Review of The Charles Hotel, by Nadia Latif

This Rocco Forte sibling is a sleek and chic addition to Munich's luxury hotel scene. Located right on the edge of the Botanical Gardens, it's just a stone's throw away from the city centre yet remains both quiet and peaceful. And in true RF style, the service can be counted on to be impeccable: staff literally appear out of nowhere when you need something, almost without being called. Where else is telepathy a prerequisite for employees?

The Charles has a great Italian eatery called Davvero, which can seat 130 and extends out onto a beautiful garden terrace. There's also two bars, both of which knock up a mean g&t. The spa area houses an indoor swimming pool (the city's largest), a fitness centre, sauna and steam room.

160 bedrooms and suites make up the hotel. All are styled with crisp modernity, an Olga Polizzi signature. The springlike palette of tans, creams and greens keep things fresh and young: this is not stiff, traditional luxury. All rooms come with a king-size bed big enough to lose yourself in, flatscreen televisions and a well-stocked minibar. The complimentary fruit basket on arrival is a welcome touch, as is underfloor heating and Nymphenburger porcelain in the bathrooms.