World of Hyatt gold: What it’s really like to stay at the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor --[Reported by Umva mag]

[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420183335″] The Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor has been on my radar for years. I got a brief look at the glamorous hotel in a residential neighborhood within Munich’s northern Schwabing district right after it opened in 2019. When a friend invited me to attend one of the hotel’s nightly happy hours, I was …

Sep 21, 2024 - 15:42

World of Hyatt gold: What it’s really like to stay at the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor --[Reported by Umva mag]

[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420183335″]

The Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor has been on my radar for years. I got a brief look at the glamorous hotel in a residential neighborhood within Munich’s northern Schwabing district right after it opened in 2019. When a friend invited me to attend one of the hotel’s nightly happy hours, I was impressed by the modern construction and fun and friendly vibe of the place.

When I recently booked a Delta One flight from Munich to New York, I knew I could spend a couple of days in Germany’s Bavaria region and take the opportunity to stay a few nights at the hotel.

I wasn’t disappointed. An upgrade, good food, great amenities and friendly service made for a memorable stay.

Here’s what it was like.

What is the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor?

The Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor is a luxury lifestyle hotel with 277 guest rooms, all spacious and filled with designer touches like custom artwork and small sculptures. Even the basic rooms are large, starting at more than 400 square feet, especially compared with hotel rooms in cities like London and Paris. There are 51 suites, including a Penthouse Suite, a few Andaz View Suites, an Andaz Art Suite, a Residence Suite, standard Andaz Suites, Executive Tower Suites and Junior Suites. (I got upgraded to one of the Junior Suites — coming in at 753 square feet — with a street view.)

The hotel opened as the first Andaz property in Germany just about five years ago, becoming one of the best redemptions in the World of Hyatt program in Europe (in my opinion).

My good feelings started when I entered Andaz’s grand, modern lobby, where three standup kiosks were staffed by casually dressed employees, who checked in guests.

The friendly woman at one of the kiosks handed me a “Welcome Home” card with a “First drink is on us!” message. Guests can get a beverage of their choice during their stay for free. I had a cappuccino on the house.

She also pointed out the nearby bar area, where there is a nightly happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. A selection of wine and a barrel of Bavarian beer were free, along with some classic German pretzels. Guests who don’t drink alcohol can order coffee, tea or soft drinks from the bar.

How much Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor costs and how to book

I scored a great deal on the Andaz Munich during a World of Hyatt “Members Save More” sale, paying just over $300 a night. The Andaz Munich generally goes for around $415 a night.

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor is also part of Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, so if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can make a booking through amextravel.com and receive perks like availability-based upgrades, up to a $100 credit to use on-property during your stay for things like drinks or meals, complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed late checkout.

When I searched using World of Hyatt points in July, there was no standard night availability, though a suite was available for 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Standard rooms, if you can find availability, cost 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night at this Category 5 property.

Remember that you can transfer to Chase Ultimate Rewards to the World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio if you have a card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. You can also transfer Bilt Rewards instantly to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

The total for my two-night stay came to $657.87, which earned me 4,276 World of Hyatt points, worth about $73, according to TPG’s latest valuations. Because I have top-tier Globalist status, I received a 30% bonus, resulting in an additional 1.5 points per dollar spent.

When booking the Andaz Munich, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier for every $10,000 spent each calendar year.

I used my World of Hyatt Credit Card to pay for the room charges and a few meals, which earned me another 2,910 World of Hyatt points.

The 7,186 World of Hyatt points earned during this stay are worth approximately $122 at TPG’s current valuations.

Rooms at Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

I was assigned room 505 at the Andaz Munich, which was a highlight of my stay. At check-in, I was upgraded to a huge junior suite with a king-size bed facing large light-filled windows.

Despite not being a true suite, the room had several different seating areas. One corner had a long work desk; a long padded bench ran the length of the windows and there was a small dining table in one corner of the “living room” part of the studio suite.

One of the best parts of the room was the cool, modern art strategically placed in my room and every room at the hotel. The Andaz Munich has a fantastic collection, especially if you are into pop art or abstract expressionism.

Check out the funky metal pretzel in the lobby. Fun.

High design is the order of the day at the Andaz, like this multicolored atrium not far from my room.

Cool art was all over the hotel, even inside the public restrooms.

When I arrived, an intriguing welcome amenity awaited me at the small dining table in my suite. At first, it seemed to be a rock garden. However, camouflaged among the rocks were a few tasty chocolates.

I enjoyed the stark desk with plenty of outlets that gave me a clean space to get some work done with a cityscape view just off to the right.

My room had beautiful blond herringbone patterned plank floors offset by an area rug under the bed.

As I entered the room, the bathroom was immediately on the right. It was very roomy, with a water closet on one side with a simple toilet. On the other side of the bathroom was a large shower with a wand-type shower head and a rain-style head in the ceiling. Large loose toiletries by Silver Saskia Diez were on a shelf in the shower and near the sink.

There were also lighted mirrors on either side of the long sink bar. The crystal glasses were a nice touch.

I didn’t have time to soak, but the free-floating tub was the bathroom’s centerpiece and looked inviting. While the bathroom was open to the room, it could be closed off with a sliding door.

My room was equipped with a large, rotating flat-screen 65-inch TV, a hair dryer, plush robes and slippers, blackout curtains, Nespresso-style coffeemaker and electric kettle, iron and ironing board. There were several large closets along one of the walls with plenty of room for hanging garments and storing luggage. The closets also lit up at night, which created a cool effect in the room.

The bed was very comfy, with crisp white linens from Andaz’s brand. The robes were by a German brand labeled Fleischmann Mietwasche.

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot about Andaz’s famous free minibar with local treats, but I was a bit disappointed with the sparse offerings.

The free minibar items consisted of two still and two bubbly versions of the German-brand mineral water Otto Pachmayr, two varieties of Eizbach sodas and Lisas kettle chips, also a German brand made with organic potatoes. It was, frankly, a bit sad. In my humble opinion, Andaz should either bulk up these offerings or ditch the perk altogether.

The coffee and tea bar was at the other end of the console, with all the ingredients for tea or coffee. I asked for more pods for the coffee machine a few times, and the refills were brought quickly. The coffee machine and pods were by the premium coffee brand Julius Meinl from Vienna. They were good, though I still prefer Nespresso.

Friendly front office team leader Lisa Fiener gave me a tour of some of the suites, which come in various layouts and room types, including some with full kitchens and space for entertaining.

Next time I visit, I will use a suite night upgrade award from Hyatt to try out one of the larger rooms.

What I ate at Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

The Andaz Munich offers several dining options, including The Lonely Broccoli restaurant, which serves dinner and breakfast, Bicicletta & Terrace, a coffee bar in the lobby and M’Uniqo Rooftop Bar & Terrace on the roof.

The Lonely Broccoli

The Lonely Broccoli is Andaz Munich’s main restaurant. It offers both indoor dining and a large terrace. I recommend making reservations for dinner. Because of a large corporate gathering, I almost missed my chance to dine here because I didn’t make reservations. It gets busy.

One of the perks of Globalist status is free breakfast, and the Andaz Munich didn’t disappoint. Several large buffets were filled with fresh fruit, juices, pastries, meats and more each morning I was there.

Waitstaff was also on hand for specialty coffees, and you could request eggs cooked to order.

Breakfast costs $48 per person. Guests can also have a la carte breakfast in the lobby’s Andaz Lounge.

Dinner was wonderful with friendly and efficient service despite the restaurant being full. They brought warm bread with butter and olive oil to the table. I had a small Caesar salad ($16.50) topped with pretzel croutons. For my main dish, I ordered the pappardelle bolognese for $23. The pasta was slightly al dente with a delicious meat sauce. I dunked a few pieces of bread in because it was so good.

It was a perfect dinner (well, aside from too many carbs).

Room service at Andaz Munich

I experienced Andaz’s room service once during my stay and was satisfied. The meal came quickly and was delicious. The extensive menu has the same offerings as the Andaz Lounge in the lobby.

I had the wagyu beef burger with a side of fries ($35). The burger was cooked well, though I wasn’t a huge fan of the onion jam. It hit the spot. I topped it off with a plum dessert that I picked up earlier from the hotel’s coffee bar. I’d tell you how much it was, but they let me take it for free when I stopped by since they were closing up for the day. This unexpected treat was just the right amount of sweet and tart.

Bicicletta & Terrace

The aforementioned coffee bar, Bicicletta & Terrace, is in the lobby, with entrances to the street or to the hotel. The bicycle theme is carried over to the seating and terrace area. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, they offer coffee, wine and beer, sandwiches and desserts. Smoothies start around $8, and an espresso costs $2.50.

M’Uniqo Rooftop Bar & Terrace

M’Uniqo Rooftop Bar & Terrace is the hottest ticket at the Andaz Munich. It’s not open on Sundays and Mondays, so I didn’t get to take advantage of it, but I did get a quick tour. It’s sometimes closed for events and is only open in the evenings, so I strongly advise making reservations.

The hotel describes it as “Venice-inspired,” but it’s all about the wraparound views of Munich. Patrons can order sharing plates, pizza, cocktails and wine, and enjoy the breathtaking cityscape views.

Cocktails are inspired by international destinations and include drinks like From Bologna with Love, made with Amaro Montenegro liquor and Calvados, for $17.50. Bites to share include sweet and sticky black prawns for $31, truffle fries for $13 or a smoked salmon pizza for $20.

The Andaz Lounge Bar

The Andaz Lounge Bar is a fun meeting spot in the main lobby with a wide variety of seating options, including chairs and benches, and little living room-style arrangements with couches.

It’s open all day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you can order any kind of beverage, including espresso drinks. You can also order food from the main kitchen. The menu here is similar to the room service menu, with something for everyone. Highlights include fresh lake trout for $37 and the Jamaican-style spring chicken for $31.

Amenities and things to do at Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

According to the hotel, the 22,000-square-foot spa at Andaz Munich is the largest in the city, with two levels, a swimming pool and a wraparound rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of the city.

The spa complex is located on the hotel’s fifth floor. A service desk with separate entrances to the spa area and the gym is set up here. You’ll need to check in here, even if you want to use the pool. My interactions with the staff here were the least friendly of my stay.

There are very glamorous men’s and women’s locker rooms with various lounge areas and showers.

Those rooms are connected to a coed area with a steam room and two saunas. One sauna was set at 185 degrees, and one at 203 degrees.

There are also several relaxation areas, which were nearly deserted during my stay. I would have liked to hang out here for a few weeks instead of my few hours there. Hanging chairs, loungers and other seating options made for inviting areas tucked in various spots throughout the rooms. One of the rooms had a “very quiet” sign displayed prominently at the entrance for people who wanted a silent space to rest (or nap).

The dramatic curved stairway leading up to the rooftop terrace and pool was the centerpiece of the fifth floor.

On the rooftop, I first saw the incredible pool enclosed in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The swimming pool had several underwater loungers where you could turn on massaging jets. The only thing missing was a hot tub.

The outdoor terrace surrounding the swimming pool had an abundance of loungers and other seating options. On sunny days, I’d bet this is a popular gathering spot for sun worshippers, though it was pretty quiet during my visit.

Sweeping views of the Munich skyline and the other tower of the Andaz made this a fun way to see the city. The hotel’s herb garden on the roof provides a little sustainability for the kitchens.

There’s a small cafe on the terrace as well, offering cocktails and light bites.

The gym back down on the fifth floor was spread across two rooms and had several TechnoGym treadmills and elliptical machines. There was also a Peloton bike, which wasn’t working during my visit. There was a rack of free weights and a few machines, but I wasn’t very impressed with the selection of workout equipment.

Overall, you’ll find plenty of things to do at Andaz Munich, whether you’re relaxing by the swimming pool or spending hours in the gym and sauna, as I did.

Insider tips for staying at Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

Don’t expect a full slate of restaurants on Sunday or Monday. The M’Uniqo Rooftop Bar & Terrace is closed two days a week and may also shut down if there is rain or during special events at the hotel. I’d advise getting reservations as it is often fully booked, especially when the weather is good.
Don’t miss the free cocktail hour in the lobby from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. every evening.
The hotel’s location isn’t in central Munich but in the northern Schwabinger Tor neighborhood between the Olympic Stadium and the English Garden. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Munchner Freiheit subway station and a short U-Bahn journey to central Munich.
There is a parking garage underneath the hotel with more than 900 spots. Self-parking is $33 per night.

Accessiblity at Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

At Andaz Munich, accessibility is standard. The lobby is level with the street, and there are no narrow doorways that would block a wheelchair.

When I inquired with the hotel’s front desk agents, I saw one of the three fully wheelchair-accessible rooms.

Those rooms have wider-than-average doorways, lower beds, bathrooms with stability bars, roll-in showers and closets with pull bars to pull the rack down for easy access. Since Andaz is a fairly new construction, the entire hotel is easily accessible for those using mobility assistance devices, with wide doorways and few steps.

Elevators are wide enough to accommodate a full-sized wheelchair, with grab bars and buttons at waist level.

There was even a wheelchair-accessible elevator in the spa area.

Bottom line on Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor

The Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor is a great hotel. While it’s not in the heart of Munich, it’s in a cool neighborhood with easy access to public transportation. The incredible two-floor spa and pool complex is among the best in Germany. There are several great restaurant options, and the service is efficient and friendly.

It’s also a great value if you want to use your World of Hyatt points on a luxurious property in Munich. The hotel treats Hyatt elite members well, with upgrades common for those with status. While you can’t use a Category 1-4 certificate here (it’s a Category 5 property), it’s a good value starting at just 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

I can’t wait to go back and use the amazing pool and saunas again.

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