Hotel Monaco

The hotel is situated less than five minutes from the central station (even with heavy luggage). This makes it the ideal choice for interrailers and other persons arriving by train. The neighbourhood is bustling, but not very cosy. No trees and no charming cafes. The hotel is in a small street, so you don`t have very much traffic, but there still is a lot of noise and shouting in the street, as you may expect in this central neighbourhood. In warm weather (with need of open window) it may be a good idea to bring ear plugs, although I managed quite well without it on (a wednesday).
Good selection of take-away food and inexpensive eateries in the neighbourhood. Pharmacie next door. Ten minutes walk to the main shopping areas, approx. twenty to the Viktualienmarkt/Marienplatz.

The people that work in hotel Monace are just wonderful! They were very helpful with providing tips and giving directions (a little too helpful with the directions actually, they asked me where I was heading and immidiately draw the route on my map when I didn`t really need the help).

When I told them how happy I was with everything they seemed delighted, and I got the impression that the staff really cares a lot about the place.

The room and the hotel in general was very clean and the hotel provided the basics and more; good towels, soaps, bath caps, and even shoe polish. (I slept in a room with it`s own bathroom, don`t know if it is different with shared bathrooms).
One drawback to the general appearance of the hotel is the scary small elevator, it is old and worn.

The staff`s english is good, and they were patient with my medium german :)

They have no additional service that I noticed.

The hotel does not have a restaurant, only breakfast buffet. The good gastronomy rating is based on the following:
1. Their incredible selection of gluten free food (on demand), including several different types of cereal, cookies, muffins, and bread. They roast the bread for you if you like. The only thing I miss is some more fiber-rich bread (like Schär ciabatta rustica)
2. They have a very good buffet for being a two-star hotel. Their selection outranked the five-star hotel I stayed at in Italy later.
3. They have a very good home-made fresh cheese.
4. On demand they can provide food for people with lactose intolerance, weight watchers, etc.
5. Good cleanliness in the breakfast room, sufficient places, and cosy, country-style atmosphere.

If you need dinner, there is a lot of inexpensive take-away places in the neighbourhood. I didn`t notice if there were a lot of proper restaurants in the area as well, but restaurant areas I`ve been to are max. ten minutes walk from the hotel.

Excellent room, very good value for money and not what I would expect from at two-star hotel.

When in Munich, rent a bike and/or go on a guided sight-seeing bike tour! Cycling is definitely the best way to see the town and to get around. Everybody bikes there, even old ladies zoomed past me on their old bikes. I would recommend Frankie`s bike rental and bike tours. Great tours, which covers the same as the other tours, and very comfortable bikes. Mike`s bike tours are also well known and probably good, but they are very large and you would end up in a group with thirty other people who for some reason all are shouting something on the count of three.