Overall, very pleasant, with only minor exceptions. The location is excellent and central; it's just a little difficult to spot the building at the moment, and it's not directly accessible by public transport (though it does have an underground parking garage). The staff was very friendly and helpful. The room (standard room) showed some signs of wear and tear (e.g., a small crack in the mirror), but nothing serious. It was, however, a very comfortable size and clean. The bathroom was a bit dark, and the shower and toilet were oddly positioned next to each other.
First, the positives: The room (deluxe double room) was very clean, nicely furnished, and everything worked well. The location is lovely, facing the Neumarkt square, and if it gets too noisy, you can close the soundproof windows – then it's truly quiet. We slept very well in the bed. One point about the room: When the air conditioning is running, there's a strange smell; perhaps the ventilation system should be cleaned/checked. We turned it off and ventilated through the windows, which worked fine.
Why only 3 stars overall?
We're deducting half a star for the poor signage. As the previous reviewer noted, the entrance from the parking garage isn't properly marked. You can, however, take the stairs. (Carrying suitcases up two flights of stairs to the ground floor is not a good standard for a hotel.) We only learned at reception that there is a way to get up by elevator before receiving the access card. We were told we should have rung the bell. No one would have guessed there was a bell for reception – see photo. Proper signage is absolutely essential. Even considering the current management and staff turnover, both receptionists were operating their terminals using a trial-and-error approach. What we found truly disappointing was that, despite our suggestion about the access from the parking garage, nothing had been posted downstairs even after three days. With a little initiative, a staff member might have gone down and posted a small note until a proper sign was installed. The situation was similar on the second floor. We were in room 219. Upon exiting the elevator, you only see signs on the walls up to 211 (or 213, we can't remember exactly). Then there's a door with a stairwell pictogram leading to a passageway. And there it was: behind the door, on the wall in the dim light, a sign indicating the location of the remaining rooms. These aren't difficult things that could easily be communicated to guests at reception with a little more effort, or even addressed quickly by the staff themselves. It wouldn't hurt anyone to inform guests that the hotel is undergoing changes. We're deducting another half star for the mediocre breakfast. Offering something like that for almost €25 is quite audacious. Any guesthouse can do better, or at least not for such an exorbitant price. It's also strange that breakfast has to be paid for upon check-in. Do they not trust their guests, or do they know the quality themselves and simply don't want to hear any complaints when paying? The exception here is the breakfast staff, who did their job well.
We're deducting a full point for the RIVA Bar. The bartenders and staff were genuinely trying, but what can they do when, at prices around €14 for most of the (sorry, unfortunately only mediocre) cocktails on a Saturday evening, there aren't even enough ingredients for a Mai Tai or Piña Colada (here called "Riva")? The Negroni was drinkable, albeit a bit too heavy on the vermouth. It's also not enough to simply cram a mismatched collection of plush furniture (the chairs wobble!) into a room, hang two neon signs behind the bar, and call it a bar. That might work down on the tourist strip – but the exorbitant prices make it unsuitable. Well, that was a complete disappointment.
In short: Pleasant room, inadequate service, and abysmal value for money.
If we stay there again, we'll have breakfast at a café and go to a different bar. By the way, the "Ginhouse" across the square shows how it can be done (a hidden gem). For similar prices, they offer something truly special.
We booked the hotel about two weeks after it was taken over by the Motel One group. Before that, it was called Townhouse, so it was an existing hotel that was still operating. A fair review isn't really possible yet. However, it's generally a nice hotel in a prime location. We had a Roomy Cloud with a view, which overlooks the Neumarkt.
The QF (Quartier Frauenkirche) parking garage has a direct elevator connection to the hotel. But be aware! Currently, everything still says Townhouse and not Motel One. And you can't get from the garage to the hotel without a room key.
