Mauritzhof Hotel - Münster, Germany

It used to be that you visited Münster if you were a humanities student or you had an abiding interest in large-scale post-Second World War restorations. But a combination of thoughtful urban planning and leafy expanses has changed all that. Capitalising on this uptick in fortunes is the Mauritzhof.

Architects Kresings added two storeys to a pre-existing pile in the Promenade, a tree-lined ring road between the old city and Münster’s new developments. Both public spaces and rooms are dressed in a muted selection of mid-Century furniture, glass-globe chandeliers, and moody swatches of greys and taupes. In the dining room lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, executive chef Pascal Ehrke turns out Italian staples like burrata and ham, and a pile of comforting beef tagliatelle.

Space restrictions have meant there is no pool or spa on-site, but what of it?  The hotel has access to nearby facilities and, besides, Münster is easily one of Germany’s most bicycle-friendly cities, so a two-wheeler to explore its perfectly restored old quarters and university campuses is the preferred option.