Hotel Bayerischer Hof

King Ludwig I of Bavaria wanted a hotel in Munich grand enough for his visiting royal friends, and the result, opened in 1841, has been the centre of Munich's social and political life ever since. The annual Munich Security Conference is held here, which means that for one weekend each February the lobby is full of world leaders, defence ministers, and the kind of people who travel with security details. The rest of the year, it's a vast, slightly sprawling hotel with multiple restaurants, a rooftop pool, a jazz club, and the accumulated character of nearly two centuries of Bavarian hospitality. 337 rooms and the distinction of being Munich's only family-owned grand hotel — the Volkhardt family has run it for six generations.