History
Venerable thick walls and medieval arches - this is the face the Alpen Hotel presents to its guests in the Old Munich Style.
Vaulted ceilings in the stairwells and the remains of an old chapel next to the reception hall give our guests the feeling of having been transported to a bygone age. The Bauer family has been providing hospitality within these walls for 120 years. Even before the First World War, the trend for healthy living was respected and natural, vegetarian dishes were served. In the summer, guests can breakfast in the open air in the small Mediter-ranean garden, where plans for a lovely day in Munich can be made in peaceful surroundings.
For three generations - and now the fourth generation is also on board - the Bauer family has made every effort to keep up to date with developments. Careful alterations using mainly natural materials, and the revelation of old parts of the building to make them available for use again. All of this has helped to preserve a gem with a wonderful atmosphere. Today, the Alpen Hotel Munich is one of the top Munich hotels in its class, with its peaceful, central location and its range of services.
First renovation and modernisation 1972-1985
When the Alpen Hotel was taken over by Wolfgang Bauer senior and his wife Elfriede Bauer in 1972, all guestrooms were still without bathrooms and WCs and some were only equipped with a washbasin. In the next few years, especially in preparation for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 and the football World Cup in 1974, the first total renovation was begun. Step by step, all guestrooms were equipped with bathrooms and all the water and electric lines were restored and new lines added as necessary. The old oil heating system was replaced with a modern district heating system, old staff rooms were made into guestrooms and the hotel was thus brought up to the standard of a three-star hotel little by little.
Additional changes and expansions in the 1980s and 1990s
At the end of the 1980s and in the 1990s, additional renovations were undertaken under the leadership of the eldest son, Wolfgang Bauer junior, who at the time headed up his own architecture practice in Munich. The remaining floor WCs in the first through third floors were made over into modern designer rooms. The breakfast room was modernised and expanded to include a new buffet. The lobby and the hotel reception were rebuilt of stone and glass with modern materials and a small hotel bar was added next to the reception.
Through all this work, the Bauer family remained true to the motto and style of the hotel - the combination of old ruins with new chandeliers, paintings and antiques with modern materials of stone, glass and stainless steel, as well as designer furniture and lamps.
In 1998, during one of the largest renovations, the old interior courtyard with the kitchen building was renovated, resulting in today's green garden courtyard. To do this, the old outbuilding and its freight elevator and the old WCs in the restaurant had to be torn out in order to secure access to the courtyard. An old stairway down to the cellar was exposed and a new stairway to the kitchen was built. The garden courtyard and the Mittenwald conference room were thus enlarged and access was provided from the conference room to the garden and its service. Over the years, this garden has become one of the favourite parts of our hotel. At the end of 1998, this wasrewarded by the Lord Mayor of the city of Munich, Christian Ude, with a certificate.
During the introduction of a hotel classification system by the DEHOGA association in 1995, the Alpen Hotel Munich was placed in the three-star superior category of hotels based on this development.
More overall renovation and awarding of the fourth star in 2005
Based on increased competition in the hotel industry in Munich in the last few years, Alexander Bauer, the youngest son and the current CEO and director of the hotel, decided to make the family operation into a four-star hotel. With the energetic support of his parents, 45 rooms and 35 guest baths were renovated. In order to meet the high requirements of a four-star hotel, some rooms had to be made over into larger ones. The equipment in all rooms was also expanded to include a mini-bar and room safe, hair dryers and cosmetic mirrors in the bathrooms. In 20 guest baths, guests can also enjoy floor heating in the bathroom during the cold seasons. Furthermore, the hotel's staff was expanded to include a reservation office in order to guarantee the best possible service of a four-star hotel.
In April 2005, DEHOGA rewarded these efforts and a total investment of EUR 500,000 by awarding the hotel a fourth star. In March 2006, CEO and Director Alexander Bauer was pleased to accept the new certificate and brass plate personally from the President of the BHG, Mr. Wiggerl Hagn, and the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Erwin Huber, in the course of the HOGA trade fair.
Today, the Alpen Hotel Munich can offer its guests 57 individually-designed rooms and 2 junior suites. The hotel also has several family rooms as well as a pleasant conference room for up to 30 people with access to the garden. Our offerings are rounded out by our very own "Stefans" restaurant, which has been run successfully by son Stefan Bauer for more than 20 years. In both the cozy atmosphere of the farmhouse parlor and the modern flair of the restaurant, you can enjoy outstanding cuisine. Our extensive menu includes typically Bavarian Schweinebraten (roast pork) and light Italian noodle dishes on through to homemade desserts; we have a dish to suit every taste.
With its combination of historic buildings and antiques with modern materials and the comfort of a first-class hotel, the Alpen Hotel is in the top class of privately-run hotels in Munich.
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