Quotes of the Day

Munich's newly opened Louis Hotel claims inspiration from mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Stand in the lobby, though, and the eccentric ruler, famed for his love of golden chariots, towering palaces and extravagant grottoes, definitely does not spring to mind. Would he really have taken to these simple clean lines and neutral color palettes, or joined guests for a tea ceremony in Emiko, the hotel's Japanese restaurant? Perhaps not. But he might have appreciated the flock of beautiful origami birds fluttering in the alcove, or the playful furniture (it's designed to look like luggage) in each of the 72 spacious bedrooms.

The Louis' newness is agreeably tempered by its location in a 100-year-old building overlooking the charming Viktualienmarkt (Victuals Market). This Munich institution imparts a wonderful sense of place to the Louis — something that many of today's increasingly formulaic boutique hotels are in dire need of. Here the breakfast buffet is full of fresh ingredients bought just a few feet away and every night the restaurant is filled with hungry locals. What Ludwig would have made of the sushi on the menu, however, is anyone's guess.

Rooms at the Louis start from $270 a night. See louis-hotel.com for more.

• KATE GRAHAM
• Munich's newly opened Louis Hotel claims inspiration from mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria