LE MÉRIDIEN – Innenstadt – international/Hotel

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I was recently invited to the very well-known and universally popular Le Méridien hotel at Munich's main train station to create delicious éclairs, experience the fantastic bar, and, incidentally, see the Le Méridien from a new perspective. To summarize briefly: Le Méridien has been located here at Munich's main train station since February 15, 2002 – surrounded by hustle and bustle. But the moment I entered the hotel on Bayerstrasse, the stress of everyday life melted away, and the cozy atmosphere, as well as the remarkably friendly and inviting lobby – combined with attentive 5-star service – immediately caught my eye. Le Méridien offers a harmonious blend of comfort, charm, and elegance – whether for long-time Munich residents or newcomers to the Bavarian metropolis and its numerous attractions. Modern amenities and a completely new feeling await you upon entering the hotel lobby. The focus of the spacious entrance area should not be – as is often the case in hotels – on visiting the reception and disappearing into the rooms, but rather guests should enjoy spending time here, choosing books from the shelves, relaxing on comfortable stools and in the inviting seating areas, browsing, enjoying drinks, having conversations, enjoying coffee or other house specialties and relaxing.

I received a very warm welcome in the hotel's lobby, complete with a substantial table, a huge screen on the wall, soft music, and a great atmosphere. Our entire group was greeted with a very refreshing and delicious welcome drink: a "Watermelon Cooler" made with watermelon, strawberries, mint leaves, and ginger ale. (I would definitely recommend it! It's also available at the hotel bar "Longitude 11" from 5 pm for €7). The Le Méridien Sparkling drinks menu is inspired by European aperitif culture and is a new addition to the Le Méridien Hub's lobby concept. Guests can choose from a wide selection of sparkling drinks and relax with a great beverage to end the day. The bar transforms from a coffee bar into a lively cocktail lounge from 5 pm onwards. I was there in the afternoon and evening, immediately felt at ease, and enjoyed my self-mixed cocktails – which you can also order at the bar – the "Cranberry Crash" and the "Beer Mojito." The cozy atmosphere is further enhanced by the 24-hour soundtrack by the French bossa nova band Nouvelle Vague, played softly in the background in all the hotels and specially compiled for Le Méridien.

The hotel's restaurant – "Le Potager" – impresses with its creative and international cuisine and, depending on your table, offers a wonderful view of the hotel's verdant courtyard – far removed from the noise of the street or city center. An oasis of relaxation – unwinding by the gently splashing fountain, relaxing in comfortable Rathan wicker furniture amidst the greenery, or simply enjoying the day – it's all easily possible here. Le Méridien itself describes the restaurant with these words: „"The fusion of cooking and art is put into practice at the restaurant 'le potager', moving directly from concept to practice. The high art of cooking is celebrated in the kitchen of Le Méridien Munich as an interplay of tradition and ever-new, playful, and creative approaches. All culinary offerings combine innovative French cuisine with refined Mediterranean delicacies – served in summer with warming rays of sunshine in one of the city's most beautiful courtyard gardens, 'lounge41'."“ Unfortunately, I haven't yet had the chance to dine at the restaurant. However, I've heard that in addition to the option of a completely customized menu, up to 12 people can also dine in the private dining room for private parties. There, they prepare meals for you and your friends with show cooking, excellent service, and an elegant ambiance – called "La Table Gourmande – private dining of the highest class." It's best to check it out. here Explore the diverse menu options – and especially the delicious desserts (éclairs!) – and decide for yourself how you'd like to spend your time. In the bar? In the stylish restaurant? In lounge41 – the hotel's courtyard? No matter your choice, you're sure to feel comfortable. The restaurant seats 120 people, and the courtyard can accommodate another 80.

What you absolutely shouldn't miss are the wonderful éclairs. As mentioned, I had the great pleasure of making these little French pastries myself that afternoon. You should definitely stop by and try these sweet temptations for €3.50 each. Enjoy them there with a cup of tea or coffee, or take them home with you. The éclairs are available at the hotel until 5 pm – when the coffee bar transforms into a lounge-style cocktail bar. Also highly recommended: "FRID*EX," which takes place every Friday. Here you can sample and taste to your heart's content. Each week, you can choose from sixteen different new dishes – appetizers, soups, main courses, and desserts in small portions – and create your own menu for €36 per person. The special thing about it: what you order, how often you order each course, and in what order is entirely up to you. When the sun is shining, the Friday menu is also served in the lovely garden. Le Méridien itself is not only impressive in terms of its gastronomy and cuisine. Spacious, well-designed rooms with modern amenities await you if you are planning a longer stay. Relaxation is also possible in the luxurious spa area with a swimming pool, sauna, and modern fitness room.

Card payment is of course possible, and the hotel is easily accessible by car, as well as by all S-Bahn trains and U-Bahn lines 4 and 5. Buses (lines 58/100) and trams will also take you to Munich Central Station and thus to the impressive Le Méridien. In my opinion, the hotel has managed to move away from the image of unwelcoming, cold, and impersonal hotel lobbies and, through a well-thought-out concept, has created a wonderful atmosphere and a comfortable ambiance.

Immediately after leaving the hotel, I recommended that my friend visit this one. She followed my advice the very next day and, unfortunately, wasn't quite as satisfied as I was. The green tea she ordered was far too bitter and had obviously steeped for far too long. The frozen yogurt, while homemade, contained a lot of ice crystals and wasn't stirred well enough. The accompanying mango, however, was apparently very tasty and fresh. The éclair she ordered was forgotten after she placed it, and she had to wait 30 minutes for it to arrive. According to her, it tasted somewhat stale and not freshly made, and she even left some of it. I just wanted to share my friend's experience with you to show that not everyone is impressed. As mentioned above, I can't relate to any of these impressions, but then again, I wasn't served directly at a table. At €7, the green tea is certainly too expensive to be considered undrinkable. I personally found my homemade (😉) éclairs absolutely delicious, and the drinks pre-mixed by head bartender Trung Manh Giang (who has been at La Méridien for two years) and recreated by our group were also excellent. The mojito was quite beer-heavy, but you don't have to order it if you don't like the taste of beer. Below the article photos, you'll find some other drinks you can order at the bar.

I would definitely recommend a visit, or even just a quick stop after a long day. Perhaps my friend was just unlucky. The service was great when I was there; everyone was very friendly, and the atmosphere is definitely worth a visit. I will definitely try the restaurant and their Friday menu. For example, the spinach salad with goat cheese, cranberries, and pine nuts for €16 looks tempting, as do the various appetizers, soups, grilled dishes, pasta variations, risotto, and much more. Come by and see for yourselves!

You can read about Katja's experience of our stay at Le Méridien in this article. Gourmet travel tip.

I'll be back: Definitely for a drink or delicious eclairs. I still need to try the restaurant itself. But based on the ambiance alone, I'll definitely come back.

Place visited: Le Méridien
Address: Bayerstraße 41, 80335 Munich
Website

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