The chameleonic Bayerischer Hof is an entrancing delight for all

When King Ludwig I decided to build a spare palace in central Munich to house his royal guests travelling from out of town, even he would be impressed it would still exist today as a thriving hotel, seamlessly blending heritage with modernism.

Bayerischer Hof offers the true Bavarian experience in its capital, Munich, and is both popular with locals and tourists alike – the benchmark of any outstanding hotel.

With six bars, five restaurants including the 2 Michelin Starred, Atelier, Bayerischer Hof caters for everyone – even the design buffs.

World-famous Belgian interior designer Axel Vervoordt, is the latest maestro to add his stamp on the Bayerischer Hof.

Vervoordt’s wabi-sabi style has breathed a sense of calm into restaurants Palais Keller, Atelier and Garden as well as the cinema lounge, the Palaishalle and the breathtaking 350-square-metre Penthouse Garden Suite.

He even has his own eponymous 28-room wing, the Vervoordt wing, where rooms are captivating in their minimalism – bare plaster walls, neutral stone tone soft furnishings and raw wooden furniture.

We are informed the lobby is his next project for the fourth generation institution and first luxury hotel in Munich, owned by the Volkhardt family for over a hundred years.

It is hard to believe the hotel was destroyed in WWII and when the owner returned in 1949, after being imprisoned in Russia, all that was left was a pile of bricks.

A testament to their endurance, as they cleared away the debris they saw Falk’s Bar was still completely in tact, and decided to rebuild once again.

As a result the hotel, today spearheaded by Innegrit Volkhardt, is known to everyone from politicians to musicians.

Michael Jackson famously stayed here twice – there is even a memorial outside the hotel, laid on top of a statue of Orlande de Lassus, a Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer.

Positioned in the middle of the city, everything you could want to visit is within walking distance of Bayerischer Hof – from Marienplatz square with the famous animated mechanical Glockenspiel to Viktualienmarkt, the city's largest and most famous outdoor marketplace and art museums such as Pinakothek, which houses Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers 1888.

Munich has several noticeable peak seasons, most notably Oktoberfest, however the spring and summer months offer beautiful weather to explore the city.

Then, after a busy day of sightseeing, the stunning sunset views over the city from Bayerischer Hof’s Blue Spa Bar are a must-see.

The full Bayerischer Hof experience would not be complete without a swim in the rooftop pool, drinks on the sun terrace overlooking Munich’s most famous church, Frauenkirche, followed by a signature massage in the spa.

There’s also the saunas, steam room, gym as well as Polynesian dining institution Trader Vic's to enjoy at your leisure.

With the most accommodating staff you will find anywhere, Bayerischer Hof is for everyone from solo travellers, couples, families to business people with history and modernity rolled into one.

Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Promenadeplatz 2-6, D-80333 Munich. See www.bayerischerhof.de for more info.