LIVE LIKE A TRUE BAVARIAN AT THE CHARLES HOTEL
From donning a Bavarian Dirndl to drinking Bavarian beer, Rocco Forte Hotels’ The Charles Hotel in Munich, has put together a bespoke program to help guests feel like a true Bavarian. Available to 15 September, the experience includes a visit to the Hofbräuhaus, a 400 year old beer drinking institution, and shopping at the Munich Manufactory, guided by a resident expert.
A long standing partner of The Charles Hotel, the Hofbräuhaus was founded in 1589 by the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm V. Originally intended to supply the Bavarian court with beer, in 1828 under King Ludwig I, it became a Munich tavern and was opened to the public. Exclusively for guests of The Charles Hotel, the 60-minute tour is guided by a Munich veteran and beer expert, filled with historic tales of beer brewing and anecdotes from the historic Hofbräuhaus.
After exploring the impressive ballroom with its nine-metre-high barrel vault, the tour grants access to the Hofbräuhaus’ 616-compartment beer mug vault, a coveted safe for ‘Keferloher’ beer mugs (made of stoneware instead of glass) with a three year waiting list. To round off the tour, there is a beer tasting with pretzels in the famous Schwemme or the inner-courtyard pub garden. As a souvenir to take home or redeem, guests are each given a beer token from the Hofbräuhaus’s own currency, reintroduced in memory of the tokens with which the court servants would once pay for their beer.
Feeling refreshed, the next stop is a rickshaw ride to purchase a stylish Bavarian outfit. The Charles Hotel works with international celebrity stylist, creative director, photographer and traditional costume lover Oliver Rauh to ensure that the private shopping trip is a complete success. As Editor-in-Chief of “Fesch”, the magazine for traditional costume & alpine fashion, and “The Bavarian Gent”, Oliver knows the best location for buying high-quality traditional costume fashion in Munich is the Munich Manufactory, where he works as a consultant and stylist for owners Maximilian and Birgit Oberbigler. Near the tranquil Wiener Platz, the store is known for its versatile frock coats and in-house dirndl collection, offering an exquisite selection of traditional costume fashion that can also be worn in everyday life.
With Oliver on hand to advise on the correct combinations, guests will learn what length the perfect dirndl should be, what cut the traditional costume shirt should have and which outfit traps should never be fallen into. On return to The Charles Hotel, the day ends in style with a Bavarian delicacy board and, of course, Hofbräuhaus beer.
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Tour details:
“Bavaria Package” including delicacy board and all transfers:
€700 for 4 people
Exclusive Hofbräuhaus tour
Daily, except Sundays, at 11 am
60-minute guided tour of the Hofbräuhaus including beer tasting € 230 for up to 4 people
Each additional person € 50
Private shopping with The Bavarian Gent Oliver Rauh (@oliverrrauh)
90 minutes, €400
Shopping appointments at Münchner Manufaktur can also be booked without a stylist consultation.
Bookable on request and subject to availability via the concierge team at The Charles Hotel.