0.3 mile).
- True & 12 – Arguably the best ice cream in the city. Exquisite flavors, handmade using the highest quality milk. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Bars
- Carlitos Minibar – This cozy bar comes to life at night when the neon lights come on and the cocktails flow. (0.3 mile).
- Rosi – This bar-cafe might look hip, with mis-matched furniture, painted brick walls, and bare lightbulbs, but its menu and atmosphere are unpretentious. Good any time of day. (0.4 mile).
Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops
Au is not known for its great shopping, but neighboring Haidhausen is. Head to Weissenburger Platz (just north of Rosenheimer Platz) and Wiener Platz for clusters of independent stores. Across the river, the Glockenbach (around Gärtnerplatz) is best for unique buys, while Altstadt has all the international and luxury brands you could ever want.
- Hofpfisterei – An outpost of the Altstadt bakery that’s been around for some 700 years. Outstanding bread. (0.3 mile).
- Schallplattenzentrale – Incredible record store (as they used to be) with a massive selection of used vinyl and CDs. (0.3 mile).
- Buchhandlung am Gasteig – Wonderful bookstore with a decent selection in English. (0.5 mile).
Nearby Attractions
- Deutsches Museum – One of Germany’s best museums with wonderful interactive exhibitions that will delight kids and adults alike. For transportation aficionados, the museum has a fabulous outpost, the Verkeshrszentrum, just north of Bavariapark. The main museum is on an island in the Isar, reachable via a bridge opposite the Wirtshaus in der Au. (0.4 mile).
- Müller’sches Volksbad – Munich’s first public bathhouse is an Art Nouveau gem right on the Isar that’s worth seeing even if you don’t want a dip. (0.5 mile).
- Englischer Garten & Maximiliansanlagen – Munich’s “English Garden”, spanning the Isar, is the largest inner-city park in the world. There’s a lot to explore, including a fabulous contemporary art gallery in an imposing fascist building (Haus der Kunst), a Chinese pavilion, woodland areas, hiking trails, taverns and beer gardens, fields for nudism, a boating lake, and an area for surfing (it has to be seen to be believed), to name a few features. If you follow the stream next to the hotel north, you’ll come to the eastern extension of the park, the Maximiliansanlagen, which starts at the Müller’sches Volksbad. (0.6 mile).
- Gasteig – Check out Munich’s main cultural center that has a varied program of art, music, film, and more. There are also several food and drink options inside. (0.7 mile).
- Marienplatz – Munich’s showstopping main square, named after the Virgin Mary, houses the distinctive Altes Rathaus and Neues Rathaus (old and new townhalls). The Neues Rathaus is the one with the wonderful Glockenspiel that chimes at 11 am, noon, and 5 pm daily (a must-see). One street south is the church known as Alter Peter (Old Peter, St. Peter, or Peterskirche). You are rewarded by marvelous views of Munich by scaling its 300+ steps (alternatively, take the elevator to the Neues Rathaus viewing tower). (1 mile).
- Frauenkirche – The full name of Munich’s cathedral is Dom Zu Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), but it generally goes by its colloquial name. The 15th-century cathedral sits in a pleasant plaza and has distinctive Arabic-inspired towers. (1 mile).
- Residenz – Just off Odeonsplatz is a cluster of buildings known collectively as the Residenz: the largest palace in any German city center and home to the rulers of Bavaria from 1508-1918. Open to visitors are its many courtyards, a museum, the former treasury, and the Cuvilliés Theatre where Mozart premiered one of his operas. Expect Renaissance treasures and Baroque-style rooms. (1.5 miles).
- Maxvorstadt/Kunstareal (the Art Quarter/Museum Quarter) – To have these many museums, galleries, and architectural gems crammed into a few city blocks is a marvel and a must-see. For classical art, don’t miss the Alte Pinakothek. Contemporary and modern art lovers are spoiled for choice: there’s the Pinakothek der Moderne, Brandhorst, Lenbachhaus, and Neue Pinakothek (closed for renovation until 2025). Then there’s the Königsplatz, whose remarkable and grand Grecian-style architecture was the backdrop to many a Nazi rally. There you’ll find the Glyptothek art gallery, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (state antiquity collection), and the NS-Dokumentationszentrum (Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism). (2 miles).
- Olympiapark – There’s tons to see and do at the park built for the 1972 Olympic Games, including ascending the tallest structure in the city, the Olympiaturm (go on a clear day for spectacular views of the mountains); exploring the fabulous park and it’s landscaped hills; activities like zorbing, rowboats, pedalos, climbing, abseiling, and ziplining; a Seaworld aquarium; and the nearby BMW World for car-lovers. There are several routes into the park depending on where you want to go, and it takes around 35-40 minutes (4 miles) on public transport.
- Schloss Nymphenburg – Nymphenburg Palace’s beautifully preserved buildings, which date as far back as 1664, and manicured grounds, make a splendid day trip. (5 miles).
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site – This notorious ex-concentration camp, where over 40,000 people were killed under the Nazi regime, makes for a gruesome but educational experience. Entry is free and no reservations are needed. It takes around 1 hour (13 miles) via public transport.
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Wochenmarkt in der Au – Farmers’ market in Mariahilfplatz. Saturdays 7 am-1 pm. (0.1 mile)
- E xpress – Small EDEKA minimart with all the basics. (0.2 mile).
- Viktualienmarkt – The unmissable Munich marketplace with dozens of stalls selling some of the best food in the country is a short stroll from the hotel via Corneliusbrücke (Cornelius Bridge). (0.8 mile).
Marias Platzl – The Hotel
View of the hotel from the street in front.
As you wander around the neighborhood near the hotel, follow the cobbled alleyways off the beaten paths to discover the area’s real charm.
Marias Platzl is in the neighborhood of Au, set on the Mariahilfplatz opposite this magnificent church. The whole area has a sleepy residential feel, except with the Auer Dult festival pops up (3 times a year) in this huge plaza, when it suddenly springs to life.
Rooms are modern but warm and quaint without straying into kitsch.
Double rooms have space for sitting and working. Note the quirky bucket detail that appears all over the room.
Rooms have tea and coffee stations, with superior rooms featuring Nespresso machines as well. Guests can also use the SuitePad tablets during their stay.
The toilet, shower, and sink are separated and the mirrors above the sinks can be opened up to see through to the bed and window beyond.
Showers come with a choice of heads.
Decor is similar throughout, except for the small details like pictures and ornaments which are different in each.
The hotel has a modern take on traditional Bavarian style, with modern touches like copper lampshades and pine rather than dark woods, which gives this Wirtshaus a softer feeling than many of the traditional taverns.
The tavern can be entered via the lobby or via the beer garden, which has an alleyway alongside the river.
There’s loads to explore east of the Isar. The hotel is between this delightful stream and Lilienstrasse; both go north to the neighboring borough of Haidhausen.
One useful Haidhausen landmark is the Rosenheimer Platz subway station. Turn left out of the Hotel and head east under this dramatic bridge, then take the next left onto Franziscanerstrasse.
If you pause at this crossroad and pivot south, you’ll see the cute burger bar Hans im Glück and the excellent Restaurant Ebert.
Around the corner is local Turkish Dilan. On warm days, its tables spill onto the street.
Rosenheimer Platz subway station is a short walk from the hotel. Just north of here, the streets around Weissenburger Platz are filled with bars, boutiques, and cute cafes.
From Rosenheimer Platz, walk downhill (east) towards the Isar. Before you arrive at the bridge, you’ll pass some of the best ice cream in the city at True & 12.
Munich’s looming cultural center, the Gasteig, is on your right. It’s worth stopping by to see what’s on.
As you head downhill towards the bridge, you’ll find Chopan, which serves incredible food from Afghanistan.
Don’t miss at least a glimpse of the art nouveau Muller’sches Volksbad on the north side of the road.
On the corner with Lilienstrasse is Rosi bar, a nice spot any time of day.
If you go all the way back down Lilienstrasse, you’d return to the hotel. Also on this street is the avant-garde restaurant Showroom as well as the historic Wirtshaus in der Au whose dumplings are famous.
Opposite the Wirtshaus, there’s a little bridge over to the Deutsches Museum, one of the best museums in the country.
You can stop for coffee and cake at Cafe Bla before heading back to the hotel.
Or simply spend some time on the Isar, whether or not you take to the water like the locals.
The hotel is the last building on the far left in this photo and the crossroads is where Lilianstrasse meets Mariahilfplatz. Right at this junction is the bus stop which will take you right into the Altstadt.
Another way into town is a 10-minute walk from the hotel to Fraunhoferstrasse. On your way there, you’ll pass some cool local places, including Aposel’s Greek taverna and this place, Pizza Solo.
On the same street is Express minimart.
Just before you get to Reichenbachbrücke (bridge), you’ll pass Carlitos, which might not look much during the day but is definitely worth coming back to at night to get a feel for Au’s nightlife.
Fraunhoferstrasse station is seconds from the bridge (just about visible in the photo) on the west side of the Isar. From here, it takes 7 minutes to get to Marienplatz, Munich’s main square.
This photo is taken from the southwestern corner of Marienplatz. The white building with the red roof at the far end of the square is the Old Town Hall, while the imposing building on the left is the New Town Hall with its marvelous glockenspiel clock that comes to life 3 times a day.
North of Marienplatz is the Residenz, the palace of the old rulers of Bavaria. Beyond the Residenz lie the Hofgarten and the Englischer Garten.
Between Marienplatz and the Residenz is the Platzl, where you’ll find what might be the most famous tavern in the world, the Hofbräuhaus. Do not miss its beautiful interiors or its lush courtyard, preferably with a beer in hand.
One street south of Marienplatz is the Viktualienmarkt (Bavarian produce and craft market) as well as the church known as Alter Peter (Old Peter). You can climb its 300+ stairs for great city views.
West of Marienplatz is the cathedral, lovingly known as the Frauenkirche (Our Lady’s Church). The plaza around the cathedral is a pleasant place to have a drink or a meal. It’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from the Marienplatz.
A 10-minute walk northwest from Marienplatz will bring you to one of Munich’s best loved neighborhoods, Maxvorstadt. It’s where all the biggest and best art galleries are located. Pictured are the Alte Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne.
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